The Italian Fix Travel Scholarship Winner Is…

by Bianca Gignac

win a trip italy

You might have heard that back in November we launched a special opportunity to give one person a travel scholarship to Italy.

Which meant that one woman would be joining us on our small group tours in Italy – and it would be on the house. Yup – a week of hotels, food, workshops, and incredible Italian experiences paid for by moi.

I was incredibly excited to offer this because I’ve been the recipient of some groovy travel opps myself. I received a study bursary from The Italian Cultural Institute in Vancouver when I was still in university and it’s how I travelled to Italy the very first time. Look how that ended up!

I’ve looked at all the videos multiple times. I think each person who entered is hands down rad — and I feel so honoured that these brave ladies invested their time and energy to share their stories with me and my team and with all of you. Chatting on YouTube may be easy for some, but for most of us it’s akin to pulling out a sliver: it’s uncomfortable.

I wanna say, con tutto il mio cuore, grazie! With all my heart thank you!

A big shout out to my girls who entered: Courtney, Gina, Kerry, Julia, Holly, Ali, Sandy, Janet, Sara, Crista, Rashmi, Katie, Danika, Beata, Adrienne, Christina and Bridget. You are shining stars and all deserving of wonderful things and I wish each and every one of you love and success in creating the life you want.

We chose to offer this scholarship to Rashmi Pappu, a photographer and hardworking mamma.

Rashmi chose the Italian Fix photography workshop in Florence as her trip of choice and we are excited to meet her next month in Tuscany.

Here is her video.

I hope you can all get behind Rashmi and cheer her on to great things on her first ever trip to Italy and her path as a photographer. Thanks so much everyone for contributing to this community of special travel souls!

A special hug also goes to all the amazing people who  commented, tweeted and shared on facebook (over 220 times!). You rock my world.

xx Bianca

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Honey…Does This Vacation Make My Ass Look Fat?

by Bianca Gignac

how to eat in italy

My best friend once gave me sage advice: never travel with drawstring pants.

You see, she had backpacked her way through Southeast Asia and her wardrobe staple consisted entirely of drawstring pants.

She lamented she was the only person who travelled Indonesia and got fat. Usually you expect to return from backpacking through Asia emaciated from a few bouts of dysentery and the lack of cheese staring you down at every meal. But it didn’t work out that way.

My friend simply didn’t realize the pounds she gained cause she didn’t pack her jeans. Her jeans were her barometer of ass fatness. If they were too tight – she cut out the cheetos. If they were too loose – she got to eat more cheetos. Get it?

Does Travel Devastate Your Fitness Routine?

I asked people on Facebook if travelling devastated their fitness routine (if you’re the type who has this sort of thing).

Most said: hell yeah!  Except for my friend Tim. She said, “Hell no. I still drink wine every night”. Now you know why we’re buds.

So today, I share with you my 10 commandments on how to eat in Italy.

How to Travel Italy and Fit into Your Jeans upon Return.

(Or: How Not To Get A Fat Ass On Your Two Week Italian Vacation)

1. Thou shalt not eat gelato alla fragola, gelato alla crema and gelato al chocolato after each and every meal.

2. Though shalt not eat those bloody brioche filled with cream every bloody morning.  Yes, even if they’re free at your hotel. Apples are also free at the hotel. Coincidence? I think not.

3. Thou shalt follow my 80/20 shoe rule. Wear really comfortable shoes 80 percent of the time – so you can walk all day in joy.  Cause else you’ll be slumming it in a cafe at 3pm cause your feet are aching. Wear your “these devastate my feet but look damn hot” heels for 20 percent of the time – preferably at night when you’re sitting down eating. It’s my 80/20 #winning strategy.

4. Thou shalt not drink soda pop in Italy. Instead drink “una spremuta” (fresh squeezed orange juice made to order) served at most bars and cafes and yes – even in the train stations. For realz. Check out the gal above to see how you order one of those bad boys.

5. Thou shalt not eat like a tourist into a gluttonous stupor. Of course one night a week of food hangover is reasonable. Being a tourist has its perks.

6. Thou shalt learn to eat like an Italian girl.  Eat “antipasti” (appetizers) then skip the pasta and have “il secondo” (fish, meat etc.) Also try “i contorni” (sides of vegetables). Stick to “Il primo” (pasta, rice, polenta etc.) when you won’t be eating anything else. Like, ever.

7. Thou shalt learn the words for salad: “insalata mista” (mixed green salad) “insalata di tonno” (salad with tuna and sometimes corn) or “insalata caprese” (tomatoes and cheese). Yum.

8. Thou shalt love carpaccio. It’s fish or meat — thinly sliced and tasty as can be. Ask the waiter to suggest a wine pairing for the carpaccio you’re diving into.

9. Thou shalt spend an entire day rejuvenating oneself with exercise in the countryside. Bike through some olive groves. Walk a dirt trail to a remote village. Swim in a grotto. Get all Hollywood and hire a personal trainer like us. Organize these experiences through tours or with a map and a prayer.

10. Thou shalt adopt the coffee ritual of an Italian gentleman. Espresso in the afternoon and cappuccino in the morning. Multiple cappuccino shouldn’t be consumed all day – it’s too heavy. Cappuccinos were designed for mornings.  Or for children. Just kidding.

****

What’s your favourite commandment? What commandment can you offer up? What the hell should I do with my drawstring pants? I’m all ears.

Thanks for adding to the conversation. xx Bianca

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The Best Spots in Italy For Your Next Trip

by Bianca Gignac

best spots in italy

The best spots in Italy — you wanna go there right?

But there isn’t a guidebook that exists that can cut the fat and give you the real deal.

Why?

Cause guidebooks suck at delivering you personal recommendations.

If you’re tired of the same-old advice you’ve already heard (fly to Rome then go to Venice) then you’re in the right place.

If you’ve visited Italian Fix before then you know I think formulaic advice sucks hard (and if you’re new here…then welcome and thanks for stopping by).

I’m all about delivering personal travel advice just like a friend — so check this out.

Hear where local Italians spend their time…and their money.

Wanna  know where the Italians escape to?

Wanna know where the locals spend their hard earned vacation cash?

Well, then consider yourself smarter than most.

Travel advice from Italians is hard to come by — cause it’s usually written in Italian. Actually, all this advice was written in Italian — but it was translated for you. Prego.

Drop-kick overwhelm while planning your trip to Italy.

The question that I get asked the most is: “Where should I go in Italy?”

My advice is this: try not to SEE everything — cause you know it’s impossible

Try SEEING less, and FEELING more.

What I mean is this: choose to see less sights but engage in more experiences.

What do you want to see, feel, eat, be, breathe and discover?

One thing is a fact: Italians on vacation capture the essence of  what we as foreigners try to get a piece of on our trip to Italy: relaxation, inspiration, passion, sense of place, history, stunning scenery and exceptional wine and food.

Read on to solve your “where should I go” question.

We asked the locals:

Where is your favourite place in Italy to spend your holiday and why?

This is what they shared (translated from Italian):

__________________

 

B1Valeria Gentile

Owner of L’Essenza – Oasi Sensoriale.

My favourite place to spend a holiday in Italy is Sardinia.

“This land is unlike any other place,” wrote David Herbert Lawrence and after travelling the world, I realized he was right. It’s a magical land, almost a continent, where you may find yourself in front of a lovely beach, an archaeological site from thousands of years ago, a natural spring in the forest, a snowy mountaintop, an ancient village or even a modern town – all within a few kilometres.

Sardinia is like a small universe surrounded by the Mediterranean. Above all, the atmosphere of this ancient place allows you to journey in a particular direction, whether it’s an outward one or an inward one.

Connect with Valeria on Twitter or Facebook

 

 

Chiara Maci

Co-owner of the food blog Sorelle in Pentola and host of the national TV show Cuochi e Fiamme.

The dearest place of my heart is Cilento near the Amalfi Coast, because, besides the fact that I’m originally from Campania [a province in the south], it represents to me the moment of detachment with the chaos of the city and the rediscovery of the smells and flavours that the coastal area always gives you.

The south of Italy has this characteristic of welcoming you, embracing you and making you heady from the genuine colours and feelings like no other place in the world can do.

Connect with Chiara via Twitter or Facebook.

 

Paola Noé

Owner of the kids design site unduetrestella.

My favourite place is Bonassola in the province of La Spezia [Italian Riviera], a tiny village on the sea.

I went there as a child with my parents and I went back after twenty years with a man who has since become my husband. We both loved it and we now take our daughters there.

It’s a strange place; there is nothing to do there really. But the sea is dreamlike and the sunset is unlike anything else. In the morning all you desire is for the ocean to be even bluer than the day before and each evening to see a sunset that is essential and unique to that place!

That just makes me feel so good.

Connect with Paola via Twitter or Facebook

 

 

B4Valentina Orsini and Paola Mazza

Owners of Deliglam

Where we would most recommend a holiday is in Bologna, where me and Valentina met! Bologna is known in Italy as “The Red One”, “the Educated One”, the “Fat One” and it’s where we recommend a foodie tour in Italy.

Bologna is a city of covered walkways where you can walk for hours in the rain without ever getting wet. It’s a city of the seven churches of Santo Stefano and the oldest university in the world – which fills the city with students and young people. You can enjoy twenty four seven nightlife, cocktails in the the sunset in Piazza Verdi and the festivals all summer in Margherita park.

The Fat City is a place to eat with pleasure and happiness (try Osteria 15 for the fried dumplings, cheese with balsamic vinegar and crispy potatoes – you’ll love them). And if you feel like shopping, Bologna is a great city for vintage shops. The Montagnola Market (every Friday and Saturday) is a thriving and unpredictable cascade of second hand. Think coloured coats from the fifties and sixties, kimonos, American clothes, jeans and handbags. All topped off with a good-natured and jovial atmosphere. Bologna is like that; it’s unsual.

She’s an eccentric, lusty and very entertaining lady. Bologna is red like her brick buildings, her roofs and the Asinelli towers that hover above the city like two old friends.

Connect with Valentina and Paola on Twitter or Facebook

 

 

Flavia La Rocca

Fashion designer and owner of Flavia La Rocca

I always enjoy discovering new places; Italy is full of different realities that are all beautiful, from the art cities to the business centers to the places where nature predominates.

I find it amazing to discover the diversity of the customs, the history and the “know how” of each place, city and state, especially when you realize how ancient they are. It’s hard for me to choose one place but if I think of vacations then I think of the summer — therefore the seaside.

Polignano a Mare [Apulia/Bari Puglia] is my first choice. It’s the birthplace of my grandmother and where I spent holidays as a child. I went there last summer after many years had passed and I felt such intense emotions with crystal clear sea and fantastic food.

The second place in my heart is Sicily: Catania and Taormina. I was captivated by the beauty of these incredible towns and the almost surreal atmosphere that surrounds them. Here, too, you find crystal clear sea and great food. I ate the best breakfast of my life here: granita in a brioche, a local specialty.

Connect with Flavia on Twitter or Facebook

 

 

Chiara Formenti

Co-owners of the kids design blog Le Funky Mamas

The place where I love to spend my Italian holidays is certainly not as famous as the award winning Tuscany. But it’s a place of my heart, deeply connected to the history of my family: Friuli Venezia Giulia. It’s a strip of land between Italy, Slovenia and Austria protected by the imposing beauty of the Dolomite Mountains and bathed by the waters of the Adriatic.

Friuli is a constant discovery and is a region with diverse influences full of history; a history that is noticeable in the traditions of architecture and the different local dialects. From the beaches of Lignano you can drive for a sampling of “prosciutto di San Daniele”, or if you prefer the mountains visit Tarvisio to relax in a farmhouse in the beautiful countryside that extends all the way to the Veneto border. Friuli has many ways to spend a relaxing holiday whether you want to get lost in the countryside, the sea or the mountains. It’s a place to roam between good food and most of all — good wine!

Connect with Chiara on Twitter or Facebook

 

 

Francesca Gonzales

Owner of the food blog Spadelliamo Insieme

For me, the ideal holiday destination is Sicily because of its wonderful sea, unadulterated natural landscape and the scents; of earth, licorice and the ocean. These elements together enter your veins and make it impossible for you to forget.

Also, if you’re passionate about food like me Sicily offers an immense amount of excitement for your taste buds.

And if you want to do something different than the traditional beach holiday, it’s a land full of culture and places to explore with both historical and gastronomic highlights.

I’ll be honest – I’m already planning to go there this summer!

Connect with Francesca on Twitter or Facebook.

 

 

Alessandra Caprini

Owner of the design blog Design Your Life

The places where I love to spend a few days of vacation are near my house — I don’t say this from boring patriotism, but because they’re the places where I feel the need to escape to.

I’m talking about Norcia, Castelluccio di Norcia and the Sibillini Mountains that surround them.

There is no particular reason why I love these places but I love the feeling of being close to everything and at the same time far away from everything. The thing I adore is to drive through the Sibillini mountains, go to a rifugio [a country shelter], arm myself with a camera and walk to the green fields above and then just sit and watch the breathtaking landscape and the wonderful sky.

Up there the wild horses roam free, you can stumble on a flock of sheep, or watch the hang gliders catch the wind; it’s where you can actually touch peace with your own hand.

Alessandra is on Facebook.

 

 

Maurizia Triggiani

Owner of the food blog Il Rifugio di Zia Topolinda

My holidays in Italy are spent in Viareggio [northern Tuscany].

I’m Milanese through and through so I love the sea — but I need to be in a town with shops, restaurants, movie theatres and gelato shops close by. In Viareggio I enjoy the civilized comforts of the beaches with showers, loungers and umbrellas as well as swimming pools right on the beach and the chance to watch the sun set over the sea.

Then there’s the joy of walking in the pine woods and the access to the beautiful Tuscan towns and their specialty foods just a day trip away. Viareggio is rich but never snobby; even in winter it’s never sad because it has the magic of “Il Carnevale” [a parade in February] to excite even the non-party goers with its explosion of satire, colours and an amazing display of craftsmanship.

Connect with Maurizia on Twitter.

 

 

Arianna Vivenzio

Industrial designer; founder of Ochobags.

My ideal holiday can only be in my beloved Puglia, specifically in the area of Brindisi between Ostuni and Cisternino where you’ll find splendid white villages perched on the promontory that divides the Itria Valley.

These villages are scattered with the legendary trulli [ancient homes] and occupies the beautiful coastline dotted with white dunes, centuries old olive groves and old style farms retrofitted with modern interiors.

I love to listen to good music in a beach bar during the day or eat orecchiette [pasta] at a sagra [local food fair] in the evening. I’m very tied to these places and I hope to one day find myself living there in a farmhouse far away from the hustle and bustle of the city so I can finally dedicate myself to my car production.

Connect with Arianna on Twitter

 

 

Valentina Rizzo

Co-owner of Manena Hostel

My favourite place to spend a vacation is called Montaretto.

It’s a tiny hamlet overlooking the sea where you can really enjoy all the wonders of the earth, the sun, the mountain air, the breathtaking view and exceptional wine and food – especially at the “Critical Wine” Festival. This important event takes place every spring in the heart of the village at La Casa del Popolo [The House of the People], an important community center.

If you’re a hiker or you just want to walk the footpaths then you’ll discover you can easily get to Montaretto strolling through the hills from the neighbouring villages of Framura or Bonassola [just north of the Cinque Terre].

Connect with Valentina on Twitter or Facebook

 

 

Alessandra Sorrentino

Owner of the fashion blog Rosaspina Vintage

My ideal Italian vacation would undoubtedly be in Sicily.

In particular I love the coastal area that goes from the Zingaro Nature Reserve near San Vito lo Capo all the way to Cefalù, including the Egadi and Aeolian islands. I would go back to those places in the blink of an eye, not just for the incredible beauty of the area but also for my roots and the memories of my summers spent there as a child.

The feeling of finding the same scent every time — of the sea, the taste of mulberry granita, the quiet at four in the afternoon, the prickly pears that line the streets and the feeling of time passing more slowly; it makes me feel immediately at home and makes me forget all the reasons why we stress out in the city!

Connect with Alessandra on Twitter or Facebook

 

 

Elisa Bersani

Owner of the fashion blog The Gummy Sweet

My ideal place to spend a holiday in Italy is Ogliastra [Eastern Sardinia].

In particular, the area of Baunei, with its coves which are only accessible by boat (Mariolu, Biriola Cala, Cala dei Gabbiani) and are pure paradise. The surrounding area is full of colours, flavours and fragrances where you can day trip to beautiful places like the gola di Gorropu [a canyon] and the spectacular nuragic [ancient Sardinian civilization] in the village of Tiscali.

Ogliastra is an area where sea and mountains converge to reward you with a relaxing holiday and countless interesting places to discover and admire.

Connect with Elisa on Twitter or Facebook

 _______________________

Hey, do you know someone who loves to travel?  Could you forward this list to them or share it on Facebook. That would be groovy.

Please comment.

Have the women above inspired you to go anywhere new?

Can you add your personal recommendation to this list of the best spot in Italy?

 Thanks!

xx Bianca


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Happy Anniversary

by Bianca Gignac

Post image for Happy Anniversary

Eight years ago today I married my Italian sweetheart in Italy.

We ran off to city hall. The wind was blowing.

It hadn’t occurred to me to hire a wedding photographer, buy a dress or don some new shoes. We wore what we had, planned nothing and spent nothing; the sprig of baby’s breath behind my ear was my biggest splurge.

We borrowed the wedding rings from his mom; inscribed with her name and the name of her husband long passed. I felt honoured to become a part of that family circle.

We didn’t invite anyone really: it seemed frivolous to ask my family to travel from Canada and so we decided not to invite his family either even if they lived in the same town — but the Italians didn’t listen. Family, friends and relatives showed up at the wedding they weren’t invited to bearing flowers and hugs. We were overjoyed to see them. All together we made city hall feel lively and happy on that cold March day.

bianca_gignac_wedding_2

Alessandro and I have filled the last eight years with many plane tickets over the Atlantic, immigration papers, our very first home (built from Youtube reno tutorials), our gorgeous shiny daughter Flora, lots and lots of work, a good amount of tears, a mom’s passing, juice fasts, cozy rainy nights, weekend walks on the beach, some hella big blowups, dreams, goals, hopes and satisfaction. It’s been a messy ball of yarn. And it’s been a damn good ride. And a damn great partnership.

Bianca_Gignac_wedding_1

Marriage is something I went into knowing nothing. Less than nothing. I was carefree with the arrogance of youth backing me up saying; no big deal. But it IS a big deal. It’s an investment into the rhythm of showing up every day in someone else’s life. Sometimes the going is great. Sometimes the going sucks.  But it’s not a practice run and it’s not a play for keeps. It’s your path and someone else’s path becoming a wider path for as long as the choice presents itself to travel it. In eight years of marriage I’ve learned that and so much more.

Buon anniversario. xx Bianca

b_g_wedding

amore

Drawing by Julie Morstad.

 

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Learn Tuscan Cooking in Juls’ Kitchen.

by Bianca Gignac

photo workshop florence

I am very excited to introduce someone special to you today.

Her name is Giulia and she has invited us to her home in the Tuscan hills outside of San Gimignano for a Tuscan cooking lesson.

I can’t wait.

This experience will be included in the upcoming photography workshop in Florence this May. See more juicy details here.

An Italian cooking lesson with a cookbook author and blogger.

Giulia’s country home will host our group as we spend the afternoon stirring pots, chopping herbs and creating our Tuscan feast. The cooking lessons will introduce each dish with family stories and local traditions; you’ll learn to cook as Tuscan grandmas and moms do every day in their kitchens for their families.

Giulia has been living in the Tuscan countryside her entire life in the same house where her father was born and her grandmother was also born.

Her strong connection of place and her passion for the best locally sourced ingredients will allow you the share in the intense spirit of cooking, eating and celebrating — Tuscan style.

The experience.

Of course the evening will also be a wonderful opportunity to put your new food shooting skills to the test that you learned earlier in the week. It will also be interesting to hear how Giulia turned her love of food into becoming a full time food blogger. She is celebrating her fourth year writing the incredible Tuscan food heaven in pixels: Juls’ Kitchen.

No cooking class at Juls’ kitchen would be complete without a wander through her Tuscan hill town and an aperitivo in the garden. It’s the calm before the eating storm.

I’m so honoured to be able to set the table this spring with Giulia, photo workshop leader Leela Cyd, and the wonderful group of women who have joined this trip so far. As of today there is still space available if you would like us to set a place at the table for you too.

If you want a dose of Tuscany, creativity, incredible food, fresh air and the sparkly vibe of Florence then on behalf of myself, Giulia and Leela we invite you to join us for this incredible week. See the full itinerary.

It’s an Italian vacation masterfully orchestrated to rock your socks learning new skills in a friendly and fun environment so you can be even more amazing than you already are.

I’ll eat to that.

julskitchen_2 julskitchen_florence_workshop julskitchen_1 julskitchen_country julskitchen_coffeecake julskitchen_chicken julskitchen_chicken_2 julskitchen_gnocchi_1 julskitchen_gnocchi_1a

julskitchen_pasta julskitchen_tirarmisu julskitchen_tiramisu

 

All photos by Giulia Scarpaleggia of Juls’ Kitchen.

Please comment.

Would you like to learn Italian cooking in Italy? What’s the best Italian meal you’ve ever eaten?

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Which Town in Tuscany Should I Visit?

by Bianca Gignac

tuscany town

Tuscany town bound?

What is it about our North American genetic makeup?

We have an alarmingly high predisposition to the “Tuscan Holiday” syndrome.

At some point in our life, usually around a marriage, a divorce, or our 20th wedding anniversary, the symptoms become increasingly acute and we seek treatment.

Our cure?

Rolling hillsides. Chianti by the litre. And a rental car with extortionate day fees and a GPS dialed to an unpronounceable hill town.

The people affected by this syndrome are in the millions. The book, Under the Tuscan Sun sold over 2 million copies. The movie was a box office success and grossed over 60 million.

It’s true that there’s equally stunning scenery in other parts of Italy, but something about Under the Trento Alto Adige Sun or Under the Friuli Venezia Giulia Sun just doesn’t have the same ring to it.

So whether “Tuscan Holiday” is genetically predisposed or not, Tuscany is easily the most celebrated region in Italy to visit.

Which is the most popular town in Tuscany?

The most famous city is Florence of course. But the hot list also contains Pisa, Sienna, Lucca, San Gimignano and Cortona.

What’s an alternative to those places?

Do you want something a little lower key?

Would you like to find your own slice of paradiso in terracotta?

Then you’re gonna need a car.

And your gonna need some great ideas.

Sorry–you can’t have my car but you can steal my ideas.

I must tell you that I didn’t pick these towns. I never could have. When I lived in Italy I always deferred such choices to the locals. I just jumped in the car and went for the ride.

So for this list I asked my Italian friend to give me her best picks. I wanted “under the radar” and “picturesque”.

She gave me this list. If you visit her in Italy, this is where she would take you.

Now go forth. And dream with reckless abandon.

6 Towns in Tuscany Your Travel Agent Has Never Heard Of:

1. Pitigliano

tuscany_town_Pitigliano

Pitigliano is a medieval town with Etruscan heritage. It’s found in the southern Tuscan region of Maremma in the province of Grosseto.

The Maremma region is definitely my favorite region in Tuscany; it’s less popular than the hill towns of Chianti but it’s where Italians spend their summer holidays.

The earth under Pitigliano is riddled with tunnels, caves and tombs that you can explore – hook up with the local tourist office to arrange a tour. There’s also a Christian cave chapel said to be the oldest in Italy, from about 400 AD.

For the best views of the surrounding valley head to Piazza Becherini.

There’s no train service to Pitigliano–therefore a car rental is your only option other than a bus from Sienna or Florence.

2. Capalbio

Capalbio

Capalbio is also located in the province of Grosseto, close to the Lazio border.

The views from Capalbio give you an awesome picture of the entire Maremma region all the way to the sea.

The old and lovely things that attract people to the town are the Renaissance Collacchioni Palace which houses the piano of Giacomo Puccini–Capalbio’s most famous vacationer.

The main square has a 13 century church decorated with Romanesque architecture and Renaissance frescoes.

If looking at art commissioned by rich eccentrics is more your thing–head to the Tarot Garden featuring the 22 characters of the Tarot cards.

Wash it all away on the coast of Capalbio which is 12 kilometres of sandy beaches and clear water.

3. Manciano

Manciano_Saturnia

The town of Manciano is built on a hilltop with massive views of the surrounding valleys and the sea. You can even see clearly to Giglio Island, where the Costa Concordia cruise ship sank.

Apart from the views, you wanna visit Manciano to enjoy the thermal hot springs.

Many people don’t know that Italy has some amazing natural springs and the Saturnia hot springs just outside of Manciano are famous within Italy.

You can pay for access to the thermal waters via the spas in Saturnia. The free access is just two kilometres outside of Saturnia at Mulino waterfalls, also known as Cascate del Gorello.

Manciano is just eleven miles SW of Pitigliano (above) so it would make sense to see them both on the same trip while you’re bombing around in your car.

4. Montescudaio

Montescudaio

Montescudaio is a miniature Tuscan town with a whopping 1800 residents.

The village is a medieval borghi, a fortified town surrounded by protective walls. The town is located on a hill close to Pisa.

This is a beautifully preserved town where you might want to plunk yourself at a restaurant with a terrace with stunning views of the ocean, the Islands of Elba, Capraia, Giglio and Montecristo.  You’re just 12 km from the coast.

At the restaurant you’ll want to take a sip of the local product: Montescudaio D.O.C. wine. The red is made from the Sangiovese grapes and the white from the Trebbiano Toscano, and the D.O.C certification mean that the grapes are guaranteed to be from that tiny geographical area. No outsider grapes, man.

If you happen to be in Montescudaio in summer and you need some beach time, choose Marina di Cecina, Vada or Bibbona.

5. Montefioralle

Montefioralle

If you dream of staying in a farmhouse in the famous hills of Chianti Classico then Montefioralle might be your golden ticket for under the radar Chianti living. It’s on the road between Florence and Sienna where vineyards, scattered peasant houses and beautiful villages are dotted between hill-top woods.

Montefioralle has just 2 restaurants and is virtually car free, so if you have kids then this would be a great place to relax.  It’s a 20 minute walk on foot to the popular village of Greve in Chianti, where you can visit a grocery store and see other humans apart from the 79 other residents who live in the Montefioralle.

6. Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni conforms perfectly to the mental image of a walled castle village.

The walls and towers are virtually intact and the streets are mostly traffic free.

Many Italian towns have festivals in the summer, but these people really know how to throw a party.  If you‘re visiting Italy in the summer – check out their medieval festival on the first weekend of July every year. I would recommend it as an alternative to Il Palio (the horse races) in Sienna – especially if are travelling with your kids or parents.

The locals dress in medieval costumes playing farmers, merchants, soldiers, cross-bowman friars, magicians, astrologists, ballad singers and jesters. Kids get in free. Their handlers, (us adults) gotta pay 10 euro.

***

This list is meant to give you a town in Tuscany worth visiting.

These towns are well preserved, picturesque and quaint. They are more terracotta than gold. More pappa al pomodoro than fusion cuisine.

And I guarantee the towns will be boring at night, which is sometimes, just what we need.

***

I’d love to hear from you.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Have you ever visited a small town in Tuscany?

Images: Pitigliano, Capalbio, Manciano, Montescudaio, Montefioralle, Monteriggioni

 

 

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This is 2013.

by Bianca Gignac

Post image for This is 2013.

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.

Brad Paisley.

From my family to yours, wishing you a 2013 worth remembering. xx Bianca

 

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Cantuccini: My Favourite Biscotti Recipe

by Bianca Gignac

cantuccini

It’s pretty hard to ignore that Christmas is around the corner.

Whether you are cheering or groaning, you just might need to eat a cookie anyways.

This cantuccini recipe is a perfect solution for gift giving.

Since these are baked twice (bis-cotto = twice cooked) they are dry biscuits – so if they sit around for a week before you give them away they are still perfect. Just keep them in a sealed container. I’ve made them the last three years and they give me a smug feeling (which is shockingly fleeting)  of domestic goddessness when this iconic Italian treat, is indeed, of my repertoire.

In Tuscany, these cookies are eaten after a meal soaked in a fortified wine called vin santo. But across the pond people eat biscotti dipped in coffee and yes – they are rad like that too (even if in the back of my head I’m thinking – I should be drinking carrot juice).

This recipe is from one of my favourite cookbooks: Twelve – A Tuscan Cook Book by Tessa Kiros. Tessa’s books are all awesome. But if you love simple Italian food then I think Twelve is a book worth the investment. You’ll also find in its pages my favourite Christmas recipe: roast pheasant with pancetta.

Check out my other fave Italian recipe books. For now let’s get on with baking biscotti at home. Easy. Fun.

almond_biscotti

Cantuccini – Almond Biscotti

 

60 grams (2.25 oz) softened butter

250 g (9 oz) caster/superfine white sugar

Grated zest of either 1 orange or lemon

2 eggs

400 grams (14 oz) flour

1.5 teaspoons baking powder

Pinch of salt

150 grams (1 cup) whole almond with the skin

3 tablespoons vin santo (fortified wine).

(recipe makes about 45 cookies)

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Turn oven to 180 C/ 350 F/ Gas 4

Mix the butter and sugar till smooth with a big spoon. Add zest and the eggs and beat well. Mix in the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in the almonds and the booze. The recipe calls for vin santo but unless you live in Italy you likely won’t have this on hand. I use whatever liquor I have (rum is good) but you could just substitute water or juice too.

First, line your cookie sheet with parchment. Then dust your work surface with flour and turn out the dough. Divide your dough in 3 masses and form 3 salami style rolls of cookie dough (about 1.25 inches high/2 inches wide/and shorter than the length of your tray).

Put your dough logs on your cookie sheet and leave room between them for spreading. Bake for 20 minutes till they start to turn golden. They will be a little soft.

Get them out of the oven and lift them gently onto your work surface while they are still hot.

Cut them in slices, slightly at an angle. They should be about .5 – .75 inches wide. You should gently saw the surface of the cookie with a very sharp knife to break through the surface, but then chop down straight to shear the almonds cleanly for tidy little cookies.

Rearrange the cookies on the baking sheet cut side up. They will be fragile before their second round in the oven so don’t rush that step.

This is where you should really pay attention. I’ve overcooked these poor babies at this stage and made teeth breakers. My suggestion is to re-bake them for 5-7 more minutes. I think softer is better than harder as they do dry out as the days pass. Store in an airtight container and they can go a couple weeks – but they won’t. They never do.

They are a nice Christmas gift giving tradition. I wrap mine in brown paper tied with a ribbon. You could give them on their own or with a bag of good coffee or a bottle of port or wine or Tuscan vin santo if you’re feeling flush.

Hope you love them as much as me.

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Please comment. Do these remind you of Italy? Have you made biscotti at home before?

xx Bianca

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Sleep Here: Stylish Sicily

by Bianca Gignac

Post image for Sleep Here: Stylish Sicily

Hotel: Casa Talia

Where: Sicily, Southern Italy

Highlights: Small bed & breakfast // Independent units with private terraces // Ample outdoor space with gardens and hammocks // Breakfast served outdoors under the olive tree // Views of the historical city // Local materials: stone walls, lime plaster, cane roofs and tiled floors renovated by the owners/architects

Surroundings: Casa Talia is located in the mountain town of Modica on the Island of Sicily. The town is a UNESCO Heritage Site and is located at the south of the island close to the sea. The surrounding countryside is characterized by stone walls, olive trees, almond trees and carobs. The nearby harbour of Pozzallo has a hydrofoil that will take you to Malta.

Rates: Starting at 130 Euro for 2 people.

Photo credits top to bottom: Andrea Ferrari, except #3/4 by Simone Aprile, #2 by Matteo Cirenei

Would you sleep here? Does Sicily call you? Do you have any other Sicily hotel recommendations?

Thanks. xx Bianca

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Behind the Scenes of Your Italian Fix: Day 7

by Bianca Gignac

Post image for Behind the Scenes of Your Italian Fix: Day 7

>> This is the last day of a 7 day party delivering a sneak-peek at how getting your Italian Fix is the best thing you can do with your precious vacation time. <<

***************

What is giving?

Is it throwing pocket change at the guy on the street corner?

Is it buying dinner for a friend?

Is it slipping 20 bucks to your kid?

Of course it’s all those things.

But what if giving was something automatic — built right into your lifestyle?

You knew you were gonna make something happen but you didn’t focus on how you were gonna do it.

You said things like:

“This year, no Christmas presents, the gift budget is going to (insert person/country here)”.

“I’m giving 100 bucks to the food bank cause they do good work”.

“I want all the kids at my child’s school to have a healthy snack”.

And so you move forward. You make it happen.

I’m a crazy reader.

I read ninety-nine percent nonfiction. I read mostly about people – what they think, how they do things, how they live. I’m the weirdo who went to the bookstore to buy WordPress Visually so I could figure out how to build this website (I laugh at myself because I didn’t even own my own computer at that point. At times my optimism borders on bizarre).

In my reading, what has inspired me the most is this: EVERYDAY people make something out of nothing. Just from an idea.

Visionaries rock! Instead of saying, “I can’t do this cause I don’t (insert excuse here)” or “I don’t know how to (insert phrase here)” — they say, “There must be a way” or “How can I?”

The best quote I heard over the weekend at a conference in NYC was by Danielle LaPorte: “Choose to be one of the people who pulls it off”.  Ouch! So hot it burns.

Last year, I had an epiphany. I thought: How can I amplify my service to others? How can helping women lead an exceptional life help others in their struggles?  What is IMPORTANT to me? What makes me FEEL good? How can I do greater things?

My definition of greater things (and everyone has their own) is going beyond pure self-interest. Sure, it’s pretty human to have the, “What’s in it for me?” mentality. But the crazy truth is that all our decisions affect others people’s lives — for better or for worse.

And so this inspiration came to me: Bianca – level the playing field. Amplify joy by giving to those who have less.

Thanks brain. That was a good download.

But I had a big problem.

My brain said: “give” and I got in the way. I said: “How? I don’t *come* from money. I never have a big chunk of it. I work, I buy stuff I need, and then it’s usually gone. I don’t have a high paying job – I have no big stash. It’s just pocket change. I suck. I’m out of my element”.

Shit – this whole giving thing is stressing me out!

Then my brain spoke a little louder cause I’m obviously slow on the uptake: “Give through your business. Grow your business and grow your giving”.

Shit – THIS is good brain! Really juicy idea, brain. Brava brain!

And so I started giving through Italian Fix last year.

What does Italian Fix giving look like?

It means that every time you invest in a product or service that my company offers – you are investing in others too.

It means that this season, when you travel to Italy with us, a percentage of your sale goes directly to levelling the playing field of social and economic inequality.

Translation: Your giving is built right into your trip!

Not only do get the most amazing travel experience of your life – you get to GIVE an amazing opportunity to someone else. It’s automatic and you don’t have to do any of the work.

This year (like last year) we’re giving to Kiva.

If you don’t know Kiva then I’m gonna give you the lowdown showdown. Kiva’s vision is this:

We envision a world where all people – even in the most remote areas of the globe – hold the power to create opportunity for themselves and others.

We believe providing safe, affordable access to capital to those in need helps people create better lives for themselves and their families.

What Kiva does is simply turn donations into loans for people.

But these aren’t just any people, they are entrepreneurs, many of them dirt poor (not just I’m-poor-so-I-won’t be-going-out-for-dinner-tonight poor). These people couldn’t normally get a loan, and they have no access to credit or collateral (you can’t charge a credit card if you can’t get one).

I have a big crush on Kiva because I know that 100% of our donations fund microloans, not administration fees and staff salaries.

Also – these are loans peeps! And most of the times – the loans get re-payed – which means you get to RE-GIVE to someone next in line. The money recycles to others and keeps working. How cool is that!

I am really proud of this part of my business and that’s why I wanted to share it with you.

If you want to hear my biggest-deepest secret it’s this: My goal is to give $100,000 in my lifetime to people and organizations who make the world a saner place. I’m gonna do that through the businesses that I create. I’m very excited by my goal and even though I’ve just begun, I know that people have overcome bigger challenges; life is full of success when you set your eye on the target.

I know this isn’t revolutionary – there are tons of people who are being the change they want to see in the world and they have inspired me to do this. I love feeling like I’m part of one tsunami wave of worldwide awareness. I hope you’ll jump on in – cause the water is great!

The last day:

This is the last day of our 7 day party that was born to celebrate the release of our brand new trips to Italy this upcoming season.

Six days into trip sales — the response has been awesome.

We’ve had 200 comments posted in the last 6 days on Italian Fix. We’ve sold trips to people who now have “vacation in Italy” marked on their calendar! How great is that. And we’ve offered great give-aways everyday to anyone who has left us a comment.

I hope that you feel you know me a little more than you did last week. And that I’ve showed you something that you would like to be a part of.

Thank- you to everyone who’s spent time with me in the last week. I’m feeling the love! Grazie infinito.

But there’s one little thing I wanna leave you with:

You HAVE TO make space in your life for things YOU want. You have to prioritize the things YOU need. You have to make your calendar reflect the things that are IMPORTANT to you (it’s not just about obligations).   Only YOU can do this – don’t wait for anyone else to give you permission. If you don’t make a move for yourself and define your own priorities — who will? Only YOU know what is truly right for you.

Free Stuff:

We’re giving away another fab 12 x 16 photo print by Leela Cyd of the Cinque Terre worth $250. Leela will send you your choice of a stunning print of Italy from the photo gallery.

You have until the November 30, 2013 to leave a comment and be entered in the give-away.

In the comments below chat about anything:

What is giving to you? Do you feel like you have something to offer others, financially or otherwise? Does Kiva speak to you? Do you have any suggestions of worthwhile charities or people making a difference?

Thanks for being here. It’s been an incredible week! Big hugs! {Luck + Love, Bianca}

{Giveaway update: Bethany is the recipient of this beautiful print by Leela Cyd}

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