Crostini, loosely translated in Italian mean “little toasts” and are the perfect blank canvas for any kind of topping. They are perfect to serve up before a meal, especially if you’re entertaining, as the crostini can be made in advance and stored in a container, ready to top with whatever takes your fancy (they keep…
Sicily is one of my favourite regions of Italy. Full of history, baroque little towns, amazing coastline, vineyards, not to mention an active volcano. But the best thing about Sicily is the food. Such an eclectic mix of flavours due to the influences from so many different cultures that invaded it over the years. What…
I have always been obsessed with the ancient world. It’s probably one of the reasons I love Italy so much, walking through the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the many ancient sites of Rome for the first time is mind-blowing. To imagine people going about their day to day lives thousands of years ago, the…
If I had to pick one meal that could give you a taste of who I am and where I come from it is undeniably this slow-cooked Tomato Ragu. It is a part of my childhood, part of my family legacy, it practically oozes through my veins. This year, as an ambassador for Taste of…
How strange the world is since I started writing about food. Whoever thought our ability to travel, work, educate our children, spend time with each other, even shop, could have changed so monumentally. The way we think about our health, our choices, our future – seem so huge, so all-encompassing it is almost impossible to…
One of the most often cooked ingredients in my kitchen is chicken pieces. Legs and thighs mainly, although I do like Marylands (a combination of both) when I can find them. Apart from being an incredibly economical ingredient, chicken pieces are just so versatile. As with any kind of meat, it always tastes better when…
You know when you follow a recipe for something new and at the end, it suggests serving with a ‘simple green salad’? This is that salad. I’m almost embarrassed to write about it, it’s just so simple, something I throw together without even thinking about. It isn’t something I weigh, use spoon or cup measures….
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but since Covid 19 reared its ugly head, there seems to be a lot more home cooking going on. My Instagram and Facebook feeds are packed with everyday people making some pretty fancy recipes. The type they most likely wouldn’t have tried before due to lack of time, more…
Taste of Harmony for 2020 is fast approaching and once again I have been asked to be an ambassador for this incredible initiative to celebrate cultural diversity through food. I will always stand behind the notion of experiencing food from other cultures and keeping the recipes from your own culture alive. Food is such a…
Have you ever been to an Italian restaurant and wanted to order pasta, but couldn’t decide which one? I love ordering fresh pasta, especially when I travel to Italy, but I can never decide on the sauce. On a trip to Orvieto a few years ago, a beautiful medieval town not far from Rome, we…
Welcome to my little Italian kitchen in sunny Australia. My family originates from the Italian region of Calabria, and my food reflects my roots as well as the multicultural pot of my Australian home. I am a writer, traveller, cook and eater. My cookbooks are a collection of family recipes and twists on Italian favourites.
