Alta Valle Tanaro and its historic train
The Alta Valle Tanaro is a valley of the Ligurian Alps, in the province of Cuneo that acts as a natural bridge to the provinces of Imperia and Savona. It is a territory close to Liguria but also very close to France, so much so that Napoleon Bonaparte crossed it during his first campaign in Italy. An area with a great historical charm that boasts a...
Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co. Coming to State College Area
A central Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain is set to expand next year with a new location in the State College area. Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co. is planning to move into the former TGI Fridays at 1215 N. Atherton St. Once it’s open in 2023, the restaurant will be the family-friendly chain’s fifth franchise in Pennsylvania. Marzoni’s annou...
Village of the month: Sarteano
Sarteano is a village of almost 5,000, located in the province of Siena, 525 meters along the slopes of Mount Cetona. Narrow alleys and beautifully preserved medieval squares made this small but lively settlement in the Senese hills a fantastic destination for all history lovers, who want to enjoy timeless atmosphere and breathtaking scenery. Sarte...
Remembering Joey Giardello, the South Philly boxing champ who beat ‘Hurricane’ Carter and sued over a Hollywood biopic
Joey Giardello wasn’t born with that name, but it’s the one that became famous. Well, famous enough to land him a statue on East Passyunk Avenue, and to bring standing prominent enough for a defamation suit over a Hollywood movie starring Denzel Washington. (The lawyer who got that suit settled, George Bochetto, has a connection to another statue:...
Staten Island couple honored for role in making the borough a bit sweeter every day
Maria and James Carrozza make Staten Island a little bit sweeter every day. This powerhouse husband-and-wife team owns and operates four of the borough’s most beloved bakeries: The Cake Chef, The Cake Chef’s Cookie Jar, Piece A Cake and Cookie Jar New Dorp. Maria and James were both born and raised in Brooklyn, where they first met. “Ironically,...
Return to Sicily: Mystical island abounds with wonders – both natural and man-made
Sicily, Persephone and Trinacria. These are just a few names bestowed on the beautiful island in the Mediterranean Sea. It was Persephone I was thinking of as I saw the island rise from the sea during my first visit in 1996 as our traghetto (ferry) crossed the strait of Messina. Sicily has been forged by the cultures of Greek, Roman, Byzan-tine, Ar...
A Christmas Made of Moving Pictures
It’s true that through the years some Christmas memories fade away, while others are indelible, never to be forgotten. Two of my favorite Christmas memories occurred in 1965 and 1966, and they were deeply interconnected. As the holiday was approaching, two subjects were on my mind. Because my twin sister was seriously ill, I needed to make 1965 Nat...
Tortellini in broth, the Boxing Day dish of Santo Stefano
Traditionally in Italy the celebrations also continue on December 26th, on the feast of Santo Stefano (Boxing Day). The most popular recipe is undoubtedly tortellini in broth, a hot dish perfect for colder days. An ancient tale tells that during the 13th century a marquise arrived in Castelfranco Emilia and stopped at an inn called Corona: the host...
Marlana DeMarco Hogan’s New Book ‘Growing Up in the Torrone Zone’ is a Delightful Children’s Story About Beloved Family Traditions Being Passed Down Through Generations
Marlana DeMarco Hogan, a retired Italian teacher and the child of Italian immigrants, has completed her new book “Growing Up in the Torrone Zone”: a charming and inviting tale about an Italian family’s favorite holiday custom: making torrone. Hogan writes, “‘Growing Up in the Torrone Zone’ is a story about a hardworking little boy and the joy he fi...
Italy's 10 most iconic furniture designers
Although always the cradle of high-quality craftsmanship, Italy has been massively influential in the timeline of furniture design–especially throughout the 20th century. Between the 1920s and 1930s, Italian rationalism seamlessly formed a relation with the technical and aesthetic experimentations of the European avant-garde on one side and with th...
Food Network stars to debut Italian restaurant at California ski resort
A pair of Food Network stars, who happen to be related, are gearing up to open a joint restaurant in California's Sierra Nevada next month. Chefs and brothers Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, who star in the Food Network show “Battle of the Brothers,” are opening an Italian American restaurant called Vulcania, which is slated to open in The Village at...
A Guide to Bergamo and Brescia, Italy’s Capital of Culture Cities for 2023
While Italy is no doubt the place to be right now—with travelers flocking back to Venice, Rome, and Sicily after the height of the pandemic—chances are you haven’t been to Bergamo and Brescia before. The two cities in Lombardy are often overlooked in the midst of Italy’s countless unmissable destinations, despite being less than an hour away from M...