Joanne Natale Spigonardo December 22, 2024 Most Italian families make the wonderful treat of pizzelle during the Holiday Season. Everyone has their own version either handed down through family recipes or from an improvisation of recipes from various sources. It’s all about the flavorings with some recipes calling for anise extract while others call forContinue reading “Pizzelle – An Italian Holiday Tradition”
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The Sweet Life – Chocolates of Italy
Joanne Natale Spigonardo November 18, 2024 As we embark on the holiday season, I’m thinking of all the wonderful chocolates I’ve experienced from Italy. My favorites are well known, for example confections from Venchi, Perugina, and Ferrero, while others are not, for example Baratti & Milano and Caffarel. Italy is known for its sweet life,Continue reading “The Sweet Life – Chocolates of Italy”
The Heritage of Italian Wines in Sonoma County
Joanne Natale Spigonardo October 7, 2025 I had the pleasure of visiting Sonoma County this summer. It was my 8th visit to the area and this time I learned even more about the heritage of not only the Italian immigrants in the area, but also the influence of Italian winemaking there. The region is mostlyContinue reading “The Heritage of Italian Wines in Sonoma County”
All Roads Lead to Pasta
Joanne Natale Spigonardo August 23, 2024 Yes, it’s true that all roads lead to Rome, but also all roads lead to pasta. Pasta has been famous for thousands of years, approximately 3500, and dates back to the Shang Dynasty, ancient Greece, the Etruscans, and of course the Romans. Pasta came to high popularity during theContinue reading “All Roads Lead to Pasta”
Vernazza – Cinque Terre – Timeless Treasure
Joanne Natale Spigonardo May 29, 2024 Vernazza is a small medieval village on the Italian Riviera that is part of the beautiful Cinque Terra landscape. It is nestled in the Ligurian Coast and is in the province of La Spezia. Vernazza dates back to about 1050AD and was an important base for Genoa and itsContinue reading “Vernazza – Cinque Terre – Timeless Treasure”
Science is not an Opinion Remembering Raffaela & Smart Italian Women Celebrating International Women’s Day
Joanne Natale Spigonardo March 8, 2024 Happy International Women’s Day! I wanted to celebrate my Mother, Raffaela DellaVecchia Natale as part of this day. She was a smart Italian woman. In 1937 Italy was dominated by Fascist principles and programs. One of the programs was to promote education to young girls. Among the horrendous toxicContinue reading “Science is not an Opinion Remembering Raffaela & Smart Italian Women Celebrating International Women’s Day”
Italians – The Forever Romantics on Valentine’s Day and Always
Joanne Natale Spigonardo February 1, 2024 We all know that Italians are passionate, romantic, and loving in all aspects of their culture, whether it is with food, literature, music, wine, film, art, relationships, fashion and really in everything. Adding the Italian component usually makes life more dramatic, embellished, defined and bright. There is no such thing asContinue reading “Italians – The Forever Romantics on Valentine’s Day and Always”
The Adoration of the Magi – Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany
January 6, 2024 Joanne Natale Spigonardo In Italy the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 is considered one of the most important religious holidays. While the glitter of Christmas Day fades, Italy embraces the solemnity of the Epiphany with vigor. It is celebrated with Mass and family gatherings. Children receive gifts from the Befana,Continue reading “The Adoration of the Magi – Celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany”
SPQR – Rome Eternal
By: Joanne Natale Spigonardo December 28, 2023 SPQR, is an abbreviation for Senatus Populusque Romanus, which means governed by the ancient Roman Republic. It refers to the eternal city of imperial beauty that has not changed in thousands of years. It is not only about the timeless art and architecture by Michelangelo, Bernini and Brunelleschi, or the majestyContinue reading “SPQR – Rome Eternal”
O Sole Mio – My Song of Gratitude
Joanne Natale Spigonardo November 13, 2023 When I hear the song Il Sole Mio I feel gratitude in my heart for a day of sunshine, a day of hope. Even as the sun is setting the astounding beauty that is so simple yet so complex lightens my soul. It is a Neapolitan love song thatContinue reading “O Sole Mio – My Song of Gratitude”
Hidden Treasures of Italy 