Have you ever noticed, during wintertime, people eating roasted chestnuts, picking them from sheets of yellow paper, bought along the road in the center of Florence? Have you ever tried this particular kind of finger food? The humble, sweet chestnuts have long played an important part in Italian history and its related diet. Throughout the centuries, chestnut cultivation spread throughout the Itallian penin ...

It's new wine time, or Vino Novello, as we Italians call it. Vino Novello is the first of the crop; it goes on sale on November 6 and it's going to be available through February, not later than Easter. Beaujolais Nouveau, French version of the New Wine, goes on sale the 3rd Tuesday of November and will be available through Easter. Vino Novello goes from grapes to wine in about 20 days and has a unique taste ...

In a 12-inch saute pan, heat the olive oil over a medium-high flame until hot but not smoking. Add the onion and garlic and saute for a few minutes, until onion is translucent. Add a pinch of salt. Add the chopped tomatoes and their juices and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and let cook until the tomatoes begin to soften and break down, about 5 minutes. ...