For years, when I visited the States for the holidays (or anytime, really) I would stress the seams of my luggage by overstuffing it with Pecorino Romano, Gragnano pasta, panettoni, horse jerky, whole guanciali. You know, the usual. A run-in with the USDA put an end to my meat deliveries—I still don't have a horse [...]
When it opened in mid-September, La Punta Expendio de Agave instantly became my go-to spot for aperitivo. Mind you, the recently inaugurated Mexico-inspired bar and restaurant doesn't serve the type of aperitivo that its neighbors in Trastevere sling to attract budget conscious and flavor neutral patrons (ie, troughs of under-seasoned room temperature carbs with a [...]
This week, 15 natural wine producers that are part of the Triple "A" movement will be featured in Rome in a series of tastings and events. The winemakers eschew chemical intervention in their vineyards and rely on naturally occurring yeasts (rather than lab yeast) for fermentation, an approach that allows the territory--rather than chemical manipulation--to [...]
Roscioli Caffè is just the newest of the Roscioli spots in central Rome; the cobblestone streets west of Largo Argentina have been Roscioli turf for decades. The family's first venture here, Antico Forno Roscioli, which opened on Via dei Chiavari in 1972, still sells traditional breads and pizza by the slice for prices anyone [...]
It's been a minute since I last visited Bozcaada, the Greek-turned-Turkish island just southwest of the Dardanelles. It's a longer trip from Istanbul than I remember: 8.5 long hours on an overnight bus that trims the Sea of Marmara, arching counterclockwise from Istanbul's Alibeyköy depot, followed by a lay-over at the Geyikli port before the [...]
One of the many perks of a 22-city book tour includes never being hungry. As I criss-cross the United States and Canada, I get to explore all sorts of incredible regional North American cuisine, cocktails, and craft brewing. Aside from a few sad airport breakfasts, I have been loving the food on the road and [...]
