Happy Labor Day weekend to those in the U.S. and a happy return for those returning from Ferragosto and August vacations. Both are signs that summer is over even though it doesn't officially end for another few weeks. Along with a step-by-step focaccia recipe, the recipes this week include some warm-weather ingredients; tomatoes for a tomato-basil risotto, a bell-pepper pasta sauce, and peach desserts and preserves. In Eating Italy there's a lot going on, too. Links to pieces on the wines of the Veneto and Valtellina, and a piece about Montalicino - who's upcoming vote is causing much unrest around the web. There's much more, including eating in Florence, Rome, Ortigia, Lake Iseo, and the Emilia-Romagna. Enjoy and Buon Appetito!
My Choices for This Week's Top 10 Italian Food Recipes from Around the Web:
How to Make Focaccia Step by Step - Italian Food Forever
Tomato Basil Risotto - La Bella Vita
Baked Anelletti (Anelletti ca Carne Capuliata) from Sicily - Manus Menu
Late Summer Mushroom Pappardelle - Emiko Davies
Bell Pepper Pasta - Quatro Fromaggio and Other Disgraces on the Menu
Alfonso Caputo's Spaghetti alla Nerano and a 2009 Greco di Tufo - Kyle Phillips Italian Wine Review
Peach Tiramisu - A Twist on the classic Venetian dessert - Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino
Roasted Peach Gelato - Briciole
Summer in a Jar: Amaretto Peach Jam - Cucina Panzano
Abruzzo Blackberry Ratafia: The Foragers' Liqueur - Life in Abruzzo
Eating Italy:
A Tour of Veneto Region's Wines - Chicago Tribune
The Best Food in Bologna and Emilia-Romagna - Walks of Italy
Primo Sale (Lunch in Rome) - Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome
Eating Our Way Through the Ortigia Market - Gina Tringali
What the Hell is Going on Montalcino - One of many informational posts from Jeremy this week explaining the situation and upcoming vote on the wines of Montalcino - DoBianchi
Scrumptious Italian Desserts - Delicious photos from pastry shops & gelaterie in Italy - Scordo
Eating Everything but the Squeak - Italy Magazine
Eat, Pray, Love Florence - Europe Up Close
Lakefish Cuisine at Lago Iseo - Rubber Slippers in Italy
Valtellina Love - The American in Italia
Renzo e Lucia Pasta all' Uovo: Great Fresh Pasta in Rome - Spotted by Locals Rome
Regional Cuisines in Rome - Part 1: Focus on Northern Italian Restaurants - Buzz in Rome
Regional Cuisines in Rome - Part 2: Focus on Central Italian Restaurants - Buzz in Rome
Regional Cuisines in Rome - Part 3: Focus on Southern Italian Restaurants - Buzz in Rome
Upcoming Food and Wine Festivals in Italy:
Wild Boar Festival - August 26 to September 11 - Porto Ercole in Grosseto
Santa Brigida Crostino Festival - September 2 to 11 - The small village of Santa Brigida outside of Florence, celebrates its 20th annual festival of crostini
Piadina Days - September 10 & 11 - The province of Forli-Cesena in the Emilia-Romagna celebrates the region's famous piadina
Festival del Prosciutto di Parma - September 9 to 18 - Parma celebrates its 14th annual Parma Prosciutto Festival
Slow Food Cheese - September 16 to 19 - Bra, the home of the Slow Food Headquarters - An cheese festival that originally highlighted only local cheeses, now is an international affair celebrating artisanl cheesemaking - the site is still under construction
Taste of Milano - September 15 - 18 - Food festival celebrating the food of Milan
CousCous Festival - September 20 - 25 - San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily
Mortadella, Please - September 30 - October 2 - Bologna and Zola Predosa celebrate the Mortadella International Festival and other local food and wines (Here is Information about the festival in English)
Dolcemente 2011 Pisa - October 1 & 2 - Pisa hosts the festival that celebrates all things sweet in Tuscany - Tuscan pastries, chocolate, guided tastings, pastry classes and more
Tuscany Wine 2011 Arezzo - October 8 to 10 - Arezzo, in association with VinItaly, the festival focuses on Tuscan wines (Here is information on Tuscany Wine in English)
EuroChocolate - October 14 to 23 - Perugia - The biggest chocolate festival in Italy
Alba Truffle Festival - October 8 to November 13 - The 81st Annual truffle festivals takes place in Alba
November Porc - Every Weekend in November - The Strada del Culatello di Zibello Association hosts events in the area of Emilia-Romagna to celebrate cured meats of the area. Each weekend there will be some type of salami competition (the biggest, the heaviest, the longest, the "biggest chocolate") in a different city along with food stands, street markets and other entertainment
Chocolate in Piazza - November 4 - 6 - Carpi in Emilia-Romagna celebrates its 3rd annual chocolate festival
Merano Wine Festival - November 4 - 7 - One of the biggest wine events in Italy - The 20th anniversary of this festival will happen in the northern Italian city of Merano
Festa del Torrone - November 18 - 20 - In Cremona, a festival to celebrate the candy that much of Northern Italy associates with Christmas
Wine and Food Festivals in Emilia-Romagna - Autumn 2011 - A list, with links, to many of the food and wine events in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy
Events in Tuscany - Site listing many events throughout Tuscany, and not only food and wine
Events in the Langhe area of Piedmont - Site from the Alba Tourist office listing many festivals, mostly wine & food, happening in the Langhe area of Piedmont
Related Posts:
Food in Rome: Taste of Testaccio is Offal
Dish from Rome: Coda alla Vaccinara (Romany Style Braised Oxtail)
A Taste of the Sea and Spaghetti Siracusana
Torta Setteveli - Seven Veils Cake from Palermo
Journey Through the Pastries of Napoli
Pastries of Lecce - A Tour with Pastry Chef Luca Capilungo
Favorite Regional Italian Pasta Dishes
Caramel Gelato and Favorite Gelaterie in Rome
Torta Caprese - Flourless Chocolate Cake from Capri
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Beautiful and informative post as always :) Thanks for the kind mention!
Posted by: Paolo @ DisgracesOnTheMenu | September 04, 2011 at 04:25 PM
Thanks so much for including my recipe! :-) I wish I could go to the Taste of Milano festival! I know the Couscous Fest quite well... I have spent my summer holidays in San Vito every year till I moved to Australia. It is a fun event with delicious couscous! Highly recommended! :-)
Posted by: Manu | September 04, 2011 at 07:03 PM
I have to remember to eat before I read these posts! Ahh, so many good recipes. I really like the "peach theme" going on here as well :)
The Roasted Peach gelato..oh my..think there's still time to make this one! Thanks for another great week!
Posted by: Tuula | September 05, 2011 at 10:45 AM
I like all the photos, especially the one at the very top: what a beautiful arrangement of pasticcini! I am partial to many Italian foods, pastries being one category. I am glad you liked my peach gelato. And it looks like peaches inspired some interesting takes on traditional Italian foods. Thanks!
Posted by: Simona | September 06, 2011 at 10:31 PM
Tons of great stuff listed here! Especially that peach tiramisu - going over to check that one out now =)
Posted by: Peggy | September 07, 2011 at 02:36 AM
Just got through with dinner and then after reading your post, I am suddenly hungry again?
Posted by: Jozee | September 08, 2011 at 11:01 PM