La Fiat 500 è qui!

E quando dico che la 500 è qui, voglio dire che è arrivata non solamente ad Atlanta, ma proprio nel mio vicinato!

Bellina, no?

Tutti adorano la cucina italiana (in USA)

L'intero numero di Bon Appetit si dedica alle ricette italiane e soprattutto ai trucchi che i cuochi italiani (voi!) usano per creare le delizie.

Secondo me si ignora in Italia quanto gli americani si sono ormai appassionati della cucina italiana.

Qui si trovano ristoranti "toscani" e pizzerie napolitane, ecc. E' proprio una mania. E non si vede la stessa passione per la cucina francese o tedesca o persino spagnola.

Comunque buon appetito!

I used to live here....

And by here, I mean I used to share an apartment at the top of the Medieval stone tower you see in the photo.

Il Nostro Inviato took this picture while he was visiting Florence last month.

Some things never change. To put it bluntly, it will never suck to live in a tower in the center of Florence (near the Arco di San Pierino where you'd see the heroin addicts crowded around the Antico Noe sandwich shop that was tucked into the vault of the arch).

To be sure, it was cold during the winter because there was no heat (I only lived there for about six months). But the highest floor of the tower contained one large open room that was outfitted with windows on three sides, and a large fireplace.

With or without a glass of Brunello, I found the view from the top to be quite compelling, to put it mildly.

What I'm reading now

Bell'Italia, one of the most beautiful magazines ever published!

I know one would normally follow the words 'What I'm reading' with the title of some profound novel, but, well, reading Bell'Italia is a fine use of one's time (or at least MY time!).

It patiently explores every corner of Italy, and every aspect of Italian culture, while publishing National Geographic-caliber photos. It also includes lots of fold-out diagrams and maps!

Where can you buy it?

Well, I believe my copy was purchased at the airport in Florence, and I have not seen it in the U.S. (yes, I mean, even in New York, I'm not sure if they sell it....And of course if they do, it will cost you at least $10!).

Caffe Mingo!

Slowly but surely, I'm allowing myself to open the Christmas-in-April gifts that Il Nostro Inviato brought back from Florence.

And the can of Caffe Mingo topped the list. I've never had it before and it's good!

Caffe Mingo. Caffe Quarta. Caffe Guglielmo. Caffe Kimbo.

I've tried all of these Italian coffee brands in the past few years. Am I ever going to be content again with just Lavazza?

Doubt it! It just seems like all of the other coffees are much stronger.

That's not too surprising when you're dealing with a small regional coffee brand that's made in southern Italy, such as Quarta.

But Caffe Mingo is made in Florence (Borgo San Lorenzo, actually).

Kind of cool to think I'm still discovering new things to love almost 20 years after I stepped foot in Italy for the first time.