On Sunday, April 17, I appeared at the Sacramento Italian Cultural Society to sign copies of Flavors of Friuli. Following my slide presentation that highlighted Friuli's culture, geography, and architecture,…
Flavors of Friuli: A Culinary Journey through Northeastern Italy has just been awarded "Best Cookbook" in the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) 2011 Book Award Program. Other awards: 2010…
While strolling through downtown Udine on a chilly, mid-December evening, the sound of violins filled the air as I passed by a string trio performing on the sidewalk. Star-shaped Christmas…
Following another satisfying breakfast buffet at Udine’s Hotel Principe, I set out for the bus station, conveniently located just a few steps down the street, and caught an early bus…
Served in nearly every restaurant throughout northern Friuli, cjalsòns are one of the region’s best-loved specialties. The word derives from the same root as the calzone from Naples, and the…
There was a chill in the air as I left Hotel Principe the next morning and crossed the street once again to the train station. Fortunately, this time, there were…
My first morning at Udine’s Hotel Principe was greeted by a substantial buffet in the hotel’s downstairs breakfast room. After treating myself to a croissant and some frutti di bosco…
Now that Balance on the Ball had been published, I was craving another creative project. I had had some success writing a few articles for fitness magazines, but I yearned…
My second visit to Friuli was brief—a one-day stopover in Udine with Mike (my then-boyfriend and now-husband). We had just spent an exhausting week in Venezia during Carnevale. Now, Venezia…
It was merely by chance that my first four trips to Friuli took place in wintertime, and so my initial impressions of the region were a bit clouded by the…
