Cooking in Italy — The Real Travel Bitches

Much of the inspiration for this blog stems from a girl’s cooking trip to Italy, as we explored the beautiful towns of Tuscany and Cinque Terre (TIP: to avoid the growing crowds, visit nearby Portovenere - with its Church of St. Peter ruins beautifully perched high above the cliffs, gorgeous ocean views, cafes and shops all along the water, it makes for an incredible alternative to the bustling Cinque terre)

But the real treat was finding our way up and down windy roads in Tuscany to come upon castellodivicarello.com, tucked away behind a hidden gate (and I say hidden because WE missed it and inadvertently drove onto the nearby field—where were you Simone when we needed you!) Upon arrival, we were welcomed by the family who owns the property, their dog and the most beautiful scenic surroundings …And then there’s the kitchen.

We couldn’t believe it, after months of planning and emailing with them, we were here to cook authentic Italian dishes, in an authentic Italian kitchen, side by side with our chef (who spoke no English) and gracious staff, and take in all that this destination had to offer by way of breathtaking views, a warm dining room to enjoy our home cooked meal, and lots of laughter…and wine! As we sat by the fire, not wanting to leave,(and if you want to stay, you can! In one of their 8 gorgeous suites, which we had to see for ourselves.) We were giddy by the experience and can’t wait to return!

As we jaunted around Tuscany, we visited the Abbey San Galgeno and its honey farm, and had a mouthwatering dinner at borgosantopietro.com while relaxing among the beautiful hanging plants and warm fire in the dining room, (if you get a chance to stay here, you must! It’s absolute 5 star luxury. They also offer Farmer’s Market Dinners weekly with fresh local ingredients and offer an incredible cooking class which I took a few years back.)

Each night, after thoroughly gorging on our incredible meals, we made our way back to our villa and the luxurious www.casalidicasole.com in nearby Sienna.

No trip to Florence is complete without a visit (or 2 or 3!) to Venchi for chocolates and Gelato and a meal at Osteria Il Cinghiale Bianco (ask to dine in the old section)