Elixir of Mandragora: from Machiavelli to Harry Potter
In literature, art, music and sometimes even in cooking, there are elements that we can call ‘topoi’, i.e. patterns that are repeated, that return over and over again. It seems…
“Eating stones: myths, fairy tales and the Neapolitan recipe
We all agree: a varied diet is good for your health, but isn’t it a bit extreme to go so far as to eat stones?Well, apparently not. And I’m not…
Saffron Risotto: a recipe from Giovanni Pascoli’s poem
What better way to cultivate a friendship than by sharing a warm meal around the dinner table? Giovanni Pascoli, the famous Italian poet who lived between 1855 and 1912, knew…
The pomegranate fruit: from Persephone’s curse to a Christmas liqueur
Have you ever heard of the ‘butterfly effect’? This is a very special phenomenon: science claims that the beating of a butterfly’s wings can cause a hurricane from the other…
Flowers on the table: from Odyssey to a cookies’ recipe
It is said that man has been blessed with the fruits of creation, with all the delights that can be found on the earth on which we walk. And this,…
Melarance cake: from Basile’s fairy tale to the table
The ‘L’amore delle tre melarance’ is a wonderful Italian fairy tale, written by Giambattista Basile, which unfortunately few people know. This ‘mysterious’ fruit is actually the sweet version of the…
Pancaciato, the salty bun from Assisi, Italy
When we talk about Italian cuisine, there are countless recipes that come to mind, each one better than the last. From various types of pasta to pizza and southern desserts.…
Baci Perugina: the most romantic chocolates from Italy
What is the most classical food you can name when you think of love? Chocolate of course! Chocolates, actually. And which is the most famous and romantic sweet you can…
Green vs Rooibos tea: benefits and health advice
Tea is one of the most traditional beverages for countless culture, such as Chinese, Indian and British ones. Nonetheless, finding the perfect tea, the one you would enjoy the most,…
Indian Chaat: the best street foods ever
How many Indian Restaurants can you spot in a big city? Countless for sure! But guess what? The best Indian food is the one you can find in the streets,…