Slow ride through Slow Food country For all the times I’ve visited Italy, I’ve never been in Piedmont until now, except once, to visit Torino. On that trip, I had a meal that seemed heavy and dull for Italian food, and based on that scant evidence, I decided I didn’t … [Read more...]
A Tale of Two Markets
Torino, Italy-- I just arrived in Torino, and as usual when I visit Italy, I felt an immediate sense of well-being. Torino is a cafe city, with huge porticos that you can walk under throughout the town; it has been called "the most Italian city in France." I love watching all … [Read more...]
All Over the Paperback
All Over the Map is out in paperback! Even though I love the hardback as an object--the cover is beautiful--it's probably best as a paperback, a great read to take along on a summer trip to the beach (or to the couch). I've been delighted and humbled by all of the responses … [Read more...]
The Conde Nast elevator
This is a story told at an open mic last week for San Francisco’s Porchlight storytelling series. The theme was “fashion.” I used to write for Vogue. Since I was a freelancer on the West Coast writing about health and medicine, I didn’t have to worry very often about being … [Read more...]
Savoring Sicily
My friend Fabrizia Lanza, the director of the Anna Tasca Lanza Sicilian Cooking Courses, will be here February 13th, and I'm throwing a reception with her at the San Francisco Writers' Grotto, where we'll taste some Sicilian wine and foccaccia, talk about Sicilian cuisine … [Read more...]