We rent a car tomorrow and drive to Asti. We’ve neglected the sights here, distracted by food. On our last day, we plan to amend this. Our alarm sounds at 6am. After quick showers and coffee, we emerge on the street. The traffic is quiet, pedestrians few. We walk along the Via Saragozza to the edge…

Except for the mandatory bright yellow cap, the class was perfect. Instructors at La Vecchia Scuola teach novices and professional students alike how to make traditional Bolognese pasta. The recipe is simple: for every 100 grams of  ’00’ flour (or cake flour in the US), one egg, then whip, knead, roll, cut, fill, shape, and…

We’re in B-O-L-O-G-N-A. (sorry about that, but I can’t get that jingle out of my head) You may as well know that we came here to eat. Some say that Bologna is the culinary capital of Italy. The food here is decadent: egg pasta, cured meat, beef, pork, veal, cheese, butter. Allora…when in Bologna…

It won’t surprise you that when we got back to our apartment, we took a 2 hour nap, drank water for dinner, and did not leave again for the rest of the evening. We’ll blame it on Alessandro. The one holding the bottle of Lambrusco. Our driver, John (his name was much longer, but we…

In just two hours we arrive by train to Bologna. We splurge for first class on the regionale train from Venice Mestre station, just a few euros more. The seats have more cushion. From the Bologna Centrale station, we drag our roller bags for half a mile to our little apartment – bump, bump, bump,…