FOOD and WINE DELIGHT in CINIGIANO - CALICI DI STELLE DINNER 2011

Without doubt one of the best places to truly understand the Tuscans and to get to know the Tuscan food is not a restaurant but one of the many occasions when villages or towns organize a Sagra (local festivity) or any other event that involves food.

Basically you'll be eating outside sitting on a long table next to some shouting and laughing locals whilst eating Tuscan food, which is not prepared by world class chefs but by the old ladies in town. And who wouldn't want a mother-in-law specializing in gourmet home-made pasta?
Okay, there are a few reasons why you'd rather NOT have an Italian mother-in-law - albeit the heavenly pasta does give them a lot of credit. To get the best of two worlds - tasting the Italian mother-in-law's delicious food without having to set up a permanent relationship with the whole family - join me Wednesday night at the 'Calici di Stelle' dinner in Cinigiano.

Click here to see the menu. You'll even get a wine glass to take home. A glass you're meant to fill repeatedly with the local Montecucco DOC wine during the dinner.

20 Euro per person inclusive gadget (wine glass), children 10 Euro.
Call the Pro Loco (tourism office) to book latest by 6pm Tuesday 8th of August: +39 0564 99 41 87 or +39 337 714700

WINE AND ARCHITECTURE: PETRA WINERY BY MARIO BOTTA

Southern Tuscany is home to a handful of wineries, which are often described as wine cathedrals. The Petra vineyard near Suvereto (by architect Mario Botta) is an interesting example of this new approach in winery architecture. At Petra the world-class architect went beyond designing an impressive wine cellar, but also included the outlay of the vineyards in his aim to form a contemporary agricultural landscape. Main building of the Petra Winery in Suvereto If it is true that the way to good wine starts in the he vineyard, it is also true that only the quality of the cork, the design of the label, and the beauty of the bottle shape will bring the consumer's experience to full circle. Taking this thought further it's obvious that the birthplace of a good or even fantastic wine, is yes the vine and its grapes, but also the winery building in particular and the whole estate in general. If you know any of Botta's works, you'll recog...

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Storytellers at the Todo Modo bookshop in Florence

I may not be religious, but I totally worship the Todo Modo bookshop in Florence for its beautiful interior design, central location - a ten-minute walk from the station and Ponte Vecchio - and the cafè hidden among shelves and plants hanging from the roof. UqBar serves some of the best lunches to be had in Florence - especially for people who'd love to forego the usual Tuscan fare for a delicious miso soup . But Todo Modo does another thing well. The shelf-filled spaces in the back can be turned into a small theatre which makes for a great event space among all the books. I had my Across the Big Blue Sea book presentation there and was back last month for a Storytellers night - the first event of a great new series. Linda and Steve, the team from the The Beehive Hostel in Rome have decided to take their storytellers nights to Florence, and Todo Modo has agreed to host them. Whether residents or just travelling through, English speakers will have great fun...

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SAN BIAGIO AT NIGHT - JUNE 7, 2019

San Biagio at night (with Montepulciano in the background) Day or night, San Biagio, il tempio di San Biagio, is always a looker. But it's a special treat to be able to visit the interior of the church all through the night. As one of 150 churches in Italy, Montepulciano's famous temple church will stay open through the night for the ' La Lunga Notte delle Chiese' event. Concerts and various cultural happenings will take place during the long night of churches on June 7, 2019 from 9.15 pm. Check the event website for details of the participating churches in Tuscany and all over Italy.

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