The siblings Maria Ida and Salvatore Avallone have opened up their vineyard and winery to guests. Relais the Vigna is located in the province of Caserta about 80 km north of Naples and 150 km south of Rome. They make wine. The Agriturismo includes a restaurant with cooking lessons available and a wellness center (SPA). Campania is home to one of...

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This recipe is fantastically simple and puts an interesting twist on just same old chicken. The original recipe requires that a whole lemon be inserted into the cavity instead of spreading fresh squeezed juice. This should not be done with today’s lemons. Most producers spray the lemons with a pesticide that remains in the peel and will be...

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Some would think that Veal Tonne’ has French influences yet this is truly Italian. There is significant discussion regarding the regional origin. There are many who defend this recipe as Milanese, others sustain, with equal vigor, that Vitel Tonne’ is Piemontese, more specifically from the Langhe. I have even heard rumblings from the regions of...

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Some would think that Veal Tonne’ has French influences yet this is truly Italian. There is significant discussion regarding the regional origin. There are many who defend this recipe as Milanese, others sustain, with equal vigor that Vitel Tonne’ is Piemontese, more specifically from the Langhe. Interestingly there are two versions. The one...

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In the lands of Risotto just about anything can turn into a delightful, creamy dish. I have not found recipes for Risotto with Yellow Bell Peppers and Gorgonzola. It was something I put together since a creamy Gorgonzola was in the fridge and Yellow and Red Bell Peppers were on sale. This is not to say that there are not recipes available, simply...

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This dish is really easy. It is a bit longer to prepare than other dishes in this series because the peppers need to cook for about 45 minutes. The trick is to get them into the oven and then go do other things. For a Northern Italian cook it is unusually easy because the filling would be left-over risotto mixed with some breadcrumbs. This recipe...

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True Italian recipes are regional and local. You could see them as comfort foods. They include “poor ingredients”. They are made with ingredients that are available on the farm or grow in the wild in that area. Over the centuries these recipes were refined to make that poor ingredient something that is an explosion of flavor. The method by which...

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The name seems similar but Nobile di Montepulciano and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo are two very different wines. While both wines are considered everyday wines, Nobile di Montepulciano is more structured and complex. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is an simple IGT everyday wine. It seems to be made for the American market but is not the traditional fruit...

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The hairstylist at Jean Louis David and their art director Franck Pérez came to Milan to prepare five hairstyles representing this year’s hottest cuts. The models are five normal women. Beautiful ladies who study, work, and live normal lives. They are not professional models. Franck Perez talked with each woman to find out who she is and where she...

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Fall is such a great season. The harvests come in and the bounty of the earth can fully be appreciated. New wines begin to appear and the cool nights are perfect for the heavier meals and more complex wines. In the predawn quiet I am alone with my keyboard as note flashes on my screen and fills my soul with melancholy. The Truffles have abandoned...

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At 1 minute past midnight the Novello season begins. Novello is new wine. At one time it was the farmer’s opportunity to try his latest harvest with food and refine the aging process. Vino Novello traditionally makes it debut in the first week in November in order to get a jump on its more famous French cousin, Beaujolais Nouveau. Beaujolais...

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I can imagine that many are checking their wine cellars right now to see just how many bottles of Ornellaia are on the shelves. Before you break you neck jumping down the stairs to open the doors of newfound riches, patience. Ornellaia is a wonderful wine. It is one of my favourites. It is not, for any year of production, a $33,600 wine. The sale...

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As we are shopping for the perfect gift how about the Car of the Year. The newly introduced Fiat 500 has been named Car of the Year by a group of 58 automotive journalists from 22 countries. The 500 was reported to have been a hands-down winner over its six rivals thanks to its look, safety features, the quality of its interior and variety of its...

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Lupicaia, an IGT Super Tuscan by Rossi di Medelana, is gluttonous pleasure. It costs about $150 retail and $250 in a restaurant. This positions Lupicaia out of the pocket book of many wine lovers but the price quality relationship is much better than most of those $500 a bottle wines. It has been a while since I have purchased an expensive wine....

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I have taken a short sabbatical from the things I enjoy to do the things I must. During this brief interruption I have been able to organize in my head certain tendencies occurring in Italy. The last two years have brought changes that are ripping at the core of Italian culture. I try to accentuate the positive aspects of my experience in Italy....

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The winter doldrums are fading. The days are getting longer and the overcast skies are slowly giving way to Spring temperatures. This is not to say that the bitter cold has ceded to spring flowers but signs of the changing seasons are on the horizon even as we await the “Days of the Merla”. The store fronts are changing. Panettone makes its last...

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Please, do not wear this stuff! I am not sure what message Alessandro Dell Acqua is trying to communicate with the 2008 Spring Summer Women’s line. It is not just about the veil thin fabrics or the weird combination of blocks and triangles. Most of these outfits look like they were designed by a kindergarten student during art class. Each outfit...

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Milan is the home of Women’s Fashion the last week in January. The rest of the world is fretting over foreclosures and recessions while Milan celebrates creativity and that beautiful creature known as Woman. “The Streets are Alive” with beautiful babes! Some of the young stylists are presenting some really interesting designs. Alessandro De...

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Blugirl is a line of BluMarine. Their outfits are specifically designed for the young woman 15 to 22. I enjoyed shopping with my daughters. This is not to say they ever listened to me. I believe Daddy’s wallet was much more interesting than Daddy’s opinion. Just the same I will offer my thoughts on this year’s Tween fashion. BluGirl takes its...

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A study by Maria Cerutti of the University of Verona caught my attention. Without a doubt I have a weak spot for spikes. Interestingly this study has been picked up by numerous worldwide news agencies in conjunction with a series on the lack of passion in couples married more than five years. I guess the news agencies see spikes like I do. They...

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Italian Fashion is great because of the variety of imaginative designs presented for the same season. The underlying theme remains the same but each designer presents something unique and develops that theme over numerous outfits creating something that will work for just about anyone and any occasion. Fendi is all about colors. It is a play on...

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Every year I have the opportunity to present a couple of beachwear designers. La Perla is known for its exclusive lingerie but the bathing suites and throws are none less titillating. Last year was all about bright colors. The 2008 line is soft fabrics with exotic prints. The natural tone colors almost disappear against a well tanned body. Most...

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Recently I presented the collection of La Perla. This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. I write these articles for my female readers but I am not sure whether the men or the women appreciate them more. Calzedonia is a top line producer of women’s stockings and lingerie. Their price point is about 30% less expensive than the La...

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Triumph is a widely known line of lingerie and bathing suites. Their products are generally considered of higher quality with many handmade models. Pricing is well within the grasps of the middle class however some specialty items can be quite expensive. I found this line in the early 90s. They happen to have their headquarters in Trescore...

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March 8th is International Women’s Day, or Festa della Donna. I have written about the sad events that lead to International Women’s Day. In Italy most men will present their female acquaintances and colleagues with a branch of yellow flowers from called Mimosa. So here, with best wishes, is my electronic Mimosa!

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