Finding Your Dolce Vita Every Day - Part 2

Today's Dolce Vita Tip: Wear a scarf

You can't get around it when you are Italy - there are scarves everywhere. In the shops, the markets and around every neck. Surprisingly, you will find Italians wearing them well into the spring and starting up again in the early fall. It comes from a long standing tradition of the Italian fear of getting "Hit by Air" - check out this great article to read more about it: How to avoid getting 'hit by air' in Italy This is a significant departure for us Americans (especially New Englanders) who will bust out the flip flops and shorts at the sign of a 50 degree day.

The beauty of this is that the scarf is an ultra hip fashion accessory. There are so many ways to tie them and they can completely finish a look. They are ideal for packing when taking a trip since they take up little space and can jazz up your basic black travel uniform. And yes, gentlemen do wear scarves. Find one and wear it guys. Women will swoon and your kids will think you are really cool. Just ask my husband!

Ciao for now!

Finding Your Dolce Vita Every Day - Part I

Each week I will post a way that you can incorporate things Italian and la dolce vita into your every day life. Because, in my opinion, life is better with something Italian everyday.

Today's Dolce Vita hint: Eat Local.

The Farm to Table movement is a growing one here in the US and I for one could not be happier. This is an effort to eat not only seasonal ingredients, but local ones as well. This is nothing new in Italy. No movement necessary, it's just how it is.

Much of the culinary traditions of Italy have long historic roots. For example, one of the staples of Roman cuisine is innards of various animals. The reason for this is that the high quality meats were reserved for the Pope and those in high places but what was left over after the slaughter was given to the common people of Rome. The Romans made the most of it and to this day the one of Rome’s most typical dishes is pajata or sheep’s intestine. In the area that was once home to the slaughterhouses in Rome you will find restaurants that feature these traditional dishes.

Each region has its own unique bread that is indicative of that region - go to Rome and you won’t find Tuscan (unsalted) bread but you will find some of the most divine chewy bread that makes your jaws hurt to eat it. Up north in the Emilia Romagna you will find a flat bread called piadina and in Sicily you will find bread with sesame seeds (from the East) and also pane arabo or Arab bread which speaks to the cultural influence that the Arab world had on this island off the toe of Italy.

The regional differences in food are really incredible. You will not find risotto or polenta in the South just as you would be hard pressed to find eggplant or a large variety of tomato based dishes in the North. What is fantastic about it when you travel in Italy is that you can have a different culinary experience in every region. If you are going to Italy, I do suggest that you research the regional dishes and try them in that region. It is well worth it - some examples:

Umbria - wild boar, papardelle with hare sauce

Tuscany - ribollita, bistecca alla Fiorentina, pappa al pomodoro

Sicily - pasta alla norma (with eggplant and tomatoes)

Venice, Veneto - sarde in saor, risotta with nero di seppia (squid ink)

Rome - pasta all’amatriciana, cacio e pepe, carciofi alla giudea

Liguria - pesto

You could spend an entire trip in Italy studying this country studying its culture and history through food. Informative and tasty. Who's in?!

Coffee, Caffe, Java, Joe... whatever you call it, just give me some!

I have the coolest mom. Today in the mail came a package with a little memento from Sanibel Bean, my favorite coffee shop on the island. I won't make it down there this year so mom sent me a virtual cup "to warm the cockles of my heart". How sweet is that?! My love affair with coffee is intense and well documented. It started 22 years ago in the basement of a pensione in Rome where the Signora made a caffe latte to die for. It still remains the best I have ever had. It was so good that even on the weekends my roommate Mimi and I would set our alarms to make sure we didn't miss breakfast hour, trundle down for coffee and biscotti and then go back to bed.

If you haven't had coffee in Italy, you haven't lived. Espresso even converted my husband who didn't touch the stuff for the first 44 years of his life. Then on a trip to Northern Italy he gave it a try and now his morning drink of choice is a doppio espresso . Still makes me laugh when I think of this six foot guy sipping espresso from a tiny cup in a vineyard tasting room.

It's not just the flavor of the coffee but it's the whole experience. The pulse of a cafe in Italy is great - neighbors and friends gather for morning espresso and gossip. In the more elegant bars your coffee will come with little cookies or a chocolate. And the maestro behind the bar will put any Starbucks barista to shame. Usually dressed in a blazer or a vest, he manages the flurry of orders shouted at him with ease and expertise. There is no writing the details on a paper cup - this is a true professional.

Obviously I can't always get to Italy for my morning caffeine kick. So while I am stateside I will comfort myself with the fabulous coffee at places like Sanibel Bean and Ashlawn Coffee. And I will count the days until I get to Rome in March!