NEWS FROM : ITALY  

Native to the Mediterranean basin, agretti (Salsola soda) is a crop particularly beloved by Italians, who both forage for and cultivate it. Yet the needle-like leaves (similar to chives) of this vegetable –also known as saltwort or monk’s beard (from the Italian barba di frate) – remain a rare sight on British menus. Its succulent leaves – which ta...

It's a celebration for burrata lovers. Two companies, one from Noci and one from Putignano, have brought Puglia to victory, declaring in an international competition the best burratas in the world. It's a unique coincidence to see two brothers on the podium: the Delizia company from Noci, ranked first, is led by Giovanni D'Ambruoso, while second pl...

What I love about Italy is that every holiday is a big event and comes with great Italian food. At Christmastime, for instance, the stores are filled with panettone, a sweet bread full of candied fruit. Around carnevale -- a pre-Lent blowout that lasts from one day to one month, depending on where you live -- you can find deep-fried strips of dough...

The head-sized citrus and super fruit cedro. The sweet, fragrant onions from Tropea. The spicy, smoky, spreadable ‘nduja. The piquant pepperoncini. Calabria’s cuisine is born on the backs of its stellar ingredients–cooked into rich stews, baked into simple breads, and melted into pasta sauces. Calabrian food is no-frills stuff.  Tomatoes and eggpla...

In Naples, the tarallo, or as they say in the local dialect "o' tarall' nzogna e pepe" (which means lard and pepper), represents a real institution, a traditional street food born in the 17th century as a poor tavern food and now evolved into an excellent product for quality aperitifs. Imagine savoring it while strolling along the waterfront, with...

The disappearing art of truffle hunting is facing a new and “grave threat” from winemakers in northern Italy. The rare white Alba truffle and Piedmont red wines are among the region’s most prized products, and have been sourced in happy proximity for decades. But winemakers in the Langhe area of Piedmont are now eyeing up the shadier side of the hi...

As a student, I used to live with a girl from Merano, Alto Adige: two Italians abroad, both from the mountains — one from those of Piemonte, the other from the Dolomites — we had a lot of things in common, including a genetic love for the snow and trekking at high altitude, and a penchant for heavy, homemade liquors. Her brother used to make a fant...

In a recent review published in Nutrients, researchers use environmental, nutritional, and lifestyle data to determine whether Cilento, Italy, shares trait characteristics with ‘Longevity Blue Zones (LBZs). LBZs, which are often referred to as ‘blue zones,’ are regions throughout the world with distinct geographical profiles but shared long citizen...

Tuscan wine is often revered as among Italy's finest, with bottles like Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans garnering endless praise and hefty price tags. U.S. consumers are top fans, buying volumes equivalent to around 35% of the region's international exports in 2022 (via Wine News). Red wines represent the majority, accounting for about 85%...

Can you still buy a house in Italy for 1 euro in Italy in 2024? The answer is a definite yes, with 1 euro houses in Italy still stealing the headlines this year. As Italy's abandoned villages continue in their quest to repopulate, new schemes are also emerging. And after the success of 1 euro homes for sale listings in 2023, in 2024, many more Ital...

Genoa-born chef Ivano Ricchebono looks like a Hollywood actor playing a chef in a movie. His restaurant The Cook is in a 14th-century palazzo in the old town, and as I step into the dining room I stop and stare – the entire place is covered with frescoes. It’s wildly romantic. “People get engaged here all the time,” Ivano says with a smile. Awarded...

Italy’s top wine brands continue to rack up international awards. And, in the headlines, Sicily rises once again, with one of its leading realities, Planeta, elected “Wine family of the year” of the “Meininger Awards Excellence in Wine & Spirit” No. 18, one of the most prestigious awards in German wine, staged in Dusseldorf, during the days of ProW...