Sometimes I think about my final year history teacher, and how nice it would be to bump into him in a random piazza somewhere in Italy. Mr Staiff was one of those stand out teachers who take their students far beyond the standard textbook. We started our final year of European history with a screening of Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet followed by a Mediterranean feast, … Continue reading an Italian reading list

The Greeks that settled in southern Italy during the period between the 8th and the 6th century BC called the fertile land with its happy climate Oenotria; land of the trained vines.  They most probably brought with them cuttings to plant, among them Aglianico and Greco or Grechetto, varieties that are still found in central and southern Italy.   The Etruscans also cultivated wine in central Italy, … Continue reading itineraries. around the vinyards of alto -Lazio

This year I’m pleased to announce the dates for both a spring and autumn edition of my special three day orchard to table cooking experience in Lubriano and the area surrounding it. 5 to 7 June, to co-incide with the Infiorata on 6 June 11 to 13 September, to co-incide with the San Procolo festival 10 Sep  What we gather, see, cook and prepare will … Continue reading Orchard to Table Spring & Autumn 2017

La Tuscia is the ancient land of the Etruscans that stretches between southern Tuscany, northern Lazio and Umbria; a volcanic landscape of rolling hillsides, vines, olives and towns crumbling from their cliff-top perches.  The Etruscans were the sophisticated people who proceeded and were subsequently engulfed by the early Roman republics. They cultivated grapes and built towns – Tarquinia, Tuscania and Vetulonia are particular examples – and filled … Continue reading itineraries. treasure hunting in the Tuscia