Christmas Market in Udine
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…
Udine: Civici Musei and Museo Diocesano
Today, we’ll visit two of Udine’s best-known museums: the Civici Musei and the Museo Diocesano. The Civici Musei, or “civic museums,” are located inside the Castello di Udine, reachable via…
Cjalsòns: Sweet & Savory
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…
Sightseeing in Udine
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…
The Meaning of “Piena”
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…
Ultimate Gnocchi di Zucca
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…
First Impressions: Udine and Trieste
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…
My First Friulian Dinner
Welcome to my blog! One of the most difficult aspects of writing my book Flavors of Friuli: A Culinary Journey through Northeastern Italy was choosing which pieces to include. Obviously,…