The Staircase of the Dead

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piemontese, turin, val di susa

Published Jan. 17, 2010 at 6:48 a.m.
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It was just over two years ago that I first set eyes on the Abbey of Sacra di San Michele which dominates the Val di Susa, close to Turin. I vowed then to return and find out more about this imposing Piemontese edifice ... So today I am especially pleased to share my new 'The Sacra di San Michele" guide which is now published on the ItalyItalia.com website ... "The entrance to the church is an amazing flight of 200 odd steps called the ‘Scalone dei Morti’ , or the 'Staircase of the

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Wine: Roll out the barrel | Victoria Moore

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gaja, gaja'

Published Jan. 15, 2010 at 7:05 p.m.

Ever hear someone say they don't like oaky wine? Chances are what they really mean is they don't like cheap oaked wine ... "I don't like oaky wine," people sometimes tell me, screwing up their faces. But what does oaky mean, anyway? Oak is one small word that encompasses a thousand different ways in which wood is used to change the taste of a wine. We often talk in terms of American (which typically imparts a vanilla-like flavour), French and Slavonian (commonly used in chianti) oak, but trees

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In A Hurry? Risotto!

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piemonte

Published Jan. 15, 2010 at 1:06 a.m.
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Friday afternoons are rushed for me: Daughter C goes swimming after school, so we rarely get home much before 7:30, and that doesn't leave too much time to get dinner on the table. One option, if you do a little chopping beforehand (the onions, in particular) is risotto: If the ingredients are ready, making risotto takes about 10 minutes more than it takes to just cook rice ... Just set water or broth to boil when you begin to sauté, and by the time it does boil you'll be ready to add it to

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Food Stuff: A Terra Cotta Dish for Earthy Baking

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terra

Published Jan. 13, 2010 at 2:34 p.m.
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Southwest France has its own baking dish, an extra-thick slope-sided terra cotta bowl called a cassole, for making the region’s succulent cassoulets ...

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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Fagioli All'Uccelletto

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piemontese

Published Jan. 13, 2010 at 1:06 a.m.
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It has been extraordinarily gray of late, and cold too. When it gets like this, few dishes can bring more warmth than fagioli all'uccelletto, white beans cooked with tomato sauce, garlic and sage. Add sausages, crusty bread, and a zesty Chianti, and you have one of the most classic Tuscan winter one-course meals ... Enjoy! ... Some Other Beany Recipes: ... Fagiolata Piemontese ... Venetian Fasoi in Salsa de Magro ... Panissa Vercellese ... Almost Wordless Wednesday: Fagioli All'Uccelletto

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Win 3 nights in Barolo!

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langhe, piedmont

Published Jan. 8, 2010 at 4:00 a.m.
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Hurry, hurry, hurry: Our friends at Torre Barolo are offering a chance to win 3 nights in Barolo, staying at a renovated 17th century tower, located in the heart of the Langhe Valley in Piedmont ... Torre Barolo is one-of-a-kind. From its elevated position in the village, guests can enjoy sweeping views of the vineyards and medieval hill top towns that contribute to the charm of this region. This self-catered property is an ideal escape for those seeking the amenities and privacy of a

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Hanging out of a helicopter!

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piedmont

Published Jan. 6, 2010 at 10:16 a.m.
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This month's Guest Photographer is Mark Cooper ... Mark lives nearby in Piedmont and I have been a fan of his photos for some time. We are now friends and I am a regular visitor to his website, Mark Cooper Photographer , where he features his stunning landscape aerial photography. His website is now listed in our Italian Photoroll ... Mark says "Hanging out of a helicopter at up to three thousand meters above the Piedmont landscape I found a new perspective for my ever curious photographers

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Dinner & Tasting with Eric & Deborah

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barbera

Published Jan. 5, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

We were invited to dinner this weekend by my friends Eric & Deborah along with their two beautiful girls, Violet and Dahlia, while Eric put on his chef's hat to make a simple, but delicious made-from-scratch penne all vodka. Throughout the evening we sampled a broad spectrum of 5 wonderful wines, 1 Italian white, 3 Italian reds and 1 California Cab. Rita and I enjoyed the evening and the company too much to take extensive tasting notes, but I did text myself a few lines. Well, here they are ...

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Vivid 360 degree Italian images

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turin

Published Jan. 4, 2010 at 5:21 a.m.
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For vivid 360 degree full screen panoramic Italian images check out Arounder's latest Italian selection. So far 11 Italian cities are featured with numerous locations available. From the 'Villa del Balbianello' in Como to the 'Galleria degli Specchi' at the Palazzo Reale in Genoa, from the 'Sala da Ballo' at the Palazzo Reale, Turin to the 'Arena di Verona' in Verona, from the top of the 'Torre Branca' in Milan to the balcony of the 'Hall of the Maggior Consiglio' in the Palazzo Ducale, Venice.

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Italy's Icons and Rising New Stars

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barbaresco, barbera, nebbiolo, piedmont, piemonte, spumante

Published Jan. 3, 2010 at 11:26 p.m.
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On a cold and blustery January Saturday, Italian Wine Merchants hosted a tasting series called Italy’s Icons and Rising Stars, which I attended with both old and new friends. It began as a low-key and reserved afternoon that quickly turned boisterous—complete with exploding glasses, spurting wine and contagious laughter ... Bruno Giacosa Spumante Brut 2004 DOC ... Varietal: Pinot Noir ... Region: Lombardia ... Bruno Giacosa, known more for his Barolo and Barbaresco in the Piedmont region

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