Italian Food – life after five

cacio e pepe

May 15, 2018May 15, 2018Allie Zerby

I’ve made and failed at making cacio e pepe more times than I’d like to admit. I’ve created several dishes worth of watery pasta with clumps of cheese that refused to melt. Even after the first, second, and seventh failed attempt, I kept trying because some years ago I ate a wonderful plate of cacio e pepe and dreamed of recreating it.

However, it was also a matter of pride. How hard could it be to make a dish comprised of cheese, pasta and pepper? Unfortunately, I found out this simple dish can be easy to mess up. Making a silky sauce from dry cheese and water is a skill that needs to be learned. Read more →

food in tuscany

April 9, 2017September 30, 2017Allie Zerby

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The richness of Italian cuisine lies in its diversity. Italy is a small country (less than half the size of Texas) but it has twenty distinct regions that each have their own cooking styles and customs.

While studying abroad in Florence, I fell in love with Tuscan cuisine. The flavors of Tuscany are strong and straightforward and are based on peasant traditions. The meals were created to be simple and inexpensive. Today it remains largely the same- but by choice instead of necessity.

Eating is one of the greatest joys of traveling in Italy so if you plan on visiting Tuscany soon, check out my recommendations for traditional foods to try during your visit!