February has been rainy and grey, a winter like I don’t remember for a long time. They say it’s good for nature… but as soon as the sun comes out, we rush outside to enjoy its warmth.

We’ve also been able to enjoy some bike tours. Usually, we ride on Sundays with a group of friends. Sometimes we’re three, sometimes ten or more, you never know. What never changes is the pleasure of riding together, chatting, and sharing the road ahead of us.

Last time, Arnaud wanted to surprise everyone and carried beer, cheese, and bread on his bike for a little picnic at one of the most panoramic spots along our route. Everybody loved it!

Even though the countryside still feels asleep, nature reminds us that a new season is on its way. The first almond trees are already blooming, small lights in a quiet landscape, ready to awaken. You can feel this energy everywhere: tiny buds on the trees, shy little flowers hiding in the grass.

We are still in the middle of the kitchen renovation, but it finally feels like we’re almost there. We’ve been living for over a month in one of the two apartments we usually rent to vacationers, and now we know exactly what needs improvement. In a way, it felt like a small vacation, changing habits, changing daily life, even if we didn’t go very far… just upstairs. Here’s a video tour of the apartment if you’d like to have a look.

We also took a quick trip to Chamonix to visit my longtime friend Paolo, who was traveling to Europe. We met in the early 2000s: he first worked as a chef at the first Japanese restaurant in Milan, at Armani, and then traveled all over the world, from South America to Asia. I was just beginning my cooking classes while still working as an architect.

We had so much fun back then, and every time we meet, even after years apart (he now lives in New Zealand), it feels like we said goodbye just two minutes before. Chamonix was in its full splendor, with magical light and gently falling snowflakes.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about why I love teaching. Colleen came here in April 2025 for a Food and Wine Trip with her friend Micheline. We had such a great time together, and afterward she joined our online cooking club. She hasn’t missed a single class and is always cooking from my recipe library for her family and friends.

She told me I changed her life. I don’t feel like I have the power to do something so big, but when she shared photos of all the fresh pasta she made with her friends, I was truly impressed. Making fresh pasta is one of my greatest joys and one of my favorite classes to teach, both online and in person. It’s magical how, from just two simple ingredients (flour and eggs or water), you can create something so delicious, nourishing, and versatile.

I’ve already shared my mascarpone and chocolate cake on social media, and if you haven’t seen it and are looking for a simple gluten-free chocolate cake recipe, here it is again: Mascarpone Chocolate Ganache Cake.
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The combination of mascarpone with dark chocolate creates an incredibly soft and velvety texture. The method is simple but delivers a luxurious and elegant result.

That’s all for now.

I hope to cook with you soon, or to welcome you here, in our beautiful corner of Tuscany.

Love from Tuscany
Chicca