ITALY FEVER ™

2015-07-21T14:28:00.001-05:00

GONE TO ITALY: Sept 16 - Oct 3

2013-09-13T14:39:00.001-05:00

My current research and writing trip takes me in search of "new-to-me" Palladian villas in the Veneto region of northern Italy. I'll spend a good portion of my journey at Villa Ghislanzoni Curti (www.villaghislanzoni.it), a 40-acre farm on the outskirts of Vicenza. The Curti family also acquired the Palladian Villa Gazzotti (ca. 1542-47) in 1897, so staying at this property is perfect for making progress on my current book, a mystery with a setting in the Veneto, and yes, there's a Palladian connection!

Via fiction with my current book project, my goal is to foster an awareness and appreciation of the Italian architect, Andrea Palladio, and his amazing villas. Additionally, with my friend, Harold Partain of Epicopia (www.epicopia.com), we are pre-planning a joint travel adventure for the fall of 2015. Harold will join me in Italy for a week as we scout for potential villa properties for lodging, but also for potential side adventures. Vineyards, food artisans, cooking classes, and art are high on our list, so we'll be looking for great opportunities in the Veneto!

Please travel with me, vicariously, as I post along the way (September 16-October 3, 2013). For updates, I invite you to subscribe for free by "following" or "joining" this blog.

"Italian" Rice to the Rescue of My iPhone

2013-08-26T03:02:00.000-05:00

After many years of iPhones, it finally happened: my phone got wet!

When our Labrador, Hanna, recently got carsick on a return trip from Marfa, Texas, she suddenly leaped into my lap like a baby. In route to my lap, she also "tailed" a cup of iced tea, sloshing said tea into the adjacent cup holder where my iPhone was happily nested and playing an audiobook.

Within seconds it became obvious that the volume of the audiobook was fading. Just enough tea had splashed in the bottom of the cup holder to reach the phone's speaker. Soon there was no volume at all.

I'd heard about rice drying out phones so as soon as we got home I made a beeline for the kitchen where, wouldn't you know it, the only rice in my pantry was Italian, . . . and expensive. Quickly, I popped the seal on the most prized variety of Arborio rice for risotto: Carnaroli. Then I buried the speaker end of my iPhone in the rice and walked away. Four hours later, I gave it a test and the sound was returning, so I reburied the phone overnight.

By morning my iPhone was back to full volume with only one thing left for me to do: dig through my Giuliano Hazan cookbooks---and start dreaming of cooking risotto.

EPICOPIA: Join Harold in Italy in 2012

2012-01-19T17:01:00.002-06:00

My dear friend, Harold Partain, has a great travel menu for Italy this year! "Authentic Puglia: A Culinary Cultural Experience" (September 20-29, 2012); Puglia (or Apulia) is the sunny heel of the "boot" that's wrapped by the Adriatic Sea (hint: lots of seafood!). And what's not to love about pasta via "Italian Maremma & Umbria: A Pasta Lover's Culinary Tour in October, or Tuscany for "Taste the Land of the Renaissance" (November 7-18, 2012). See EPICOPIA for details and say ciao to Harold for me!

STUDIO UPDATE

2012-01-19T16:36:00.000-06:00

Cleaning out my studio so I can start painting in January . . .

EPICOPIA: Harold in Italy 2011

2010-09-16T11:13:00.006-05:00

My good friend, Harold Partain, is at it again, going to Italy without me! Only a few spots are left on his upcoming Tuscan experience: A Taste of the Land of the Renaissance (November 10-21, 2010). Trip includes a visit to a cheesemaker and a personal "truffle hunt" and cooking lesson, plus a visit to Lucca (one of my favorite destinations). He's selected an amazing agriturismo stay near Vinci and a delightful hotel in Florence---best of country and city with food and wine experiences along the way. Harold and EPICOPIA pair the best of Italia!

Saying Goodbye to Rome

2010-08-07T11:47:00.001-05:00

Colosseo

2010-08-06T11:35:00.001-05:00

Time for Lanna to jump again. I told her that her shadow looked like a bull, hooves and all.

Rome at Night

2010-08-06T11:13:00.003-05:00

Rome in Black and White

2010-08-05T10:47:00.017-05:00

Vatican Flooring

2010-08-04T10:51:00.008-05:00

Please tread on me.

Where we walk is important.

Floor mosaics celebrate functional beauty.

Great Lighting in Rome

2010-08-04T10:38:00.003-05:00

First Day in Rome

2010-08-04T10:15:00.002-05:00

Soon Departing Orvieto

2010-08-03T23:39:00.004-05:00

I write.

Lanna jumps.

Special Purpose Lighting in Orvieto

2010-08-03T23:20:00.003-05:00

This is one of the more unusual wrought iron light fixtures that I documented. It's designed to illuminate an enormous display frame. I never confirmed if it was electrified or gas since I never walked by it at night to know if it worked or not. I've also seen candle holders like this before, so not sure what this one really is.

Orvieto's Duomo with Golden Mosaic Facade

2010-08-03T23:13:00.006-05:00

A Simple LIght Fixture In Orvieto

2010-08-03T23:06:00.003-05:00

One of my research tasks this trip was to document light fixtures along the way. This one reminds me of "lusters" from Murano.

Taking Time to Write

2010-08-02T23:01:00.003-05:00

Living the Dream via Sagraincasa

2010-08-02T22:50:00.005-05:00

Our gracious hosts and my niece, Lanna; www.sagraincasa.com.

As charming as it looks. Delightfully Umbrian in the midst of rolling hills.

Fiori di Zucca alla Romana per Sagraincasa.com

2010-08-02T16:45:00.003-05:00

Inserting a tiny "cherry" (ciliegia) ball of mozzarella inside after removing the pollen head.

Adding a sliver of anchovy inside before dipping in batter.

Frying in sunflower oil until golden.

Cooking Class near Orvieto

2010-08-02T16:00:00.005-05:00

The highlight of my summer trip proved to be a cooking class in the Umbrian countryside near Orvieto. The experience was first amazing because I totally managed to surprise my niece with the pre-arranged class; I didn't "spill the beans" so to speak until the morning we were to be picked up in Orvieto. Secondly, I have a new Italian friend in Simona Fabrizio, owner of www.sagraincasa.com; she and her husband, Nick, were gracious and welcoming with open arms.

Simona and Lanna.

Zucchini Flowers

2010-08-02T15:00:00.005-05:00

When Simona of www.sagraincasa.com said she had gone to a neighbor's garden at 7:30 in the morning to pick fresh zucchini flowers (blossoms) for our cooking class (because she didn't have enough blossoms in her own garden), I was smitten. I was totally impressed that my neice, Lanna, and I would be getting a "local" food experiences---as promised!

The zucchini blossoms shown here are from Monterosso. When I took this photo, I had to bite my lip not to tell my niece, Lanna, about her upcoming "surprise" cooking class in Orvieto because I knew zucchini blossoms were on the class menu!

Teatro Mancinelli in Orvieto

2010-08-01T23:29:00.006-05:00

A beatiful discovery to find this. I can't believe I never visited
this interior before on previous trips .

Center chandelier.

Sconces with gilt finish.

Riomaggiore to Manarola

2010-07-31T16:45:00.003-05:00

This path is easy and beautiful, perfect evening passeggiata (the evening stroll).
It's known locally as the "Via dell' Amore" (the way of love).

"Lovers locks" are plentiful with keys tossed to the sea.

Seafood pasta in Manarola.

Riomaggiore to Manarola

2010-07-31T16:25:00.002-05:00