Italian Cuisine & Life Updates
February in Tuscany is an underrated month. Here on the coast, near the Mediterranean, the climate is mild and we are blessed with many sunny days. Despite the countryside sleeping in silence, the first blooms begin: almond trees are the first to show their beauty. They are like small lights lit in a landscape that seems lifeless but is ready to explode. It’s palpable. Everywhere. Small buds on the trees, shy little flowers hiding in the grass. I think February is the cousin of May, celebrated for the blossoms that actually begin now. It’s the perfect month to visit Tuscany, especially here on the coast. Even though everything is calm, the art cities are just a few hours away, for a day immersed in the beauty of Italian culture. As nature reminds us that a new season is soon to arrive, typical seasonal products continue to grace our tables: pumpkins, broccoli, cabbages, spinach… everything that is green or round! When you sign up, you will get: • List of ingredients and tools, and a very detailed recipe. • Access to a 1-hour instructional video replay with my tips and tricks to cook anytime later for life! • New skills and a new recipe to add to your culinary repertoire. • Wine pairing recommendation provided by our friend Linda Lawless, of My Somm Friend. You can see here some of the pictures and feedback this recipe received from our beloved community, who gather after class on our private Facebook group to share their results. I enjoy listening to stories, and I wanted to share something with you about Bolgheri and the wine region where we live. When we moved here over 20 years ago, we found out that we landed in a 5-star paradise for wine lovers. Bolgheri…
Buon anno – Happy New Year! Cheers to new beginnings, to the good and the challenges that have yet to come. Because, after all, that’s what life is all about, isn’t it? Our holiday season was quiet and isolated, thanks to a visit from Santa Covid before Santa Claus. Arnaud and I had to say goodbye to all our plans and celebrate Christmas in the company of our beloved cats and dogs. It turned out to be a much-needed opportunity to rest—a lot. Sometimes, the best holiday plans are the unplanned ones! The temperatures have been extremely mild, and we are able to spend time outdoors, during long walks on the beach and in our garden. Everything is dormant. The big oak in front of the kitchen has shed its leaves, revealing intricate branches against the backdrop of a pink sunset sky. The surrounding vineyards, with their earthy tones, dominate the scenery. Our cypress trees are standing tall and elegant, waving to us during windy days. My kitchen is filled with seasonal fresh produce: vibrant citrus along with various types of broccoli, including cabbage, cauliflower, romanesco. Try these veggies raw into salads, finely cutting them into strips and dressing them with a zesty orange vinaigrette. This is also the season of Cipolline Borretane, or Borrettane onions, a culinary delight from Italy. These small, flat, disc-shaped onions have a tender texture, a sweet and mild flavor that intensifies when cooked. They’re perfect for caramelizing. We’re gearing up to welcome the first visitors in April to our Food & Wine trip in this extraordinary part of Tuscany, where you can enjoy: vineyards like Sassicaia and Ornellaia producing world-class wines, rolling hills with Medieval villages and olive trees, pristine Macchia Mediterraneana forests home to wildlife, and a coast once inhabited by the Etruscans,…
The cold breeze sweeps through the Tuscan landscape and though the hills aren't blanketed in snow, there's a unique charm to the winter season here. The beach is empty, just for us and our dogs. The Mediterranean shimmers like a mirror, brightening up the shorter sunny days. The calmness of nature surrounds us, the silence is almost overwhelming in its serene embrace. Can you hear the silence in wintertime? Fa freddo, it's cold in Italian. The fire is on and the kitchen is my cozy place against the crisp air outside. I'm ready. I'm ready to dive into seasonal ingredients...each veggie tells a story of resilience and flavor. From the hardy greens to the robust root vegetables, the flavors of Tuscany's seasonal produce inspires me with endless opportunities to create easy winter dishes. Try my comfort winter soup Winter, to me, means the arrival of soup season. I could have a steaming bowl of soup every day. It warms my hands, body and soul. Everything is in one bowl. If you want to try one of my favorite recipes, click here to enjoy my leek and potato soup. They are a perfect combination for many recipes and this simple soup is easy to prepare and very satisfying to eat. The sage gives a great aroma to this dish. With a drizzle of yogurt and some chunks of roasted country bread, this soup is ready to be served. Join Chicca's Cooking Club, A New Joyful Season Of Cooking On Saturdays, we cook together (virtually) six times per season with Chicca's Cooking Club members from all over the world. It's a virtual table where every dish tells a story, the ones from my family and Italian heritage. I’ll teach you live from Tuscany my knowledge about healthy home cooking, help you to improve...
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Welcome to Chicca's Cooking Club | Since 2002 Italian Cooking Classes Online and In-Person From Bolgheri, Tuscany We're a small international business that operates between Tuscany - Italy and the US. I'm Chicca, an architect by trade and a home cook - recipe writer by passion. I teach Italian cuisine both in-person and online from my farmhouse located on The Wine Road that leads to Bolgheri. I work with Arnaud, my French husband and creative mind behind all the photos and videos. We partner with Denise, from Portland-Oregon, my trusted co-host for the online classes and business manager. If you enjoy what we do and want to master Italian cuisine, have access to an exclusive collection of recipes and videos while becoming a part of our joyful community of cooks, please consider to become a member of Chicca's Cooking Club. Grazie! Hello and Goodbye September. You whisked in a blink of an eye. You’ve blessed us with hot summer days, and cool, crispy autumn nights — a truly perfect time to visit. You are the month when two miracles happen: grapes are transformed into wine and olives get ripe for becoming precious extra virgin oil. You are the month when we transition to another season, often accompanied by a touch of melancholy. September, you have been an exciting month here in this corner of the Tuscan coast. I had to compile a list before writing this letter to make sure I cover everything I want to share with you. I’ll try to be short and wrap up the most recent events. Beautiful colors on the Tuscan coast. A Heartwarming Visit from a Dear Friend When a friend travels four hours just to spend four hours with you, it's more than friendship; it's love for connection. I had the pleasure of...
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Do you know everything about Italian gnocchi? From gnocchi history and authentic recipes to frequently asked questions about cooking, storing, and even pronouncing gnocchi, you'll find it all in this ultimate guide. What is gnocchi? First, if you’re wondering how to pronounce gnocchi, it’s like this: “NYO-kee”. The g+n sounds similar to ñ in Spanish. In Italian, c+h makes a hard ‘k’ sound. The word gnocchi comes from the word “gnocca,” or knuckle, and refers to the small and soft, dumpling-like ball shape of this pasta. Dumpling is a great description for gnocchi. Gnocchi is a popular type of handmade Italian pasta that has a very ancient origin and is prepared in different ways, with different ingredients throughout the country. In the XVI century gnocchi made with potatoes became very popular, after the starchy tubers were imported to Europe by Christopher Columbus. But not all gnocchi is made with potatoes! These pillow-like balls of dough are made from different bases, so the name refers specifically to the shape. Gnocchi can be made with potato, squash, ricotta cheese, other vegetables or just flour. Once formed into a small dumpling, the gnocchi can then be shaped and textured using special tools, or not. Finally, after gnocchi is cooked, it’s usually finished in a sauce or sauté. Join my next online flour gnocchi class, it's free!{{ vc_btn: link=url%3Ahttps%253A%252F%252Fcookingintuscany.cc%252Fgnocchi%252F&title=SIGN+UP+AND+COOK+WITH+ME+ONLINE+LIVE+FROM+TUSCANY%21&style=custom&gradient_color_1=turquoise&gradient_color_2=blue&gradient_custom_color_1=%23dd3333&gradient_custom_color_2=%23eeee22&gradient_text_color=%23ffffff&custom_background=%23910031&custom_text=%23f7f7f7&outline_custom_color=%23666&outline_custom_hover_background=%23666&outline_custom_hover_text=%23fff&shape=square&color=grey&size=md&align=center&i_align=left&i_type=fontawesome&i_icon_fontawesome=fas+fa-adjust&i_icon_openiconic=vc-oi+vc-oi-dial&i_icon_typicons=typcn+typcn-adjust-brightness&i_icon_entypo=entypo-icon+entypo-icon-note&i_icon_linecons=vc_li+vc_li-heart&i_icon_monosocial=vc-mono+vc-mono-fivehundredpx&i_icon_material=vc-material+vc-material-cake&i_icon_pixelicons=vc_pixel_icon+vc_pixel_icon-alert }} This authentic Italian pasta is beloved for its light, pillowy texture that goes perfectly with a variety of sauces and flavor. It’s an incredible comfort food that can easily be made at home; it takes a few minutes to cook and the little pillows will also tell you when they are ready: they float to the surface of your boiling water! What is an Authentic Italian Gnocchi Recipe? When thinking of gnocchi, in Italy...
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Although it's impossible to make a list of the most popular foods in Italy, when you think of Italian cuisine you probably think of pasta, pizza and tomato. Maybe even extra virgin olive oil, which is at the base of many dishes and the Mediterranean diet. And while these are typical things you can find all over Italy (and the world), it’s just the crust of a cuisine rich in history and regional diversity. In this post: What to know about Italian food? Why are ingredients so important to Italians? What are Italy’s famous ingredients? What are Italy's famous dishes? Why is Italy so famous for food? What are 5 interesting facts about Italy? What are the differences in regional cuisine in Italy? What to know about Italian food and Italian cuisine? The first and most important fact to know about Italian food is that it’s delicious. There’s a reason why so many people enjoy this cuisine and why it can be found world wide. But why? Italian food is accessible. This is one of the most understated reasons people love Italian food. Italians have shown that really great tasting food does not have to be overly expensive or complicated.* Italian cuisine is steeped in a tradition of home cooking using and highlighting simple ingredients like extra virgin olive oil and the humble tomato. But Italy also produces specialty ingredients with techniques and traditions dating back centuries. Things like cheesemaking, meat curing, winemaking, and balsamic vinegar go back generations and generations. But whether you use simple or traditional ingredients, the truth remains that for many of Italy’s most famous dishes like pasta and pizza, require a few ingredients and simple preparations. Are there modern and fancy Italian restaurants and recipes, yes! But the majority of Italian cooking is based on...
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