Living in Italy: Sweet Traditions and the Magic of Local Carnivals

When Pancakes Meet Castagnole  By the time Shrove Tuesday — or Martedì Grasso — arrives, I always breathe a quiet sigh of relief. It feels like the turning point of winter, when the promise of spring finally starts to appear on the horizon. In England, Shrove Tuesday is all about pancakes, traditionally served simply with lemon and […]

Autumn in Tuscany and Umbria – The Joy of Seasonal Eating and Celebrations

Rediscovering the Rhythm of the Seasons When I first moved to Italy, I had honestly lost touch with the rhythm of seasonal eating. I remember searching for broccoli in the supermarket one summer and my mother-in-law looking puzzled and saying: “You won’t find it—it’s not in season.” In London, every vegetable was available year-round—though often flavourless. […]