italian regional cooking

Gourmet Italian Gift Baskets
The most popular type of restaurant food is Italian food, so it's no wonder that there is a good selection of gourmet Italian gift baskets available. If you are looking for a gift for a food lover, you can't go wrong with gourmet Italian gift baskets.There's all sorts of delicious food in gourmet Italian gift baskets. Everything from pasta to pastrami can be included. Don't forget to Italian specialties like minestrone soup, balsamic vinegar, Italian cheese and desserts. An Italian gift basket can have everything you need for a complete meal.Thanks to their popularity, there's a huge variety in gourmet Italian gift baskets.

There is something to meet every taste and budget as well as specialty gift baskets that cater to pasta lovers or coffee gourmets. They make fabulous gifts for just about any occasion -- birthdays, retirement parties, or anniversaries.When

Happy Birthday to Florence's Duomo - Italy Photo of the Week
<a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/Florence-Duomo.htm"><img title="duomo photo" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goitaly/1/0/L/Q/-/-/duomo.jpg" border="0" alt="italy photo of the week" width="300" height="353" align="top" /></a> Florence's <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/florenceitaly/a/florence-duomo.htm">Duomo</a>, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, celebrates its 714th birthday today. More: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/florenceitaly/ig/Florence-Duomo-Dome-Photos/">Photos from the Duomo Dome</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/">Italy Photos of the Week</a> Florence Duomo Photo © 2010 by Barbara Molini, used by permission. Click on the photo to see it larger.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/08/florence-duomo-birthday-italy-photo.htm">Happy Birthday to Florence's Duomo - Italy Photo of the Week</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Wednesday, September 8th, 2010 at 12:01:49.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/08/florence-duomo-birthday-italy-photo.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/08/florence-duomo-birthday-italy-photo.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/08/florence-duomo-birthday-italy-photo.htm&zItl=Happy Birthday to Florence's Duomo - Italy Photo of the Week">Email this</a>
Visiting the Doge's Palace in Venice
<a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/doges-palace-information.htm"><img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goitaly/1/3/y/P/-/-/doges-courtyard.jpg" alt="doges palace photo" /></a>A visit to the opulent Doge's Palace is a highlight of a trip to Venice. One of the attractions of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/venice-Saint-Marks-Square.htm">Saint Mark's Square</a>, the former home of the Doge (Venice's ruler) is not only one of Venice's most famous buildings but its treasures make it one of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/tp/venice-museums.htm">Venice's top museums</a>, too. For a more enjoyable visit, arrive at opening time to beat the tour groups and consider booking a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/doges-palace-secret-itinerary-tour.htm">Secret Itineraries Tour</a> that includes a look at secret passageways, prisons, and the famous <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/Venice-Bridge-Of-Sighs.htm">Bridge of Sighs</a>. Doge's Palace Essentials: <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/doges-palace-history.htm">Doge's Palace History</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/doges-palace-highlights.htm">What to See in the Doge's Palace</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/thingstoseeanddo/a/doges-palace-information.htm">Doge's Palace Visiting Information</a></li> </ul> Doge's Palace Courtyard Photo © by Barbara Molini<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/07/visiting-the-doges-palace-in-venice.htm">Visiting the Doge's Palace in Venice</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at 19:20:20.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/07/visiting-the-doges-palace-in-venice.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/07/visiting-the-doges-palace-in-venice.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/07/visiting-the-doges-palace-in-venice.htm&zItl=Visiting the Doge's Palace in Venice">Email this</a>
Italy's Abruzzo Region, Setting for the American
George Clooney stars in the recently released movie,<a href="http://goeurope.about.com/b/2010/06/20/the-american-george-clooney-in-italy.htm"> </a>the American (<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goeurope.about.com/b/2010/06/20/the-american-george-clooney-in-italy.htm">more</a>), much of which was shot on location in central Italy's Abruzzo region. If you've never heard of the Abruzzo, you're probably not alone as it's a fairly remote region often overlooked by tourists. The Abruzzo is a mountainous region with stunning natural scenery dotted with medieval castles and picturesque villages steeped in tradition. Here's more about the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/abruzzo/p/abruzzo.htm">Abruzzo region</a>. So, where is the Abruzzo? The region is about 100 miles east of Rome and stretches to the Adriatic coast. Much of the interior is parkland as you can see in our <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/abruzzo/l/bl_abruzzo-map.htm">Abruzzo Map</a>. Read more about the Abruzzo from people who live there: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/The-Flavors-of-Abruzzo---Life-in-the-Abruzzo-Region.htm">Flavors of Abruzzo</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/blogs/italy-blogs/So-This-Is-Life---Abruzzo.htm">So This is Life</a> Italy Movies: <ul> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/23/eat-pray-love-movie-sites-in-rome.htm">Eat Pray Love Sites in Rome</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/planningandinformation/tp/bestitalyfilms.htm">Top Movies Set in Italy</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/languageandculture/Italy-favorite-movies/form.htm">Tell Us About Your Favorite Italy Movie</a></li> <li><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/u/sty/languageandculture/Italy-favorite-movies/">Favorite Movie Submissions</a></li> </ul><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/06/the-american-italys-abruzzo-region.htm">Italy's Abruzzo Region, Setting for the American</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Monday, September 6th, 2010 at 10:00:44.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/06/the-american-italys-abruzzo-region.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/06/the-american-italys-abruzzo-region.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/06/the-american-italys-abruzzo-region.htm&zItl=Italy's Abruzzo Region, Setting for the American">Email this</a>
Where to Stay in Civitavecchia
Civitavecchia is Rome's port for cruise ships visiting Rome and ferries traveling to Sardinia and Sicily. If you're arriving in or leaving from Civitavecchia on a cruise or ferry, it may be more convenient and less expensive to stay in Civitavecchia than going back and forth to Rome with your luggage. If you want to stay in Civitavecchia, consider these <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/Civitavecchia/tp/civitavecchia-top-hotels.htm">top-rated Civitavecchia hotels</a>. Transportation: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/romeitaly/a/civitavecchia.htm">How to Get to Rome and Rome Airports from Civitavecchia</a> Rome Hotels: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/hotelsandlodgin1/tp/rome-where-to-stay.htm">Where to Stay in Rome</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/05/where-to-stay-in-civitavecchia.htm">Where to Stay in Civitavecchia</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Sunday, September 5th, 2010 at 13:20:00.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/05/where-to-stay-in-civitavecchia.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/05/where-to-stay-in-civitavecchia.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/05/where-to-stay-in-civitavecchia.htm&zItl=Where to Stay in Civitavecchia">Email this</a>
Umbria Grape Harvest and Wineries
Guest post by Rebecca Winke, owner of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.brigolante.com/en">Brigolante Guest Apartments</a> in Umbria: At the end of the season, Umbria begins to wind down its madcap summer frivolity - music festivals, food festivals, art festivals, medieval festivals - and get back to what this rural region has been doing best for millenia, making wonderful wine and olive oil. If you are planning an autumn trip, you can observe first hand the harvest and production of both Umbrian wines-primarily Sagrantino, but also Montefalco Rosso, Trebbiano, and Grecchetto--and extra-virgin olive oil--milled with both traditional and modern technology. Being able to see the care and labor that goes into making these local products gives you a window into understanding the history, culture, and culinary tradition that make Umbria such a fascinating region to visit. Oh, and did I mention the tastings? <img class="alignright" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goitaly/1/3/7/Q/-/-/bevagna.jpg" alt="Bevagna" />If you are visiting Umbria during the months of September and October, you'll likely be able to see the vendemmia, or grape harvest. One of my favorite areas in Umbria is the countryside surrounding the enchanting town of Montefalco, famous for its hearty Sagrantino. The rolling hills are covered with vineyards, and the area is dotted with tiny stone villages and hamlets. For a general overview of the Sagrantino area, with a listing of wineries, restaurants, B&Bs and inns, and festivals and events related to the wine country surrounding Montefalco, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://english.stradadelsagrantino.it/">La Strada del Sagrantino website</a> is a great place to start. <a href =http://goitaly.about.com/b/a/261665.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-grape-harvest-and-wineries.htm">Umbria Grape Harvest and Wineries</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 17:27:02.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-grape-harvest-and-wineries.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-grape-harvest-and-wineries.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-grape-harvest-and-wineries.htm&zItl=Umbria Grape Harvest and Wineries">Email this</a>
Umbria Olive Harvest and Olive Oil
Guest post by Rebecca Winke, owner of <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.brigolante.com/en">Brigolante Guest Apartments</a> in Umbria - continued from part 1, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-grape-harvest-and-wineries.htm">Umbria Grape Harvest and Wineries</a>. Later in the autumn, you'll notice olive groves with large nets spread out under the trees and pickers combing through the branches with what looks like plastic toy rakes. The olive harvest has begun! Whereas you can't taste wine right after the grapes are crushed, you can sample peppery new olive oil directly out of the mill, which is what I strongly suggest you take a day to do. To organize a visit to the olive oil producing areas in Umbria (and their mills), your first stop should be the fetchingly eclectic <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.stradaoliodopumbria.it/">La Strada del Olio DOP Umbria</a> website. Don't be put off by the lack of translation on their home page, all the buttons on both the right and left have been translated in the English version of the site. Here you'll find a listing of oil mills open to the public, restaurants in the olive oil country, regional gastronomic products and-my favorite-local personalities (a quirky mix of artists, artisans, and village characters). The biggest annual event for the olive mills is their open house, or <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.frantoiaperti.net/FRANTOIAPERTI-2010.pdf">Frantoi Aperti</a>, which runs for six weekends from the end of October. <a href =http://goitaly.about.com/b/a/261670.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-olive-harvest-and-olive-oil.htm">Umbria Olive Harvest and Olive Oil</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Saturday, September 4th, 2010 at 17:14:26.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-olive-harvest-and-olive-oil.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-olive-harvest-and-olive-oil.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/04/umbria-olive-harvest-and-olive-oil.htm&zItl=Umbria Olive Harvest and Olive Oil">Email this</a>
Umbria Waterfall - Italy Photo of the Week
<a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/Umbria-Waterfall.htm"><img title="cascata delle marmore photo" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/goitaly/1/0/6/Q/-/-/cascata.jpg" border="0" alt="italy photo of the week" width="300" height="201" align="top" /></a> The Cascata delle Marmore, Italy's tallest waterfall, is near <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/spoleto/p/spoleto.htm">Spoleto</a> in the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goeurope.about.com/library/bl_umbria_map.htm">Umbria region</a>. More: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italypictures/ig/Italy-Travel-Weekly-Photos/">Italy Photos of the Week</a> Umbria Waterfall Photo © 2010 by <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.photosofoldamerica.com/">Photos of Old America</a>, used by permission. Click on the photo to see it larger.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/01/umbria-waterfall-italy-photo-of-the-week.htm">Umbria Waterfall - Italy Photo of the Week</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Wednesday, September 1st, 2010 at 21:37:58.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/01/umbria-waterfall-italy-photo-of-the-week.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/01/umbria-waterfall-italy-photo-of-the-week.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/09/01/umbria-waterfall-italy-photo-of-the-week.htm&zItl=Umbria Waterfall - Italy Photo of the Week">Email this</a>
Florence Restaurant Recommendations
On our <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Italy-Travel/343079528539">Italy Travel Facebook page</a>, Melissa posted a few restaurants she liked during her recent stay in Florence. She and her family stayed in a vacation rental apartment (through <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.vrbo.com/vacation-rentals/europe/italy/tuscany/florence">VRBO</a>) in San Frediano neighborhood, across the Arno from the historic center and she says she highly recommends staying in a vacation rental, especially if you're traveling with children. Melissa's recommendations: <ul> <li>Alla Vecchia Bettola, the fried zucchini flowers were a miracle but the place, in keeping with the spirit of historic foods, doesn't take credit cards.</li> <li>Trattoria del Carmine was a favorite for the affable service, traditional food, and the fact that my kids could melt down and they were very kind.</li> <a href =http://goitaly.about.com/b/a/261635.htm>Read more...</a><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/florence-restaurant-recommendations.htm">Florence Restaurant Recommendations</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 11:58:44.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/florence-restaurant-recommendations.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/florence-restaurant-recommendations.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/florence-restaurant-recommendations.htm&zItl=Florence Restaurant Recommendations">Email this</a>
Italy Travel Tips - Credit Cards and Cash
On our <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Italy-Travel/343079528539">Italy Travel Facebook page</a>, a reader who just returned from a month in Florence warns that some small, family-run restaurants don't take credit cards so if you want to get away from the tourist restaurants you may need to pay with cash. She stayed in a vacation apartment in Florence's San Frediano neighborhood (across the Arno) and says: <blockquote>Alla Vecchia Bettola was right around the corner and the fried zucchini flowers were a miracle -- but the place, in keeping with the spirit of historic foods, doesn't take credit cards. It's remarkably difficult to find places to change cash and exchange services are tough on fees. Plus, unlike the past, many regular banks won't change money anymore.</blockquote> I've found that the easiest way to get cash these days is by using my ATM card in a bancomat, but to avoid problems be sure to call your bank to let them know you'll be using your ATM card (and your credit card) in a foreign country. Read more about <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/planningandinformation/qt/ATM-bancomat.htm">Using ATM Cards in Italy</a> and <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/italytraveltips/qt/pickpockets.htm">How to Safeguard Your Money</a>.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/italy-travel-advice-credit-cards-and-cash.htm">Italy Travel Tips - Credit Cards and Cash</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 10:36:14.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/italy-travel-advice-credit-cards-and-cash.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/italy-travel-advice-credit-cards-and-cash.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/30/italy-travel-advice-credit-cards-and-cash.htm&zItl=Italy Travel Tips - Credit Cards and Cash">Email this</a>
Italian Festivals in September
Following the August vacation period, Italians celebrate their return to regular life with festivals the first weekend of September. There's a <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.monicacesarato.com/blog/2010/08/24/regata-storica-venezia-historic-regatta-venice-2010/">historic boat race in Venice</a>, a palio competition in Tuscany, and the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nileguide.com/destination/blog/rome/2010/08/26/get-out-viterbos-festa-di-santa-rosa/">Macchina di S. Rosa</a> in Viterbo, north of Rome. The Macchina, a lighted tower about 30 meters tall and weighing nearly 5 tons topped by a statue of Santa Maria Rosa, is carried through town on the shoulders of more than 100 porters. Viterbo can be visited as a day trip from Rome (see <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/od/lazio/ig/lazio-maps/northern-lazio-region-maps.htm">Northern Lazio map</a>). The popular <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2009/09/08/san-gennaro-festival-in-naples-and-the-us.htm">San Gennaro Festival</a> is held in Naples (and the US) later in September. Read about all these events and more in <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/od/festivalsandevents/a/sept_fest.htm">September Festivals in Italy</a>.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/27/italian-festivals-in-september.htm">Italian Festivals in September</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/">About.com Italy Travel</a> on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 17:46:24.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/27/italian-festivals-in-september.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/27/italian-festivals-in-september.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://goitaly.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://goitaly.about.com/b/2010/08/27/italian-festivals-in-september.htm&zItl=Italian Festivals in September">Email this</a>

it comes to food, everybody's Italian! You simply can't go wrong by giving gourmet Italian gift baskets. A standard Italian gift basket comes complete with pasta, pasta sauce, Italian bread sticks, Italian vegetables and biscotti.If you're looking for something a bit more special, choose some gourmet Italian gift baskets that include appetizers, vinaigrettes, salad mushrooms and a savory sauce. You can also include a set of pasta bowls, or an attractive Italian serving tray that makes a gift that will be remembered for its thoughtfulness.To top off a fabulous Italian meal, nothing goes better than a cup of an authentic Italian coffee. That's why many gourmet Italian gift baskets include a selection of coffees.

Choose from espresso or cappuccino, and for the true coffee gourmet, include an Italian coffee maker.Gourmet Italian gift baskets are suitable any time you want to give a gift that shows you care. Top it off with a personalized note and you will have a gift that will be remembered for its great taste and thoughtfulness..

Stracciatella Per Tre
Order stracciatella in an Italian restaurant and you just might get a three-course meal. Traditional <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italianfood.about.com/od/italiansoups/r/blr0416.htm">Roman egg-drop soup</a> (Stracciatella alla Romana) has stracciatelle ("little shreds") of cooked egg in the broth. Then there's a particular kind of cheese called Stracciatella di Bufala, made from the rich milk of water buffaloes. It's used as the filling for burrata (from Puglia), which starts out as a hollow ball of fresh mozzarella cheese (a bit larger than a tennis ball) that's then filled with stracciatella. Finally, for dessert there's stracciatella gelato, which has a vanilla base and chocolate shavings interspersed throughout.For those who prefer Italian grammar with their meal, the verb stracciare means "to shred, tear up, rip up."<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/09/stracciatella-per-tre.htm">Stracciatella Per Tre</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 02:05:42.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/09/stracciatella-per-tre.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/09/stracciatella-per-tre.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/09/stracciatella-per-tre.htm&zItl=Stracciatella Per Tre">Email this</a>
Canadian Organization Promotes Italian Language and Literature
The <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://canadiansocietyforitalianstudies.camp7.org/">Societ?anadese per gli Studi d'Italianistica</a> (Canadian Society for Italian Studies in English, and Soci? canadienne pour les ?des italiennes in French) is an international organization composed mainly of academics or those who have a scholarly or professional interest in Italian Studies. Established in 1972, the society: <blockquote>"Aims to foster and advance Italian Studies in Canada by providing venues for the presentation and discussion of research dealing with Italian language, literature, film, politics and culture, and related fields, such as Italian-Canadian studies, and matters pertaining to the teaching of Italian as a second and third language."</blockquote>The official publication of the society, <a href="http://canadiansocietyforitalianstudies.camp7.org/Default.aspx?pageId=137851">Quaderni d'Italianistica</a>, is a peer-reviewed journal published twice yearly in English, French, and Italian.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm">Canadian Organization Promotes Italian Language and Literature</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, September 2nd, 2010 at 02:32:57.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/09/02/canadian-organization-promotes-italian-language-and-literature.htm&zItl=Canadian Organization Promotes Italian Language and Literature">Email this</a>
La Burrasca di Ferragosto ?in Arrivo
If historic weather patterns hold true to form, Italy will experience la burrasca di Ferragosto over the next few days. The storm typically occurs in the last week of August, after the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2009/08/15/ferragosto.htm">Ferragosto</a> holiday, during which an intense rainstorm that lasts a few days is followed by lower temperatures and fresh air, breaking the hot, humid days of summer. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, in: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/cronaca/2010/08/28/visualizza_new.html_1789758259.html">Caldo: la 'rottura' dell'estate, tra domenica e luned?t;/a>, this year's burrasca di ferragosto will affect all of Italy and result in a sharp drop of temperatures (between 10-12 degrees Celsius) and strong winds.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm">La Burrasca di Ferragosto ?in Arrivo</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 02:34:21.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/29/burrasca-di-ferragosto.htm&zItl=La Burrasca di Ferragosto ?in Arrivo">Email this</a>
McLawyers Contro McPuddu's
If you're looking for a Big Mac in Sardinia and order a <a href="http://www.sardegnaturismo.it/index.php?xsl=87&s=4382&v=2&c=3164&t=1">culurgiones</a>, don't be surprised if there's no special sauce. For that matter, there won't be any beef patties either, because the dish is a Sardinian form of stuffed pasta filled with pecorino sardo (Sardinian cheese made from sheep's milk), potato, and mint.The point is, there's nothing on the menu at McPuddu's restaurant that's likely to be confused with a Big Mac, yet McDonald's lawyers have ordered the tiny Sardinian pasta snack bar in Santa Maria Navarrese to <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.blitzquotidiano.it/gourme/mcdonalds-contro-mcpuddus-imprenditore-sardo-gastronomia-513708/">remove 'Mc' from its name</a>.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm">McLawyers Contro McPuddu's</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 02:01:07.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/28/mcpuddu.htm&zItl=McLawyers Contro McPuddu's">Email this</a>
De Niro To Take Italian-Speaking Role?
Robert De Niro might soon be dusting off his Italian language skills. According to Variety, the actor is in final negotiations to star in the film Manuale d'Amore 3 (Manual of Love 3). In the film, the third in a series of Italian romantic comedies by the same name, De Niro would play a divorced American professor living in Rome. Some of his dialogue would be spoken in Italian.Some people claimed <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/01/02/dustin-hoffman-needs-italian-lessons.htm">Dustin Hoffman needed Italian lessons</a> when he appeared in a television commercial to promote the Marche region of Italy; maybe he can give De Niro a few pronunciation tips before filming begins in September.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm">De Niro To Take Italian-Speaking Role?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 02:49:38.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/25/de-niro-manual-of-love.htm&zItl=De Niro To Take Italian-Speaking Role?">Email this</a>
Study With Meucci and Garibaldi
Looking for a historical setting to study Italian? <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://pub1.andyswebtools.com/cgi-bin/p/awtp-custom.cgi?d=garibaldi-meucci-museum&page=747">Register for the fall semester of Italian language classes</a> at the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org/">Garibaldi-Meucci Museum</a>, in Staten Island, New York. There are classes for both beginner and advanced students as well as classes taught primarily in Italian. The museum is a memorial to inventor Antonio Meucci and Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm">Study With Meucci and Garibaldi</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 02:45:42.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/24/garibaldi-meucci-museum.htm&zItl=Study With Meucci and Garibaldi">Email this</a>
Chatty in Illinois
<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2006/04/03/italian-language-meetup.htm">Italian language meetups</a> are fairly common nowadays and oftentimes have a specific theme, such as the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2009/10/09/extreme-italian-language-exchange.htm">extreme language exchange</a> held in Rome or the <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/07/05/cineforum-italiano-washington-dc.htm">Cineforum Italiano</a> in Washington, DC. One in particular, though, deserves mention if only for its name. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://ichiacchieroni.tripod.com/">I Chiacchieroni</a> is an Italian-language conversation group in Illinois that meets for dinner every month for a casual evening of conversation in Italian. With a name like that, the group is sure to be talkative!<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm">Chatty in Illinois</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 02:18:30.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/21/italian-language-conversation-group-illinois.htm&zItl=Chatty in Illinois">Email this</a>
RIP Il Picconatore
Francesco Cossiga, former interior minister, prime minister, and president of the Italian Republic, died in Rome on Tuesday, August 17. He was 82. According to The New York Times, "In later years, he developed a reputation for his outspoken criticism of the Italian political system and its players, gaining the nickname Il Picconatore, or the pickax."Mr. Cossiga was a leading figure in the Christian Democrats, the party that dominated postwar Italy until it crumbled in a kickback scandal in the early 1990s.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm">RIP Il Picconatore</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 02:33:50.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/19/francesco-cossiga.htm&zItl=RIP Il Picconatore">Email this</a>
Crema Ghiacciata
According to Corriere della Sera in <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.corriere.it/cronache/10_luglio_06/serra-nuova-vita-caffe_1e1b06c4-88bf-11df-9548-00144f02aabe.shtml">Nuova Vita per il Caff?t;/a>, the latest coffee craze in Italy is crema ghiacciata. Halfway between a gelato and sorbet, the delicious summer concoction is a mix of milk, cream, and coffee combined in a slush machine (granitore).<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm">Crema Ghiacciata</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Sunday, August 15th, 2010 at 02:32:11.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/15/crema-ghiacciata.htm&zItl=Crema Ghiacciata">Email this</a>
More Reasons To Study Italian
Inflation is ever-present nowadays, <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/business/economy/30fed.html">regardless of what economists would have you believe</a>. Case in point: While there might be <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/od/grammar/a/aa082405a.htm">ten top reasons to learn Italian</a>, there seem to be <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://www.onlinecollege.org/2010/07/26/50-reasons-you-should-learn-a-new-language/">50 reasons you should learn a foreign language</a>. <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm">More Reasons To Study Italian</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/">About.com Italian Language</a> on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 02:05:39.<a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://italian.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://italian.about.com/b/2010/08/14/why-study-italian-2.htm&zItl=More Reasons To Study Italian">Email this</a>