A month of good food—good to think and good to eat—in Tuscany

Actually, I should say, “months” of good food in Tuscany— a week in June and several weeks in July. This year, 20 of us enjoyed the adventure—18 students, able-bodied and brilliant assistant, Chloe, and myself. The weather cooperated, and, mostly, we kept Covid at bay. We enjoyed the food—its provenance and terroir, the locale, the…

Returning home from Europe—to a world of cheesemaking

Each year, I take students to Europe….where we cook, as below…. And tour the countryside, as here, in San Gimignano: But, exciting, too, is returning home to milk sheep and make cheese…and chickens that love cheese rinds and cats that love baths.

My favorite restaurant food (ever): Spinach Greens, Italian Greens!

Especially when I’m travelling, including staying in Italy, my favorite food to order is spinach greens (even if they’ve been frozen)—with a little olive oil, salt, and cheese (my preference: my own parmesan)…and maybe some garlic, it’s a completely satisfying meal. Recipe for “Italian greens” is on p. 184 FoodWISE!

FoodWISE + milk

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE, on the kind of dairy she prefers. The image here is from centuries past—Florence museums. You can tour virtually.

FoodWISE and delicious food choices

  Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE, on delicious food choices—as a review, and offers this wild story of international students taking face-to-face classes in Italy.

FoodWISE and the science of taste

Image: Studying the science of taste in Italy, Gigi is in the middle Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE, a new section on the science of taste, and mentions her studies in Italy, at the University of Florence with Erminio Monteleone and Caterina Dinnella. Their work here: https://scienzesensoriali.it/en/. And a must-read on much of what Gigi has…

FoodWISE and perfectionist ideals

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE (https://youtu.be/kHy1Sng9YQ4), on diets and perfectionist ideals—both, unachievable. Her call to “do the right thing” extends to her reading of an article on Italy: Key is quick and decisive responses, re: lockdown and preventing new clusters of infection—although, clearly, “complacency remains the jet fuel of the pandemic.”

FoodWISE and “health”—and some of what we know about Italy

Gigi Berardi reads FoodWISE, “Advertising Health,” and offers two articles…maybe the US could have had a trajectory similar to Italy’s (eventually, and for awhile now, coronavirus cases at a slow down): Why can’t the USA be like Italy?, but it didn’t…and now…USA tourist numbers are decidedly lower in Italy—where I , myself, was supposed to…