No doubt, by now we have all heard about the COVID-19 and the extreme measures Italy is taking to contain the virus.  Our own country has introduced measures these past few weeks to prevent spreading the virus.  At Mia Emilia, we have been keeping in close contact with our producers and friends in Italy, and we want to reassure you that our producers are healthy, continuing to create the artisanal products we all love, and we continue to offer them (and enjoy them ourselves!) free from interruption.  Our producers continue to work in incredibly clean facilities, many of which we...

While here in the States, New Year’s Day often marks the end of our holiday season, in Italy, the fun continues.  Especially for kids, Epiphany on January 6th is almost as exciting as Christmas itself.  Epiphany celebrates the day when the Wise Men came, following a star, to the manger to visit the Christ Child and bring Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  In Italy’s famous Presepe, nativity scenes, and the Renaissance paintings like the one featured here by Sandro Botticelli, we often see this moment beautifully depicted. Italians have added legend to the holy celebration in the form...

Christmas in Italy is magical.  Piazzas fill with Christmas markets, Presepi (nativity scenes) pop up in churches, homes, and towns, carols are sung, cities are sparkling with lights, and of course, excellent food is all around!   Italy still very much keeps Christ in Christmas.  It is thought that St. Francis was the first to bring the Christmas story to life on Christmas Eve in 1223 by creating a reverent reenactment of the manger scene in the town of Grecio.  Later, artists of the Renaissance depicted the manger scene so beautifully, we still feel as if we can look into...

Every year the time seems to fly by faster, and here we are in December once again!  It’s Christmas time, and in Italy markets are opening, cities are lighting their trees, and the spirit of Christmas warms the chilled air. If you are still thinking through your Christmas list this year, we have put together a guide to help give you some ideas for the special people in your life.  Please enjoy, and we wish you all, Buon Natale!  Merry Christmas!  

As the holiday approaches this week, we would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  Thanksgiving is, of course, an American holiday, but the traditions of the day remind me very much of life in Italy.  A day to spend together cooking, eating, laughing, reminiscing, and enjoying time spent with the ones we love.  Italians in general spend more time gathered around the table than we do.  Meals are lingered over and never rushed.  Ingredients are quality and fresh for the season.  Much like our Thanksgiving!  In Italy they say, La Festa di Ringraziamento, and the Italian calendar is full...

If you have seen the news lately you’ve probably noticed the stories about historic flooding in Venice.  Our hearts go out to people who have lost and endured much in this flooding and will have a lot of work to do to restore, reopen and try to, quite literally, stay afloat.  A city that has stolen the hearts of many, including myself, Venice is famous for incredible crafts like blown glass, masks, and lace, and unique local cuisine including cicchetti, meals of risotto, pasta with squid ink or seafood, and soups made Venetian style.  While “made in china” replicas compete...

Italy loves and honors the Saints, and Festa di San Martino is celebrated in different ways all throughout Italy.  Generally, it also coincides with the time to try new wine and the peak of chestnut season.  In many of the celebrations, you will find chestnuts and wine.  Sounds like a good time, doesn’t it?  Italy has several proverbs surrounding Estate di San Martino and involving the season of Autumn, harvest, chestnuts, and wine.  I love this one, “Per San Martino castagne e buon vino” “Chestnuts and good wine for St. Martin’s day”.  You’re sure to find both everywhere, and one...

Italy is blessed with one of the five so-called “Blue Zones” in the world.  It is an area on the enchanting Island of Sardinia.  So, what exactly is a “Blue Zone”?  An author named Dan Buettner studied the world over to find the highest concentrations of people who lived to be over one hundred years old.  Centenarians, they’re called.  He zeroed in on five areas in the world where people live exceptionally long lives and studied each, realizing that they had several things in common, some that set each apart, and a few that are hard to measure, but very...

One of my pet peeves with Americanized dishes claiming to be Italian is the greasy, chunky “marinara” sauce that many restaurants offer as an alternative to the also inauthentic “alfredo” sauce with pasta or served as a dipping sauce with fried cheese sticks.  Heartburn on a plate, I call it.  I ordered that not long ago because it was the only thing a vegetarian like myself could eat on the menu.  I could barely get through it.  Big chunks of onions swimming in bright red grease that flung onto my shirt and drowned the overcooked spaghetti.  This is what we...

Truffle, tartufo in Italian, has an unforgettable aroma and incomparable flavor.  Earthy, pungent, and unique, truffles appear on menus all over Italy.  Autumn is considered the season for the white truffle.  Black ones are harvested in Summer.  Thankfully, that means some type of truffle can be found whenever you go!  Among the most spectacular ways to try truffle is with pasta.  You will notice if you ever have it in Italy, truffle is never served with an overpowering sauce.  The truffle is the flavor, and anything else serves only to enhance it.  Through several years now of seeking out the...

In Italy this time of year, when the air begins to cool and sunsets color the sky a little earlier each day, markets fill with the delights of Autumn.  Among the finest are Porcini mushrooms.  All over Italy this time of year, you will find Porcini on the menu.  Emilia Romagna even hosts a festival in their honor in early October.  We visited the Renaissance town of Pienza last Autumn, right at sunset.  The colors in the sky were spectacular, one swoosh of magenta reminding us that God is the greatest painter of all.  When it was time for dinner, ...

In Italy there’s a charming phrase, “A tavola non s’invecchia”.  It means, “At the table one does not age.”  A phrase not only sweet, but hard to argue, as Italy has quite a few areas where people tend to live a long time.  Could it be because they spend so much time gathered around a table enjoying each other’s company and wholesome food?  Likely, yes!  In the most authentic kitchens where these long lives are led, only the best ingredients are prepared.  Pastas are made from non-modified wheat.  Olive oils are extra virgin and made of Italian olives, likely grown...

In Italy, or Rome, specifically, the king of cheesy pasta is Cacio e Pepe. It is sure to delight! Rather than a thick, soupy sauce, this dish is made from only a few ingredients. No butter, no cream, just Pecorino Romano, black pepper, and a little bit of the water you’ve just cooked the pasta in.  For the perfect texture like you find in Italy, we recommend our artisanal pastas. Try Michelis Egidio Tagliolini Egg Pasta.