It was the kind of cold that makes snot run, fingertips burn purple, thick ugly hats fashionable. Even this late in winter, with wet, mushroomy soil scenting the air, the melody of water rushing downhill to join full rapid rivers, and cherry trees pregnant and giddy, springtime seemed months away. - The oven’s sunset glow, now only half as fiery as Dante’s recipe for roasting flesh, illuminated her silhouette, a silver helmet of old lady hair. Wiping flour from hands gnarled as ancient Vernaccia vines, she bustled to the glass door set with heavy iron knobs and hinges, a wide smile warm, beckoning, uncharacteristic for a Roman of a certain age. - In Ferrari-fast Italian, who knows which dialect, her arms flail towards a large basket of drying biscotti the color of tan nylons, their crispy edges bulging with almonds; tradizionale naturalmente. My dumb smile, nodding head and childish slaughtering of even the most rudimentary phrases earned me two cookies and a wave out the door. - But, really, I just wanted to check out her oven. - #italy #frascati #paticceria #bakery #fornolegna (at Frascati, Italy) April 05, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Bundles of chestnut and cherry tree prunings awaiting their turn to fire up a bread oven for a fast and furious heat. - #italy #tuscany #frascati #woodoven #bread #breadislife (at Frascati, Italy) March 28, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Spring skies. - #italy #tuscany #frascati #fuckwinterandtrump (at Frascati, Italy) March 28, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
And why not? - #italy #tuscany #frascati #businessideas #porchetta (at Frascati, Italy) March 27, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Ultra-thin crust Margherita pie with dreamy globs of buffalo mozzarella, grilled radicchio brushed with good oil, steamed chicories with fresh spicy garlic, and a bottle of better-than-it-has-to-be, local Sangiovese. - #italy #tuscany #trattoria #pizza #garlicisamiracledrug (at Ristorante Pinocchio Frascati Roma) March 27, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Sunset over the hazy sprawl of ancient Rome. - #italy #rome #tuscany #eternalcity (at Frascati, Italy) March 26, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Foyer. - #italy #frascati #tuscany #architecture #doorway (at Frascati, Italy) March 26, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
With more than 200 caves, The Apuan Alps claim species of chiroptera (living in the deeps of the caves). Bird life also is varied here, hosting the royal eagle, the partridge, the crag martin, the accentor. These mountains are also home to the ‘spectacled salamander’, the Italian cave salamander and the original alpine newt. - #italy #tuscany #alps #fortedeimarmi #seaandmountain (at Forte dei Marmi) March 25, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Piedmontese patchwork. - #italy #piedmont #langhe #italyroadtrip (at Magliano Alpi) March 24, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Piedmontese egg yolk the color of ripe pumpkin and tiny asparagus tips tucked under a thin sheet of pasta, and nestled on a high cholesterol-worthy cheese and egg fonduta, finished with shaved Parmesan and borage flowers. - #italy #piedmont #springfood #primavera (at osteria battaglino) March 23, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Grappa di chamomile. - #italy #piedmont #wolfinsheepsclothing (at Turin, Italy) March 23, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Dinner with Bowie. - #italy #piedmont #art #bowie #ziggystardust (at Dogliani) March 21, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
A wicket gate, a door within a door, was important in the Middle Ages. The larger gate, used to allow horse-drawn carriages into the interior yard, didn’t need to be swung open for pedestrians, thus controlling access and offering greater safety from marauders storming the gates. - #italy #piedmont #door #woodworking (at Bra, Italy) March 20, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Fog rising from the valley. - #italy #piedmont #nebbia #winter #eyecandy (at Bossolasco) March 20, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
Hazelnut orchard with a frosting of snow. - #italy #piedmont #nocciole #orchard #winter (at Dogliani) March 19, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
The Alps at sunrise after an evening snow. - #italy #piedmont #alps #eyecandy (at Bossolasco) March 19, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
A post shared by Lisa Minucci (@lisaminucci) on Mar 18, 2018 at 3:10pm PDT March 18, 2018 by Lisa Minucci Snow ❄️ - #italy #piedmont #snow #yipee (at Bossolasco)
Snow day Sunday lunch. - #italy #piedmont #artichoke #carciofi (at Bossolasco) March 18, 2018 by Lisa Minucci
The building booze built. - #italy #milano #vermouth (at Milan, Italy) October 30, 2017 by Lisa Minucci
Aperitivi. - #italy #aperitivo #vermut #itmustbefiveoclocksomewhere (at Locanda Chiaravalle - Altra Cucina) October 29, 2017 by Lisa Minucci