Food & Wine

assorted wine bottle lot displaying on rack

Rumblings in the Wine World: The Brunello di Montalcino Wine Scandal

It has been a little under two weeks since Italy announced the findings in the Brunello di Montalcino scandal. In case you haven’t been following this case, Italian authorities — prompted by the United States — started an investigation to find out whether some renowned manufacturers of Brunello di Montalcino were making their wines with…

Antinori Staircase Photo by Ivan Franco Bottoni

Keeping Up With the Antinori

Italian wine enthusiasts (that includes most of us, right?) may find this past weekend’s 60 Minutes story on Italy’s Antinori family intriguing. Considered one of Italy’s premier winemaking clans, the Antinori have been in the wine business for more than 500 years. Today, even the Antinori daughters are in on the act. To learn more…

Gastronomic Tour of Emilia Romagna

Gastronomic Tour of Emilia Romagna

You can eat well just about anywhere in Italy. But Italians know that Italy’s culinary heart lies in Emilia-Romagna. Lasagna, tortellini, premium balsamic vinegar from Modena, Parma ham, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, mortadella — all of these scrumptious items (and more) come from Emilia-Romagna. That’s why epicures who want to get the most out of a visit to…

Cook’s Tour of Milan

I’m very lucky. The very first time I tasted risotto was in Milan. We were en route to Verona and ate the creamy, saffron-tinted risotto milanese at the train station cafe. Even given the locale, it was still an epiphany. Apparently, I’m not the only one who has dreams about one of Milan’s most prized…

Dining Near the Forum

Dining Near the Forum

I recently received an e-mail from an Unofficial Guide reader asking about the best places to dine near the Roman Forum. The Forum “complex,” which includes the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Colosseum, and Trajan’s Market (and, to a lesser extent, the Capitoline and the Vittoriano) is ultimately a tourist area. So, as like in other…