Emilia-Romagna: Torta di Riso Bolognese

Buongiorno, amici! After a bit of a hiatus, I am so happy to be talking with you about Italy again. On every trip to Italy, we try to visit somewhere new, in addition to sentimental favorite locations. Last time, we skipped the Emilia-Romagna region– too many other places to go! We just couldn’t cram it […]

Tuscany: Torta di Mele (Apple Cake)

I’ve been writing about Italy for several weeks now (except for a little hiatus due to work craziness), and I know every place I write about is all amazing and beautiful and historic and delicious and OMG-level. But I hadn’t gotten to Tuscany yet. And all the stuff about those other regions was 100% true, […]

Rome: Ciambelline al Vino with Dipping Chocolate

There’s a very good reason why Rome is so storied and romanticized and revered. It deserves it. I first visited Rome on an organized bus tour with my mom in 1999, then with a girlfriend a few months later while studying abroad in Paris in college. Those visits were very short, but I instantly knew […]

Puglia: Spicy Pepper & Herb Taralli

For most people, visiting Italy means Rome, Florence, Venice, maybe Milan, right? Let’s throw in Bologna or Pisa if you wanna get real fancy. But how many tourists make it to the southern part of the Boot? Destinations like Napoli, the Amalfi Coast, and even Sicily might be on the list after hitting the main handful of hotspots; but an […]

Amalfi Coast & Positano: Wild Strawberry Ricotta Cheesecakes

Everyone has their own idea of paradise, whether it’s a tropical island, a lake in the mountains, a tranquil forest, or whatever place brings you pure joy. Maybe even one’s own backyard. My happiest Happy Place is of the Italian persuasion… which you might have guessed by now. 😉 One place in particular that I […]

Lombardia: Torta Sbriciolata with Cocoa, Ricotta & Chocolate Chips

Last year I waxed poetic about a cake from northern Italy that I had discovered called torta sbriciolata (sbree-cho-LAH-tah), which consists of a crumbly base and top layer sandwiching a creamy or fruity filling. And I was all, “This cake is amazing!” and “This cake is so easy!” and “I’m going to post so many flavors […]

Under Cover of Darkness: Ovenly’s Brooklyn Blackout Cake

I had never heard of Ovenly until Amazon “recommended” their new cookbook back in September based on my previous purchases. One could certainly say that I have a love affair with certain Brooklyn baking establishments (see here, here, and here), so I was immediately intrigued. With a trip to New York looming (last month), I decided that […]

Bright Lights, Big Sugar: Pastry Crawlin’ in New York & Brooklyn (Part 2)

So. I ate a load of pastries in New York last summer, and I’m just now finishing my write-ups– before I finally head back next month! Always late, this one… In Part 1 yesterday, I wrote about my kouign amann, pastrami pocket, and favorite brownies from Dominique Ansel, Momofuku Milk Bar, and BAKED, respectively. Oh, and the magical liège wafels from Wafels & Dinges— […]

Big Apple Sweetness: Pastry Crawlin’ in New York & Brooklyn (Part 1)

I’m experiencing severe New York City withdrawal. It’s been 15 months since I’ve been there, and I don’t know what to do with myself. Thankfully, the light at the end of the tunnel is near– I’m counting down the days until my visit in October! I’ll be there to celebrate the release of Matt Lewis’ […]