My friend made a salami Christmas tree! This year can end on a high note! I guess one way to do it is to craft yourself a Christmas tree made of cured meats like my pal Silvio Imperati of Salumificio Cardone in Agerola. Another is to give gifts purchased from small businesses and [...]
It's January 6, the Epiphany on the Catholic calendar. The holiday is called La Befana in Italy and is so-called because tradition states the befana (a witch-like creature) delivers gifts to children on this day as the Wise Men brought gifts to the baby Jesus. I was always terrified of the befana as a kid. [...]
In May, Imbibe Magazine sent me to Paris to report on the city's cocktail culture. Over the course of five days, I tried nearly 30 bars (I hope to overcome the lingering hangover some day), including institutions like Harry's New York Bar and The Hemingway Bar at The Ritz (neither did anything for me, but [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
