The Brandt Blog

Having totally MASTERED during our twelve hours in the ‘cucina’ with Anna: centuries of Neapolitan foods, drinks, customs, localized tastes and what to serve at regional/religous festivals, we subsequently headed to a different neighborhood within Firenze’s city walls to learn a different perspective on Italian Culinary Artistry from Simona, a Sardinian (Sardegna) by birth and […]

I’ve been asked, “When you’re riding in those Tuscan landscapes how do you concentrate on the road?” The answer is, “The conditions change so quickly, unless you want an asphalt exfoliation… you lock into the road 25-50 feet at a time.” Today… I admit, focusing was hard. I set out in a different direction (ENE) […]

Our “RESIDENZA” in Firenze is to “TURISMO” just as “COCINANDO” is to “MANGIARE“. Or… if our interpreter Giovanni were to translate, “residence is to tourism just as cooking it to eating.” For we two, living in a country where a family’s recipes are guarded more closely than are their fortunes and regional dishes can cause […]