Archive for 'Uncategorized'
Ah, l’Amore! Posted by Serena on Feb 13, 2017
San Valentino, protettore degli innamorati … tomorrow is his special day. It’s also that one day a year when we are officially expected to be all soppy and romantic … yuk! So many ways to celebrate that special day with your beloved: Cioccolatini a forma di cuore, un mazzo di rose rosse, bigliettini pieni di…
The Foundlings – Part 2 Posted by Geoff on Feb 10, 2017
Here’s the English translation for Serena’s article I Trovatelli – Part 2 which was published earlier this week. I Trovatelli: la storia di come abbiamo trovato ognuno dei nostri gatti. The Foundlings: the story of how we found each of our cats. Jennifer L’anno seguente la mamma dei tre gattini, Gigia, Smokie e Bella, soddisfatta…
Vanità Posted by Geoff on Jan 30, 2017
I listen to a lot of music, but very little of it is Italian. Unfortunately, I struggle to find Italian contemporary music that inspires me. Italy is a goldmine of art and creativity that belongs to the past, and let’s face it, that’s exactly what inspires so many tourists to visit this beautiful peninsula. But…
Lasagne Bastarde Posted by Serena on Jan 27, 2017
Lasagne Bastarde (Bastard Lasagne). This not very poetic name refers to a type of home made pasta typical of northern Tuscany, particularly the Lunigiana and Garfagnana area, where sweet chestnuts were once the staple food from late autumn to the end of spring. This recipe came about as a way of saving precious wheat flour…
La Gatta Ha Scoreggiato!!! Posted by Geoff on Jan 20, 2017
We were sitting in front of the computer, trying to find inspiration for the last blog of the week. We’d thought of translating a song by Fiorella Mannoia, but the lyrics turned out to be so abstract and metaphorical that it soon became evident that il gioco non valeva la candela (it wasn’t worth it)…
Viene La Befana Posted by Serena on Jan 6, 2017
Today, the sixth of January, we celebrate l’Epifania (the Epiphany), which commemorates the arrival of i Tre Re Magi (the Three Wise Men) in Bethlehem. Today also marks the end of the Christmas festivities (collective sigh of relief!). Before the modern era of globalization, and the adoption of certain traditions from America, l’Epifania was the…
I Rimedi Della Nonna Posted by Serena on Jan 5, 2017
What to do when you have the flu? Are i rimedi della nonna (grandma’s remedies) any use, or are they merely placebos? There’s an old aphorism which says: “Il raffreddore è una malattia che, se curata, dura sette giorni, altrimenti dura una settimana.” (“The cold is an illness which, if cured, lasts seven days, otherwise…