All Roads Lead To Pecetto

Closing Night

2012-01-29T17:29:00.000-08:00

Closing night. Awards given. Drinks had. Dancing done. Good-bye's said.

Looking forward to Sundance 2013...

Scene at Sundance

2012-01-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Remember that volunteer appreciation video that Kenneth Cole was filming from my first day? Well, here is the finished product (Thank you Mark Curtis!). Love it!

We volunteers make some of our own movies too...

The Blistery Scene at Sundance: Around Town

2012-01-23T22:45:00.000-08:00

Detective Origional Gansta

2012-01-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Ice T (aka Tutuola) sing O.G. Origional Gansta in a tiny art gallery turned stage with about 100 people. He's in town to talk about a documentary film he made with Chuck D about the rise of rap music and the rap artist. He was amaz-balls.

Found at Sundance: Day 2

2012-01-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

I got a new tote made from the recycled banners from last years Sundance.

We're all making our own movie at the fastival, right?! P.S. "Look Again" is the theme this year. P.S.S. My friend Kellie is the model in the pic in the background, cool.

This guy came into the shop wearing a shirt from the 1987 Sundance Film Festival! Woo.

Found at Sundance

2012-01-19T20:02:00.000-08:00

5 Tips on how to enjoy the festival.

Now this is how you tag your film guide, color coded. By day, intrest, and buzz-worthy?

First Look: Sundance Merchandise Shop

2012-01-16T21:03:00.000-08:00

I have spent days turning this plain hotel meeting room into a Pop-Up Sundance store. Here it is, the 2012 Sundance Offical Store, at Headquarters.

First Day at Sundance

2012-01-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

On my first day working at the Sundance Merchandise shop, Kenneth Cole and company came in to film a commercial! The craziness has begun. Those orange jackets were designed by Kenneth and given to all of the volunterrs and staff for the festival.

Door Series #56

2012-01-04T07:40:00.000-08:00

What Happened?

2011-12-30T05:49:00.000-08:00

What happened in Italy in 2011?

There was alot of loss.
We lossed Berlusconi: Ding Dong, Berlusconi's Gone
We lossed parts of Cinque Terra: Disaster in the Cinque Terre
We lost some parts of Pompeii: Pompeii Collapse Prompts Charges of Neglect
We lossed Pier's grandmother.

We were on TV! HGTV's House Hunters International, "Taking Off to Torino".

Pier turned 30
Italy turned 150 or the Centocinquantenario Anniversario

Amanda Knox was exonerated: Amanda Knox Exonerated, Murder Conviction Overturned

I made Christmas lunch this year.

What will you remember most about 2011?

Flavor of the Month

2011-12-21T04:39:00.000-08:00

The flavor of the month at Grom gelatoria is panettone! If you had not yet had the pleasure of panettone let me give you a quick description. It's a orange flavor sponge cake with candied fruits baked inside. It was first made in Milan and takes 3 days to make because the dough is actually cured like sourdough. It's traditionally eaten at Christmas dinner for dessert with a sweet sparkling wine, and the the next day for breakfast with hot chocolate.

The panettone gelato starts with a dense creamy orange base infused with chunks of candied fruits. It's delecious. I would say that the only thing missing is the crunchy sugary crust which is for me the best part.

Holiday Street Scenes

2011-12-20T05:01:00.000-08:00

Here's what's going on in my neighborhood.

Festive markets popping up everywhere.

Panetone in every window.

A skating rink in our piazza.

Nativity Scenes made of cheese and macaroni.

What's going on in your neighborhood?

Choose Who You Sit With On Your Next Flight Using Facebook, What?!

2011-12-17T05:48:00.000-08:00

It's called Social Seating. Don't want to sit next to a 6 year old? Looking for that single serving friend? Both Malaysia Airlines and Royal Dutch Airlines have just launched MHbuddy, in which users can check in via Facebook and select their seats. During seat selection, they are able to view the seats of other passangers on the same flight. Fun on paper? Yes! A creepy stalker situation waiting to happen? Also yes.

CNN article found here.

Door Series #55

2011-12-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

Only in Italy

2011-12-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

Only in Italy does your religious preference and your football (soccer) preference go hand in hand.

Del Pino Restaurant, Santa Margherita, Liguria.

It's Begining to Look a lot Like Natale

2011-12-10T10:19:00.000-08:00

This year the city of Torino has decided to decorate Piazza Castello with a giant advent calendar and a life size Nativity Scene. The art is fun and the scale of it all is so festive! Also, the windows of the bakerys are full of chef's showing off their creativity. As cold as it is, there is just too much going on in the city to stay inside!

Best Market of the Year

2011-12-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

Today is a holiday in Italy, Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception, so I did what any good American does on a holiday and that's to go shopping. One of the best markets all year took place today. It's so big that they have to hold it at the old FIAT factory. I found some great stuff and so did my shopping partner (Thanks again for the ride home Jenn!).

Shout-out to Paola and Alessandra who always tell me where the best market are!

City of Christmas Lights

2011-12-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

One of the best parts about Christmas is that every city does their own special thing. Torino takes it to the artists. Starting at the end of November, light installations go up on the main streets of the city, each designed by a different artist. Suddenly walking the city at night becomes festive, romantic, memorable.

These are 2 of my favorites but you can see all of the lights on the official web page here. What is your city doing? I'd love to know.

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

2011-12-01T06:37:00.000-08:00

I decorated the Christmas tree today and my dog took her rightful place. Too cute.

Torino Film Festival

2011-11-30T07:57:00.000-08:00

The Torino Film Festival has been taking over the city this week. Opening night took place at the theatre in front of my house so I watched the stars arrive in the cars and the paparazzi snap shots, all from my window in my pajamas.

See what I was watching from my window here:

Spread the Love

2011-11-28T02:36:00.000-08:00

It was a free hug weekend in Piazza Castello. Call me greedy but I took 2.

FIAT Ad Banned in the US

2011-11-26T05:35:00.000-08:00

Is this ad too sexy? It's showing in Italy but has been banned in the US and Australia. What do you think?

KCC's Best Video Yet

2011-11-23T22:15:00.000-08:00

Note the Italian guys want to be called "the best"! Typical.

Vintage Italian Booze Ads

2011-11-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

...to put you in the party mood for the holiday! (all found in my vintage La Cucina Italiana magazine collection).

Eat Here: Eataly Cafe Via LaGrange

2011-11-21T05:12:00.000-08:00

Luckily I have a friend with inside knowledge that the new small satellite Eataly Store/Cafe/ Restaurant (compared to the 3 story mega-store in Lingotto), is the new hip place to eat. Also lucky, it's just around the corner from my house.

The new Eataly on Via LaGrange in Torino has an atmosphere of a vintage diner mixed with a new breed of organic restaurant. The whole front of the cafe is glass and with the kitchen in the front, from the street you could watch the chefs cook pasta all day.

Long tall tables with barstools greet you once inside that encourage you to sit closely to strangers mostly because you have no other choice. Once you settled in next to your new best friends, a waiter will come over and take your order. The menu is short and changes everyday according to the chef's specials. A pasta of the day, a salad of the day, or a cheese and salami plate of the day and an organic beer or wine to drink.

Everything was fresh and delicious. Simple, not complicated. The cafe is also a grocery store. Once you have finished eating, you can pick up your fresh pasta, wine, some produce, and baking goods. And that's not all. They are also a gelatoria with several combinations of toppings to make a sundae. With ALL of that under one roof I wondered how they were going to pack so much stuff into such a small space... but somehow they make it work.

Flavor of the Month

2011-11-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

The flavor of the month of November at Grom is a good one. Merengue flavor base with lots of chunks of marron glacè (candied chestnuts). Brovo Grom and may I say, YUM.

If you are not full aquainted with these ingredients then let me show you.
This:

Plus this:

A great fall flavor, don't you think?

Door Series # 54

2011-11-17T08:43:00.000-08:00

What is That? Tamarindo

2011-11-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

This fruit(?) grows in pods hanging in a slightly curved shape and can be found at the market all year long. According to the internet, and the internet never lies, cooking with the pulp of the tamarind is used as a spice in soups and sauces. It is also an ingredient in Worcestershire sauce.

It's mostly a food found in tropical places so I didn't find any Italian recipes using it, but I did find it in an Italian grocery store. Does anyone else cook with this strange food? Tell me about it!

We've Been Occupied

2011-11-15T05:10:00.000-08:00

Torino has 2 occuby protesters. They popped up some tents in Piazza Castello and had everybody write down their list of complaints on cardboard so passers-by could support the protest.

Half-Ass Coverage of the Turin Marathon

2011-11-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning at 9:30 sharp a starting gun fired in Piazza Castello and hundreds of runners began the Turin Marathon. Before 9:30 the pomp and ceremony was like grand show. From someone who is not a huge fan of races, here are your half-ass marathon highlights!

There was some singing:

There were costumes:

There were people, there were balloons, there were cameras:

After a couple of hours of cheering and noisy helicopters circling the city, the winners started to come in:
The mens winners:

And the women's winner:

In true Italian style, I was standing next to some Italians who were smoking while watching the winners come in. I found this ironic.
And that was the best bits of the Turin Marathon.

Hit the Road Jack

2011-11-13T06:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday this guy resigned.

Now Italy needs a fresh outlook. Some young blood to get in there a stir things up. Bring the country into the future with hope like Obama or Kate Middleton. So who did he choose as the next PM? This guy:

Mario Monti

Will he be any better? Don't know but he does look a little old for a Bunga Bunga party.

Best of the Web, Ya That's me!

2011-11-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

Be @ Home Decor blog of Pocket Change has named All Roads Lead to Pecetto a Best of the Web for this week. Hooray! It's an honor also because the other blogs featured this week are all so fun, I feel in such good company. Click on this link to see me and to check out some other best of the web blogs.

One Foggy Morning

2011-11-11T03:53:00.000-08:00

Early this morning I awoke to find that the holiday festive Luci d'Artista has arrived in the streets of Torino. This one with stained glass is new this year.

The pigeons however, didn't seem to notice.

The Maestro Strikes Again at McItaly

2011-11-09T00:24:00.000-08:00

The second burger on the menu designed by 3 time Michelin star Chef Marchesi has arrived at our local McDonald's. Like the good blogger I am, I tried it for you. It's called the Adagio and it is unique to say the least. This time on top of your burger you will find an eggplant mousse, ricotta salata (the hard ricotta), chunks of grilled eggplant, and tomatoes topped with a soft bun encrusted with toasted almonds. It comes with a panettone tiramisu for dessert.

I will say that this hamburger is better then the Vivace (the spinach burger), but still eggplant is not the most delicious topping. That is obvious but I still gave it a fighting chance. I know that this burger was not created for me. It was created for an Italian palette and good thing because it would never be successful in America and that's saying a lot because we put a lot of stuff on our burgers including blue cheese, onion rings, bbq sauce, mushrooms, bacon....

I often hear Italians criticizing the out of control toppings that Americans put on pizzas, specifically the meat lovers and cheese lovers verities. "Sacrilege", they say. So allow me to say, "back at you". Putting spinach and/or eggplant on a perfectly good meat patty is hamburger sacrilege. I applaud the creativity but keep trying.

Door Series #53

2011-11-08T04:27:00.000-08:00

2011-11-07T04:48:00.000-08:00

Last night I watched the Miss World competition. It was a welcomed distraction from all of the rain, flooding, and terrible wreckage that has plagued my little part of the world this week. The winner was Miss Venezuela who had the best smile and the worst dress. A fluffy pink monstrosity that lacked... well, taste but certinaly grabbed your attention.

We, of course had our eyes on Miss Italy who was one of the only contestants who had very short hair which I thought was not only quite modern of her but also very un-italian like.

Miss USA, didn't even make the top 30. I couldn't even find a picture of her at the pageant. I was rooting for Miss South Africa, she was stunning. Miss Scotland would have been my runner up.

The theme of Miss World is "Beauty with a Purpose" which means they do a lot of charity work, and that's lovely but it made me giggle because the hostess kept saying "Beauty with a Porpoise". ha ha ha ha, anyways,

Frivolous and totally cheesy entertainment had by all. Now it's back to preparing for the Po River to flood our city which is predicted to start tonight.

Eat Here: Ristorante da O Batti

2011-11-05T05:33:00.000-07:00

It was the promise of the best scampi in Liguria that lured us to U Batti last Monday night, the small restaurant in Portofino with a big local reputation. The moment we sat down we were given the "tools" we would need for our dining experience. They consisted of claw pliers and a giant bib.

There is no menu at U Batti. Instead our waiter rambled off the dishes that the chef had prepared for that evening.
We started off with a local white wine, Bianchetta. It was 13% volume which is quite high actually. This was my first Bianchetta and I found it a perfect compliment with fish dishes. Luckily we have Pier's father who always picks the wine and he is right on every time. Once I asked him how he does it and he told me this wise advice, "Always order the local wine and you will never go wrong."

Starters included fish and pesto because this is Liguria after all. Boghe with a cream pesto sauce and toasts with red pepper and pesto cream.

Firsts included pasta with...more pesto and bread.

Then came the main event, the scampi. A sumptuous plate of fresh steamed 'mini lobsters' covered in butter and olive oil.

Finished off with a shot of lemoncello and a licorice infused sugar cube.

Ristorante da O Batti
Vico Nuovo, 17
Portofino, Genova
Website link

Get Out of Your Cubicle!

2011-11-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

Sarah at the always captivating Yes and Yes blog has just released her new travel book The Cubicle Escape Plan. I was lucky enough to read it last week and found it fun and unique because it's written in a chose your own adventure style.

This book is for you if you are looking for some creative ideas to get out of your cubicle. Download it from her website here.

What is That? Cetrioli Caroselli Pugliesi

2011-11-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Cetrioli = cucumbers but these don't look like your average cucumbers. These ones look like a honeydew melon. Turns out this varity is from Puglia and on the inside they look, and taste, like any other cucumber. Go figure.

Italians eat them alone with salt or in a cool summer salad. Or you can use them to make cucumber sandwiches like these ones I found on Tasteofhome.com

Did you know what they were? Have you tried them? Any recommendations?

Good News for Pompeii

2011-10-31T08:16:00.000-07:00

This week came good news for archaeology and history lovers, as well as Itali-files in that the EU has pledged $145 million dollars (105 million euros) to save Pompeii.

The money is part of a larger one billion euro program to support major heritage sites in dire need of conservation and will fund a four-year project to preserve the ancient Roman town.
The History Blog

The money is a much needed asset as 3 walls have fallen within the Pompeii city walls in the past several months due to the combination of inadequate matience and terriable weather.

How is that possible really when the archaeological park brings in 70 million dollars a year from tourists? Apparently it's in the way the money is being distributed.

Concern has been mounting internationally that not enough is being done to protect Italy's historical sites, as the heavily indebted country struggles to cope with recession and the effects of the global economic crisis.
Monsters and Critics

I hope we get the chance to see it make a difference.

ANSA story on walls colapsing here.

Now That's What I Call a Nativity Scene

2011-10-29T04:21:00.000-07:00

If you've ever been to Italy at Christmas time you would have noticed that Italians have an incredible tradition of elaborate nativity scenes. So this weekend when I headed to the gardening and craft supply store, I got a chance to take in just how serious they can take this decor.These are just some of the nativity displays they have up and it's only October.

Disaster in Cinque Terre

2011-10-28T08:50:00.000-07:00

(From TheTelegraph.co.uk)

Five people have been killed and another six are missing after storms and torrential rain caused extensive floods in northern Italy

The walking trails and picturesque fishing villages of the Cinque Terre attract hundreds of thousands of international tourists, but two of them – Vernazza and Monterosso – were severely affected as rivers of mud poured down from the hills behind them.

The mayor of Monterosso said the fishing village had all but been wiped out saying, "Monterosso no longer exists."

Can you guys believe this? Have you been there? Do you have memories. Please share! I was just looking at my photos from when we there in 2008...

Rich Steves has more info here and a great wall to post your thoghts on.

Crazy for Faux

2011-10-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm just crazy for all of the faux details that are painted everywhere inside and outside of the buildings in this part of Italy. They take trompe l'oeil to a high art form to make up for the lack of carved wood or marble that would be eaten up by the salty seaside air. Here are a few of my favorite examples.

Door Series #52

2011-10-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

The Legend of the Lost Explorer

2011-10-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

A hundred years ago an explorer set off into a dark unexplored forrest. She had a map, a camera, and walking stick.

But something happened whilst on her journey....she got a little....lost.

and then something strange bit her...

..and she was attacked by wild animals..

The explorer arose feeling different...

It appears that she will be lost in the dark forrest forever..

So don't go into the dark forest...I hear she is still there wondering with her map and her walking stick, looking for a way to get out. She might find you instead.

Happy Halloween Everybody!

See you all at the Fanciful Twist party!

Eat Here: Gennaro

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

The best Pizzeria in our town is Gennaro. They have a full pizza kitchen and daily kitchen specials. Eat the specials while you can because they go fast and when they're gone, they're gone. After I ate their lobster and spaghetti special, I thought that all of the food I ever ate before was just an appetizer to this dish. Right now the specials all involve porcini mushrooms which are in season. The pizza menu is extensive. They are the only restaurant that will make a pesto pizza which is a brilliant combination. I even try and copy it when I make pizza at home. When in Liguria, eat here!

Da Gennaro
Piazza martiri della liberta', 30
16038 - Santa margherita ligure (GE) italia

tel: 0185.286951

Silly Post

2011-10-19T05:59:00.000-07:00

Making salad....

What Is That? Topinambour

2011-10-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

At the grocery store I often find myself asking, "What is that?" Like this: Topinambour

It looks like ginger but it's not. According to Wikipedia, it's the root of a daisy plant that can be eaten like potatos.

Has anyboy tried these? I'm curious to know how to eat them.

What's Out My Window: Italian Fashion

2011-10-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

There were some lovely ladies dressed in their fall best this weekend out of my window so I snapped a few shots.
Capes, over the knee boots, fur jackets, and red ankle boots!

Door Series #51

2011-10-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

How Italians Do Waffles

2011-10-12T03:29:00.000-07:00

You can find waffles in one form or another in every European country. Although the Belgians are the most famous, they don't have the monopoly. Head to the mountain town of Fenestrelle, Italy where they famously make delicious thin style waffles in a waffle pan called a Gofri.

This weekend I ventured to (my friends really had to twist my arm) a regional food festival in Torino celebrating foods famous from different towns in Piedmont. The longest line at any food stall was by far at the waffle stand. I just had to investigate. I took a peek behind the scenes and found 8 waffle makers each with a Gofri just as busy as Santa's workshop. They couldn't make them fast enough!

Patrons ordering a waffle (for 3 euros) were offered the choice of center spread of either Nutella or gorgonzola and ham. We chose the chocolate of course. They let me snap a few photos of them happily making waffles for the hordes of buyers. Don't tell my friends but after they left, I snuck back and had a second one....they were that good.

Easy Breezy Beautiful

2011-10-11T02:47:00.000-07:00

They were filming a beauty commercial in Piazza Castello this morning. I could tell because this cute girl rode her bicycle up to the camera and then stopped to put on lip gloss.

Three Scenes from the Weekend

2011-10-10T04:38:00.000-07:00

Traditional songs in the park

Trying to grab your attention:

The kids love this streetperformer:

What did you see this weekend?

The Perfect Fusion of Italy and America

2011-10-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

File this under stuff I LOVE!

So, McDonalds has comissioned the most famous chef in all of Italy to create a new hamburger for their Autumn/Winter menu. His name is Gualtiero Marchesi and he is the first chef in Italy to earn 3 Michelin Stars. He has several restaurants in Italy and one in Paris and his whole family including parents and brother are also chefs. His pedigree and portfolio are pretty amazing BUT can he create a burger that McDonald's patrons (and most importantly me) will love?

Well, It's unique. It's called the Vivace (means lively in Italian) and it's a beef burger with crispy bacon and blanched spinich with a mustard sauce and onions on a sunflower seed bun. There is no cheese. If you order the McMenu it comes with your choice of side (like fries) and tiramisù for dessert.

So, how is he at making a great American style hamburger? Just OK. I tried one here it is. First, It comes with a place mat. Classy, right.

Here's the thing; It's good. The burger is good. The mustard, the onions, the bun, and the bacon, all good. The spinach however, is not good. A bacon burger with spinach is NOT a delicious combination. I applaud the creativity but the result is not the best. Take the spinach off and you've got yourself a great burger. With the spinach and you've got yourself something that has an acquired taste like a brussel sprout. Which is only good if you add bacon, cheese, and mayo, just like everything else.

I feel privileged to try something from such an accomplished chef but I wont be ordering it again. I will, however, order the Big Mac again. It has cheese. Or should I say, a special cheese sauce?

What's in Season?

2011-10-07T08:03:00.000-07:00

It's Autumn, hooray! Italians are real seasonal eaters. When traveling or living in Italy it's easy to tell what foods are in season because 1.) there is usually a fair celebrating the harvest and 2.)the outdoor markets are inundated with that food and 3.)all of the restaurants have that food item as today's chef's special. So what do Italians eat in the fall?

1.White Truffles: A little goes a looooooong way and thank goodness for that because truffles cost around $1,000 a pound. If you have never had the pleasure of having truffles, I would recommend easing into it. Like the first time you tried coffee or beer, it is an acquired taste. Most Italians will have a shaving on their pasta, risotto, or eggs.

(photo credit: thestar.com)

2. Pumpkins: Ravioli stuffed with pumpkin in a sage butter sauce is my all time favorite Italian pasta dish. That little bit of sweet mixed with a salty flavor is glutton worthy. It's a dish only around in the fall so I have this small window to eat as much as I can.

(photo credit: afoodycraft.blogspot.com)

3. Chestnuts: Sold hot on every corner on every street in the fall and winter. You can smell them roasting everywhere in the city. There is some work to eating them in taking off the shells and making quite a mess, but the end result is a warm and tasty comfort food.

(photo credit guardian.co.uk)

4. Artichokes: Americans are known for their love of fried foods. But don't let an Italian tell you that they don't love a good fry up as well. I have tasted everything from fried squids to fried veal dining out in Italy. One of the best items is a fried artichoke. A nice mix of crunchy and soft, tastes like a fried food but still tastes like a veggie. There are of course a thousand ways to enjoy an artichoke but when their in season, a fresh fried one is lovely. No need for any sauce but just a squeeze of lemon.

(photo credit: old.italianfoodnet.com)

Autumn is also grape picking season for wine making and the vineyards are buzzing. The air smells of squashed grapes and dirt. Ahhh fall. What are your favorite fall foods?

All Frenchmen's Day

2011-10-04T22:46:00.000-07:00

This time KCC has a great idea...

What is That Song!?!?

2011-10-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

Today walking from the post office, I came across a lovely free bells concert coming from the church in the main square of Rapallo. Now, I need your help to identify that song. It's on the tip of my tongue. Is it Handel?

(P.S. Apologies for the first half of the video being sideways, I forgot that I was holding it that way).

Update from yesterday's post!!: Last night the Italian high court decided that Amanda Knox is not guilty of murder and set her free!

The Latest Words From Amanda Knox

2011-10-03T07:22:00.000-07:00

Amanda Knox and her family continue to fight the guilty ruling with a personal plea to the high court today. She has been studying Italian in prison and shows it here, with more emotion than she has ever displayed before. Here is the video (with translation) of what she said.

I change my mind everyday on what I think of her and if she did it. What do you think?

Door Series #50

2011-10-01T06:20:00.000-07:00

Eat Here

2011-09-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

The S Fashion Cafe has become our favorite pizzeria in Torino for the following reasons:

1. It's on the bottom floor of our apartment building so the commute can't be beat. (this is especially great for wine drinking as we won't need a designated driver).

2. They have 2 kitchens. One for a full pasta menu and another just to make pizzas.

3. It is owned by a local celebrity. An Italian TV actor.

4. It's crazy full of art work.

5. You can sit inside or outside, both have great views of Piazza Carlo Alberto.

Check out the menu here: I recommend the Tonno Pasta Puttanesca and the Tre Stagione pizza. Both delish!
Via Cesare Battisti, 13
Torino
Telefono: 0115160085

Italian Kids

2011-09-27T00:56:00.000-07:00

This kid was who was sitting on his fancy bike inside the McDonalds was decked out in true Italian style, head to toe name brands. He was wearing an Armani tee shirt, Adidas kicks, Oakley sunglasses, and a gold bracelet.

P.S. Thanks for all of your comments on my Venice post!

The Insanity of Venice

2011-09-25T05:27:00.000-07:00

For it's true marvels and unique atmosphere, Veneiza has to be the most romantic place on earth. The problem is everyone on earth wants a piece of that unique atmosphere.

This trip to the city on water was my second and so I was able to see things a little differently this time.We did a lot of sitting and watching. Watching the tourists and the locals intermingle. Watching the mailman deliver the post by boat. Watching the empty palazzo next to our hotel being turned into an H&M.

You can't say that only in recent times has Venice become such a tourist trap. It was founded by people who were fleeing the Goths and thought that it's harsh marshy lands would make a good hiding place. They were right. They invented an entire new way of building just to survive there. Over time it became the most cosmopolitan city, trading sea port, and major Grand Tour stop which ment that everyone who was anyone went to Venice. So really it's just a thousand years of tradition that makes the world flock there by the millions.

But, that thousand years of experience at tourism doesn't seem to make Venice any less insane. There was graffiti all over the Rialto Bridge. There was a huge advertisement covering the Bridge of Sighs. The Gondola "parking lot" is in front of the Hard Rock Cafe.

Still everyone should see Venice at least once in their lifetime. It's a marvel of genius engineering combined with some of greatest art the world has known. Have you been? Do you agree?

My Yes and Yes Mini Travel Guide

2011-09-23T23:04:00.000-07:00

I love love love Sarah von Bargen's super fun blog Yes and Yes (subtitled: Because yes is more fun than no).

So I lucked out when I got to write a Mini Travel Guide on Torino for her blog. Most of her travel guides are about 3 things to do and eat in one country. But choosing only 3 things to eat in all of Italy was impossible. Really, I tried. Luckily Sarah accepted my story choosing 3 things to do and eat in Torino. Check out my 3 picks here!

Sweet and Salty Gelato

2011-09-21T22:30:00.000-07:00

I'm traveling in Venice (photos to come) but for now I have to share the fantastic new flavors at Grom this month. I tried both and I have to give points to creativity.

The flavors:
1. Salted Caramel
2. Sweet Ricotta and Almond

Have you tried them?

Where Did This Come From?

2011-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

In Rapallo, I took off the plain white couch covers to give them a good wash and look what was underneath. I had no idea!

The Nooks and Crannies: The Bathroom

2011-09-15T00:20:00.000-07:00

Continuing in the effort to discover my design style, which I'm calling Cafe Culture Contempary, defined in my last home post, here is a post showing the nooks and crannies of my Torino bathroom.

Door Series #49

2011-09-13T01:32:00.000-07:00

To all the American expats all over the world...

2011-09-11T06:51:00.000-07:00

I know that no matter where you are or live, today we are united. Sending all my LOVE to the US from Italy,

Castle on a Hill

2011-09-10T06:10:00.000-07:00

I'm just gonna say it, our hotel in Montalcino (Castello di Velona) was a-mazing! It was on a hill with the best views anyone could find. Call me crazy but I swear that the moon is bigger in Tuscany. So between the hotel, views, and the moon I kept thinking that I was in a dream....and then I was attacked by misquitos and I snapped out of it.

Let me show you a little peek of the best spots of our hotel.

Inside a Tuscan Cheese Shop

2011-09-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

You can smell Pecorino wafting from a Tuscan cheese shop from the end of the street. The delightful aroma is hard to miss. It draws me in because I am quite the pecorino groupie.

We went to Pienza to buy some Pecorino. After a tasting we selected a lovely cheese not too hard, not too soft and sort of creamy.

This tasting came with sides flavors of honey, pepper and orange, green tomato jam, and onion jam.

We are in Tuscany!

2011-09-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

Lucky us Pier's dad has his 60th birthday this week and we have come to Montalcino in Tuscany to celebrate it! We are staying in beautiful castle hotel on the top of a hill with the best Tuscan vistas.

Our first night we had a rustic Tuscan dinner and I was so excited to order and try some things that I have never tried before like...Panezella

Tuscan meats, cheeses, and onion bruschetta

and wild boar stew (which is delecious!)

More of our trip tomorrow....

KCC is Better than Ever!

2011-09-06T04:08:00.000-07:00

Anybody read the book yet?

Battle Scars

2011-08-31T02:41:00.000-07:00

One thing you will notice about the older buildings in Italy is that they have gone through so many decades of fashion changes and modernizations that the outsides tend to show their battle scars.

Do they look better or worse?

What's Out My Window: The Light Show

2011-08-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

We had a dry thunder and lighting storm the other day. No rain ever came but the light show which lasted for hours, was wonderful. I took a little video to remember it.

Wine Tasting with Me

2011-08-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Name: Monferrato Dolcetto
Year: 2010
Description: Dolcetto is a red wine produced locally in Piedmonte. Despite it's name "dolce-tto" it is NOT a sweet wine. The first time I tried it I was expecting a sweet cousin to the Port wine but I was wrong. You can drink dolcetto when it is quite young, mostly you will find bottles that have aged for only a year. This also makes it an affortable wine so a great everyday dinner wine. In fact according to the Wine Lovers Page, if you age it too long the wine might loose it's flavor. Despite it not being sweet I do find it smooooth. Goes down easily. Maybe too easily because you'll find yourself drinking it like water at the table. Without having said too much about what it is I can tell you what it's not. It's not sharp and it's not strong. It's an easy wine. Easy on the wallet, easy on the palate, easy to love.
Price: 3 euros

A Day at the Sea Side (with video)!

2011-08-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

We spent a lovely day at the seaside and the sea was alive and wild! I had to capture it both on film and video. Let me know what you think.

What's Out My Window: A Movie in the Making!

2011-08-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

They were filming a movie just feet from my window yesterday. I believe it was a period piece, the 60's, because the actors and extras were in vintage clothes and the cars were fabulous and from that time. If you see it, whatever it is, watch for me waving out of the window!

Like a Movie Set

2011-08-22T03:13:00.000-07:00

This little corner of Pepino's Cafe and Gelatoria is so adorable that it's looks fake. Like Disneyland or a movie set. It's just too perfect.

Best Flavor Ever!

2011-08-21T06:11:00.000-07:00

Grom's flavor of the month, or gusto di agosto, is a-ma-zing! If you are anywhere near a Grom (locations listed here) you must try the flavor only available in August. If you are a dark chocolate lover like me, this flavor is a dream.
It's:
1. dark chocolate fondente gelato
2. white chocolate chips
3. candied figs
Bam! I have not been able to make it through a whole day with out a cup of it since I discoved it. So far best flavor ever Grom! If you have tried it tell me what you think.

Door Series #48

2011-08-19T04:22:00.000-07:00

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or Chi Chi Pow Pow?

2011-08-18T03:24:00.000-07:00

It's weird when something you know and love from your childhood is suddenly turned upside down when you watch it in another language. Of course the translation is always different. So I'm watching one of my very favorites Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and I was thinking that my generation in Italy grew up calling Smurfs, Puffi. Micky Mouse is called Topolino. It's a small thing but a big eye-opener for an expat on cultural differences. But even though the words are different, Tom still chases Jerry and runs into a frying pan and that's funny in any language. (That's Tom e Gerry in Italian).

Chitty chitty bang bang "coo chi face" in Italian

Sound of Music: "my favorite things" or in Italian "tutti insieme appassionatamente"

The Cutest Little Truck in the World

2011-08-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

I love this little 3 wheeled turquoise truck that parks itself in front of the church that houses the Shroud of Turin. It's full of souvenirs like postcards and prayer cards, plates and tea towels all with that famous image on them. The man who sell from the truck looks to be about 99 years old and he is the sole person with the rights to be parked in front of this pedestrian area and I just think that it's the cutest little truck in the world.

5,000 Year Old Woman Found in Italy

2011-08-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

Archaeologists are always finding amazing historical artifacts in Italy. But this find is quite unusual. In the tiny mountain village of Introd, Val d’Aosta, Italy, Archaeologists have unearthed a woman's skeleton dating to around 3,000 B.C. According to the archaeologists, the woman has been lying on her right side, with her head facing west, for about 5,000 years.

Link to story here.

The Nooks and Crannies: The Bedroom

2011-08-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

Continuing in the effort to discover my design style, which I'm calling Cafe Culture Contempary, defined in my last home post, here is a post showing the nooks and crannies my Torinoi bedroom.

Door Series #47

2011-08-12T01:47:00.000-07:00

My Golden Day in Torino

2011-08-11T02:08:00.000-07:00

I was delighted when Susan Van Allen, author of 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, asked me to describe what would be my perfect or golden day in my city, Torino. It took me a while to edit my list down to fit into one day but I think I came up with a good one. Check it out on Susan's web site here where you can also find other golden days from lot's of expats from all over Italy. Anything you would have added?

French Foodie

2011-08-09T05:50:00.000-07:00

I promise that this is the last post bragging about my trip to Provence. I just wanted to share few delicious french delights for all the foodies out there.

This is my new favorite wine which is only sold to restaurants so not just anyone can get their hands on a bottle. This wine had an uncanny way of being sweet on your tongue and finishing dry when you swallowed. Perfect.

Appetizer: Mozzarella and tomato salad with black olives and a sticky sweet balsamic reduction dressing.

Prosciutto and melon with a rosemary ice cream

Duck filet with cream peppercorn sauce and "fried" mashed potatos

Sole with a cirtus sauce and fried zuchinni

Nutella torte with hazelnut ice cream

Sweet whipped cream cheese with forest fruits compote

Rosè to finish, chilled, dry.

Bonjour from Saint Paul de Vence!

2011-08-08T04:38:00.000-07:00

After a week in France, I not only crossed a few things off my bucket list but I also added a few. My bucket list is quite casual and so I also decided that I should probably make it more formal and actually write it down. So the first thing on my list is going to have to be, Have a little home in what I now think just might be the most quaint and romantic place in the world, Saint Paul de Vence, Provence, France.

I took the liberty of selecting a few potential little houses.

Now it's true that this town has already been discovered by throngs of summer day tourists but I could deal with that because it's also full of artists, art galleries and handmade goods. It's even the final resting place of one of my favorite artists, Marc Chagall. The air smells like lavender and everywhere you look is a postcard.

Bonjour from a Cave in France

2011-08-07T05:01:00.000-07:00

In Trans en Provence we found a restaurant located inside of a cave! Strangly it's in the center of the town.

Our table

What I ate:

Dessert:

How cool would it be to have a party here?!

Restaurant La Grotte
83720 Trans en Provence
France
http://www.restaurant-la-grotte.com/accueilfr.html

Bonjour from Chateau de Berne: Lorgues, France

2011-08-05T23:25:00.000-07:00

Wine tasting in Provance....

Bonjour from Eze, France!

2011-08-05T06:59:00.000-07:00

Traveling in Provence....

We Had an Earthquake!

2011-08-04T00:55:00.000-07:00

We had an earthquake and I didn't even feel it BUT Pier did. It lasted 20 seconds and was a 4.3 richter scale. Not one person got hurt. Yea! I was at the sea. Pier called me to let me know that there was an earthquake and he was ok. I gave him my best elementary school advice which is to stand under a doorway. This video give all the official facts on the quake with some chilled out music in the background.

My Travel Guide for Design Sponge

2011-08-03T01:05:00.000-07:00

Some of you might know the fabulous design blog by Grace Bonney called Design Sponge.
It is an endless insperational blog that includes home tours, DIY projects, makeovers, books, websites, and travel guides. I had the pleasure of writing one of those travel guides for Torino. Read it here.
Look out for Grace's new design book coming out in September. See a sneak peek below! I can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Design Sponge at Home (Official Book Trailer) from The Panic Room Videos on Vimeo.

A Vineyard Wedding

2011-08-01T10:34:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to a wedding in the wine producing region of Gavi. The wedding and recption was right on the vineyard property.

I love weddings!

The Louvre Rejects The Uffizi

2011-07-29T04:13:00.000-07:00

Despite many many requests from the people at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Louvre has turned down any offer to let the Mona Lisa travel to Italy saying that the most famous Renaissance painting in the world, is to fragile to ever leave the Louvre Museum again.

The last time the painting was in Italy was in 1911, exactly 100 years ago, when the painting was stolen by an Italian who pretended to work at the Louvre in order to get access. It was such a scandal that 9 days later when the museum was re-opened, it was flooded with people who went just to see the blank wall where the piece once was. The man who stole it, Vincenzo Peruggia, has a fascinating story. That is why I can't wait to see this new documentary all about the drama and the scandal of the 1911 heist and what happened afterwards. Check out the trailer to see what I mean.

Wine Tasting with me

2011-07-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

Name: al Tralcio Antico Chianti
Year: 2009
Description: Chianti is my favorite Italian wine of all time...well, until I come across another that goes down just as sweet. It's a Tuscan wine that is usually aged for 2 to 3 years. It has a deep dark red velvet color. "Tralcio Antico" means old branch in Italian and that is a fitting name because this wine has a smell of vintage wood to it, which I gather is the oak barrel effect. The taste is smooth and not light but also not heavy. A medium wine.
Price: 3 euros

Recommendation: I recommend drinking this wine after a busy day where you waited waaaay too long in an Italian post office line only to find out when you got to the front, you've been standing in the wrong line all along and you need to be in that line over there which is twice as long as the first one and by the way they close in a few minutes and the next 3 days are saint so and so's holiday and so the post office will be closed. Ya, this wine goes great with that day. Enjoy!

The Nooks and Crannies: Living Room

2011-07-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

Continuing in the effort to discover my design style, which I'm calling Cafe Culture Contempary, defined in my last home post, here is a post showing the nooks and crannies my Torinoi living room.

Door Series #46

2011-07-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

For Me?! You Shouldn't Have.

2011-07-23T03:18:00.000-07:00

As if just for me, the city planted a new garden directly in front of my bedroom window. Hay, I'm not complaining.

Don't Forget to Look Up

2011-07-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

When I remind myself to look up, I'm always pleasantly surprised. I'm glad the city can have a sense of humor.