A taste of figs by the bay
A taste of figs by the bay
How to Make Lemon Granita at Home: A Sicilian Coastal Summer Dessert

A bright Sicilian lemon granita made with lemons, sugar, and water, frozen in a shallow tray and scraped into icy crystals. Simple to make, sharp, and cooling.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Olive Oil in Italy

A practical guide to reading Italian olive oil labels, finding the harvest date, understanding regional styles, and decoding tasting terms so you...

Sicilian Pistachios vs. Common Pistachios: A Flavor and Buying Comparison

Sicilian pistachios from Bronte and the common varieties sold in most shops differ in flavor, color, size and price. Here is how each behaves in...

Fig and Prosciutto Pairing Guide: Sweet, Salty, and Seasonal Combinations

A practical guide to pairing figs with prosciutto, cheese and herbs, covering fresh versus dried fruit, which cured meats and cheeses to choose, and seasonal combinations worth trying.

Beginner’s Guide to Fresh Pasta Without a Machine: Dough, Rest, and Rolling

A plain-spoken guide to making fresh pasta by hand: choosing flour, balancing eggs, resting the dough, rolling it thin, and cooking it in minutes.

How to Build an Italian Antipasto Board for a Coastal Lunch

A practical guide to laying out an Italian antipasto board for a coastal lunch, with cured meats, cheeses, olives, seafood, fresh figs and bread...

A Seasonal Guide to Italian Fig Varieties: What to Buy from Late Summer to Autumn

A practical tour of Italy's best-loved fig varieties, from pale honey figs to dark jammy ones, with notes on ripeness, season and how to use each in the kitchen.

Common Risotto Mistakes and How to Fix Them: A Troubleshooting Guide

Crunchy or gluey risotto almost always traces back to four moments — toasting, hot broth, stirring, and the rest before serving. Here's how to fix each.

What Is Colatura di Alici? A Clear Explainer on Italy’s Anchovy Sauce

Colatura di alici is a fermented anchovy seasoning from Cetara on the Amalfi Coast. Here is how it is made, what it tastes like, and how to use it...

Italian Coastal Seafood Stew for Beginners: Building Brodo and Adding Fish

A beginner’s guide to Italian coastal seafood stew: building a tomato and white wine brodo first, then adding firm fish and shellfish, and finishing with parsley and lemon.