My new life in Italy

Michele Connors left a hectic fast paced life in the restaurant world in New York City for the hills of Tuscany in 2007. After a year in Montalcino, she moved to Florence where she met her future husband Emanuele and has worked in tourism while getting certified as a sommelier by Associazione Italiana Sommelier. She is passionate about Italian food, wine and travel. 2011 will be a busy year for Michele as she is getting married near Emanuele’s home town in Calabria (the sole of Italy’s boot) and hoping to fit in lots of good eats, Italian wine and new cities in the meantime.

Stay tuned for Michele’s blog posts sharing her experiences about eating her way through Italy, life abroad, getting married in the south, and enjoying una dolce vita.

Mignon Potenza scoops ‘Best Web Site’ at the European Property Awards

Posted by: Mignon Potenza on December 9, 2012 | 0 comments

Europe’s most prestigious property industry event awards Mignon Potenza five stars. The best real estate, architecture and interior design from across the length and breadth of Europe were recently celebrated at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square. Mignon Potenza won the Best Real Estate Agency Website for Italy and was awarded five stars – the highest accolade in the category.

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Italian Oscar Winners

Posted by: ben on March 14, 2012 | 0 comments

The 2012 Oscar’s was a record edition. Meryl Streep is the only living actress who has won the greater number of Oscars and with the greater number of nominations.

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SANREMO MUSIC FESTIVAL

Posted by: ben on March 1, 2012 | 0 comments

Sanremo Festival is an annual event famous throughout Italy. It takes place at the end of February in the splendid town of Sanremo, in Liguria, known as the capital of the Italian Riviera of Flowers.

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Town spotlight: POLIGNANO A MARE “The Pearl of the Adriatic Coast”

Posted by: ben on February 22, 2012 | 0 comments

Polignano a Mare is a town in the province of Bari. It's one of the most fascinating town not only in Puglia but in Italy. If you visit Puglia you cannot miss this picturesque place that attracts so many people during the summer time. The first time I' ve seen it I've suddenly fallen in love with it. A lot of “ Baresi “ (people from Bari) use to go to Polignano just to take a walk around the streets of its charming historical city center and get an ice cream.

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“Le Chiacchiere” – A Puglian delight try our recipe for this delicious Carnival sweet

Posted by: ben on February 22, 2012 | 0 comments

Every holiday in Italy has traditional dishes that accompany it. Part of the joy of celebrating each holiday throughout the year lies in rediscovering its food. “Le Chiacchiere” are Puglia’s version of a carnival season sweet found from the top to the toe of the Italian boot.

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BIGNE’ FRITTI CON CREMA PASTICCERA

Posted by: ben on February 25, 2012 | 0 comments

Ingredients (for a plateful): 250ml water 100g butter A pinch of salt 125g flour (pastry flour or all-purpose) Sugar (at least a spoonful, more to taste) 4 eggs (or 2 whole eggs and 2 yolks) Grated lemon zest (or a drop of limoncello) (optional) For frying: vegetable oil, olive oil and/or lard Confectioner's sugar 1 cup or more of pastry cream (optional: see Notes)

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CARNIVAL IN ITALY

Posted by: ben on February 20, 2012 | 0 comments

Carnival in Italy is a huge winter festival celebrated 40 days before Easter and ends on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday or Martedì Grasso), the day before Ash Wednesday. It is not a single day or event, but a whole season of masquerades and fun for people of all ages but especially for children who really love it. When I was a child I looked forward it all year around because every Sunday you could run through the town squares wearing costumes representing cartoon characters or heroes and tossing coriandoli, hundreds of tiny pieces of colored paper, at passersby. Mischief and pranks are also common during Carnevale, hence the saying A Carnevale Ogni Scherzo Vale, anything goes at carnival. You could even bring them to school to play with your mates and you didn't get punished for it. It was fantastic!

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Christmas in Southern Italy

Posted by: Mignon Potenza on February 25, 2012 | 0 comments

Christmas is celebrated with fervour in the South of Italy. Of course Christmas is made for Italians - with big family get togethers, lots of food, lots of wine and celebrations, it’s exactly what the Italians are famous for. Plus, the percentage of Italians who consider themselves Roman Catholic is approximately 88% of the population. This means that many Italians are deeply spiritual, so Christmas is one of the most important times of the calendar year. However, it’s not just the 25th that is celebrated like in many countries, but many dates throughout December such as the 8th - the day of Immaculate Conception and December 13th - St. Lucy’s day.

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In Season Now – First Trip to Press Olives

Posted by: Mignon Potenza on February 25, 2012 | 0 comments

There is nothing better at this time of year in Italy than lugging home a 5 liter jug of the new olive oil. Olives mature around late fall and are cold pressed right away, so the year’s oil is usually available around November and December. Olive oil is best eaten as close to when it was pressed as possible, so Italians usually buy a big bottle in late fall, enough to last them the whole year.

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