Assuming that this isn’t the first Auntastasia post you have read, you have probably figured out that I love Italy. But Italy is far from a monolith, and there are some places that I might love a little more than others. Siena is one of those places. I have often said that I would retire […]
We had a big, pooh-bear-honey-pot shaped cookie jar in my house growing up. It must have been something from a local craft fair or potter shop. I still remember the little poem that was on the side (one has to wonder how much time I spent looking at that cookie jar). The word “fluffy” was […]
The first time I visited Rome it was 1991, we were on a serious budget, and it was during my vegetarian phase. If you’ve looked at any other posts here, it’s pretty clear that I’m no longer a vegetarian, but even then I was focused on food. When I started thinking about creating this blog, […]
When I think Piedmont, my first thought is always wine. My second thought is truffles. I am very fond of Piedmontese wines – and who wouldn’t be – but I do not pretend to have the kind of expertise necessary to write about them. I will say that this pasta dish goes quite well with […]
This is a tough one. Emilia-Romagna is obviously the origin of so many of our favorite Italian foods, like prosciutto di parma and parmigiano reggiano. Modena is home to Osteria Francescana, regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world (https://osteriafrancescana.it/). Maybe one day I’ll get there. A restaurant featuring the flavors of Emilia-Romagna […]
I was 20 years old the first time I had Cuban food. I was visiting a friend who was working in L.A., and we went to a Cuban restaurant she loved. One taste of Cuban black beans and sweet fried plantains, and I was a fan for life.That same friend recently recommended a Cuban cookbook, […]
I have a list, a literal list, of places I want to visit, and that list keeps getting longer. Yet, somehow, I find myself returning to Italy before visiting new places. This is in large part because I simply love the regional foods of Italy, and Rome is no exception. Give me some pasta with […]
One of my favorite things from June through October is getting farm share boxes. It’s fun to not know what you’re making until you receive the box and see what’s in there that week – kind of like your own personal Chopped challenge. And yes, I spread everything out on the counter and frequently take […]
This blog is my invitation for you to join me for a meal, a party, or a trip in the one way that is currently available to us all.
Many of us have barely left our homes, and guests aren’t visiting, but we can still travel through food.