Quick Guide to Stresa, Piedmont

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madre, piedmont, piemontese, toma, turin, vercelli

Published June 30, 2010 at 7:35 a.m.

Stresa lies on the western shores of Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy. A great favourite with travellers to this part of Piedmont, Stresa has an abundance of hotels, good shopping and numerous restaurants, plus great water sport facilities for enjoying Lake Maggiore to the full ... Stresa lies in a spectacular position on the northwest shore of Lake Maggiore, overlooking the Borromean Islands. First documented in 998, the town grew into a fishing community in the 15th century. Acquired by

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A Discussion on Italian Terroir with Adolfo Folonari and Cesare Casella

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cesare, panna cotta, piemontese

Published March 23, 2010 at 8:48 p.m.
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This week at the Italian Culinary Center in New York City I had the pleasure of meeting Adolfo Folonari, co-CEO of Ruffino, who put together a tasting of his wines, and Cesare Casella, currently of Salumeria Rosi, who created the pairing menu ... The Folonari family has been in the wine business since the late 1700's, and bought the Ruffino Vineyards almost 100 years ago, so you can say Adolfo has wine running through his veins. Over the past 50 years they acquired seven small estates, Gretole,

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Involtini.... Vegetariani

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piemontese

Published March 1, 2010 at 12:25 a.m.

Involtini are generally meat based, a scallop or braciola wrapped around a filling and cooked. But one can also use vegetables -- either borad leaves or slices of something along the lines of eggplant -- as a base, and wrap them up around a meatless filling. The result is perfect for a light lunch, and also well suited to Lent, if you are observing it. A couple of ideas: ... Involtini Vegetatiani con Biete e Patate ... Leafy vegetables such as Swiss chard are perfectly suited to being rolled up,

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The Advantages Of Working From Home...

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piemonte, piemontese

Published Jan. 18, 2010 at 2:08 a.m.

Thanks to the marvels of telecommuting, a great many people, especially in the US, now work from home. One of the nicest things about working from home is that it gives one the opportunity to cook. Not elaborate dishes that take lots of time, but simple things, for example stews that can be gotten together quickly, set to simmering, and checked every now and again (a step that gives one the opportunity to leave one's desk for a few minutes every hour, something it is important to do). Some

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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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Almost Wordless Wednesday: Fagioli All'Uccelletto

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piemontese

Published Jan. 13, 2010 at 1:06 a.m.
682621-almost-wordless-wednesday--fagioli-all-uccelletto

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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Piemontese Potato Casserole

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piemontese

Published Nov. 16, 2009 at 5:05 a.m.

Piemontese Potato Casserole, or Patate Pasticciate: A rich, hearty Piemontese dish that will be quite nice in the winter months ...

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The 2006 Barbaresco: What Impressed Me

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barbaresco, piemonte, piemontese

Published Nov. 10, 2009 at 5:57 a.m.

2006 was a fine vintage in Piemonte, and I was much impressed by the 2006 Barbaresco poured at this year's vintage presentation. Quality was quite high, and there are some very fine wines to be had. Wines that are for the most part very young -- Barbaresco, like it's Cousin Barolo, can age for decades -- but that will already drink well with succulent roasts or hearty stews. Assuming you're not blessed with the patience necessary to allow them to grow. If you are, they'll richly reward you ...

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Savoy Cabbage with Walnuts

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piemontese

Published Nov. 1, 2009 at 6:20 a.m.

Savoy cabbage is a wonderfully versatile vegetable, and works beautifully with onions and walnuts in this Piemontese vegetarian entrée or side dish ...

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Pork & Beans

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piemontese

Published Oct. 18, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.

As I say in the most recent newsletter, we are still nominally in Autumn, but Winter is paying an early visit to much of Italy, especially the south, where they've had snow in the mountains, coupled with heavy rains and howling winds. Nor are things much better in some sections of the north. Given the climate, beans seem a natural, and here are a few ideas: ... Fasuleda: This is an Emilian relative of the Pimontese fagiolata. And like its Piemontese cousin, it will be quite nice over polenta,

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