Today’s post is about Stravecchio Branca, an Italian brandy that is as ubiquitous as any other brand in the country. Literally every single bar in Italy has a bottle of Stravecchio on the shelf. It comes from the same company that owns so many other brands such as Fernet Branca, the Fratelli Branca Distilleries yet so few... Continue Reading →
Wines of Lombardy: San Colombano DOC
Milano. My home for 10 years, a city I still feel a part of, home to many, many close friends and dozens of work colleagues and acquaintances, site of a myriad of experiences, evenings, days. My second city really. I can't bear to watch what is happening there now. My way of dealing with this... Continue Reading →
San Colombano, Milano’s Only DOC wine
I just got back from a 10 stay in and around Milan. Most people probably thinks it's a weird place to visit in July when Italy offers so many amazing alternatives but it was just perfect for me. I lived in Milan for 10 years and have a host of friends there and basically a... Continue Reading →
Exciting to visit third Home – Lombardy Soon
I am about to embark on a new adventure in Lombardy and I have to say, I'm excited. I know people will think I am crazy, Milano in July, but I am really excited to see my adopted city. I had the pleasure of living in Lombardy, in Milan, for 10 years from 1995 to... Continue Reading →
Milano, Sant’Ambrogio, Pearl Harbor
I wrote this post back in 2010 and it still all rings true to me. I would love to toast my Great Uncle Murray, a Pearl Harbor survivor today. It would be great to be at La Scala again as well. Maybe one day I will attend La Prima. Intanto, cin cin!
December 7th is always a strange day. On the one hand, I think of Pearl Harbor, the day that will live in infamy and how the USA got into World War II and all that that meant and all the lives that were lost on this day.
On the other, I think of my adopted city of Milan which celebrates its patron saint on this day, Sant’Ambrogio. I lived in Milan for about 10 years so I got very used to its people, their culture and habits. In fact, I feel like I too should be having a long holiday weekend taking Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off as my friends in Italy are doing at this time.
December 7th is also the start of Opera season in Milan at La Scala. It is also the opening of the ski season. I spent many a year skiing at a friend’s home…
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Buona Befana: The New Year Truly Begins
La Befana vien di notte con le scarpe tutte rotte! Viva, viva la Befana che le feste porta via! The Befana comes at night with broken shoes, long live, long live la Befana who ends the holiday. A loose translation but literally La Befana is always the end of the Christmas holiday in Italy. This... Continue Reading →
Yesterday was a holiday in Milano celebrating their patron Saint, Sant'Ambrogio. I write about this ever year and always remember that today is also the anniversary of Pearl Harbor or the "day that will live in infamy." La Scala opens its' season as well but for that and for opera in general, Fred Plotkin is... Continue Reading →
Expo2015 Day 6, Streets of Milan, Italian Indigenous Grapes
Today is day 6 of Expo2015 and it is a celebration of biodiversity. Today's street is Via Brera which is home to the Accademia di Brera, one of the world's great museums as well as the Orto Botanico or botanical gardens. It is also home to other art galleries and the famed Bar Jamaica, a... Continue Reading →
Expo2015 Day 5, Streets of Milan, Caffe Shakerato
Today is day 5 of the Milan Expo and the calendar of events within the pavilions is very full. I want to mention one of the clusters in the fair - that on rice, a staple the world over. Italy's north is known for its risaie. One of the appointments' on today's calendar is with... Continue Reading →
Expo2015 Day 4, Streets of Milan, Crodino
Today is Day 4 of Expo2015 and tonight Italian soccer stars are holding an exhibition match at San Siro to raise money for children. More than 800 million people suffer from a lack of sufficient food on the planet, many of them are children despite the fact that the world produces enough food to feed... Continue Reading →