Last year, I found this wonderful cookbook about Italian baking in my local library. It was called Italian Baker. I took a few of the recipes in this cook book and tried them out to see how well the recipes were written and if they were as tasty as I thought they could be. I was very happy and so was my belly. I was so happy to not only keep a copy of the recipes that I tried, but copied a few more recipes to try in the near future. With some free time recently, I revisited these recipes that I hadn’t tried yet and picked one to try out.
Tag: Italy
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore: Towering over Florence
One of my favorite churches that I have visited in Italy is the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is in Florence, Italy and you can’t miss it. This church stands proudly over nearby buildings and has towers, baptistery, and other amazing buildings included with the cathedral. It is amazing on the outside and on the inside. There is even a museum next door that includes information of the creation and preservation of the cathedral. However, that is not the only reason to visit this church.
The Italian Baker: Bringing A Little Piece of Italy into the Kitchen
This summer I got to spend a little time in the North of Italy in the cities: Venice, Florence, and Milan. I loved eating my way through the streets and finding the best eats. When I got back to the states, I decided to see if I could recreate a little piece of Italy into my kitchen. Thankfully after many afternoons in the local library, I found the recipe book that I was going to use to relive Italy with. It was called The Italian Baker by Carol Field. This book is jam pack full of recipes from every coast of Italy. These recipes were focused in on the wonderful breads, tarts, cakes, and other baked goodies. So who can resist trying a few?
Last Supper, the Last Stop
Leonardo Di Vinci is probably one of the most famous artist that emerged out of the Italian Renaissance. He was fascinated by a variety of academic subjects outside of his artistic pursuit. He traveled all over Italy completing work for some of the most powerful families at the time. People can recognize his unique style on sight. Some can name and describe several of his most famous masterpieces. I personally love his unique style towards painting and pursuing several subjects of study. So when I landed in the city of Milan this summer, I was determined to see one of his most famous pieces of work. This master piece was the Last Supper in the Convent of Santa Maria.
Sforesco Castle: Collection of Collectibles
Milan is a beautiful city. It is full of history. A history you can see and feel in every corner. If one doesn’t have time to wander every nook and cranny then might I suggest a sight that is filled to the brim with a collection of collectibles. The Sforesco Castle in Milan was built in the 15th century and rebuilt in 1891. It now is a popular sightseeing spot for tourist today. The grand size of this sight allows it to be a perfect sight to collect various artifacts from Italian Renaissance that Italy was famous for. They have a large collection of statues, ceramics, murals, and so much more.
Borgo San Jacopo: Michelin Star = Michelin Yum
When a restaurant is awarded a Michelin Star, it is considered one of the greatest achievements it can receive. Florence is home to a plethora of Michelin Star restaurants. In a city full of high quality restaurants, why wouldn’t you go try one out? So after searching for an opening, we were able to dine at Borgo San Jacopo.
Golden View Open Bar: Go for the View, Stay for the Food & Wine
Above the soft lulls of the river in Florence, there is a restaurant near Pointe Vecchio that has the most beautiful views of the river front. They have aptly named this restaurant and bar, Golden View Open Bar. If you have a dining table by the massive windows then you will be stunned by the setting sun and twinkling lights of the city. You can watch the steady stream of tourist and locals meander over the bridges that connect each river side to each other. The whole atmosphere is of peace and tranquility. I see why this was a strong recommendation from Giada De Laurentis. Now onto the food!
Gran Caffe San Marco: An Italian Sweet Treat
Florence is the city of delicious foods. In food blogs, we hear about the pizzas, pastas, and gelato of Florence. However, there is more to the food of Florence than just those three things. Today I am going to look at the more sweet side of the items one should try while in Florence. So after doing some online research from accredited reviewers and trip advisory sites, I went to one of the top cafés in Florence for a sweet treat. Gran Caffe San Marco has many dinning options from to-go sandwiches to culinary pizzas. But this time I focused on the giant sweets display case that runs on both sides of the café.
Uffizi Gallery: Italian Art Paradise
Art is created and displayed all over the world. It is studied in school and celebrated by many. However, it seems like some of the world’s greatest masters come from the Italian Renaissance era. Masters like Leonardo Da Vinci and Micheal Angelo. People study these works, and almost every person on Earth can recognize the styles that were created on sight. Seeing these pieces in person are on people’s bucket list. So when one is in Italy, how can one see many master pieces that rose from this great Italian period? Well, I may have found paradise. A paradise that contains pieces from the Medici Archives, artwork from the greatest religious churches, and pieces created by the greatest artist of their era. Where is this paradise? Let me introduce you to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy.
Hostaria Osottoospora: Venetian Food Extravaganza
Italy is the dream land of pasta, cheese, and other Italian food masterpieces. When I planned my recent trip to Italy, I was ready to feast on perfection. However, my dear friend brought a rainy cloud on my ideal Italian trip. She had traveled to the city of Venice a month before and was sad that her hunt for the perfect plate was empty. She said that all the restaurants had pre-frozen food or the food was the tourist version of the dishes that she hoped to try in their original form. So when I landed in the City of Bridges, I was on a mission to prove my friend wrong. I was going to find the best Venetian food and feast until I reached food coma. I am happy to report I found my Venetian food heaven. Let me welcome you to Hosteria Osottoospora, my Venetian food heaven.
Culture Adventurer 