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!  

This week in November, Italy celebrates the Torrone Festival in Cremona, where the delicious treat is thought to have originated to celebrate the marriage of Francesco Sforza to Bianca Maria Visconti in 1441.  The festival always includes a reenactment of their wedding, where Torrone was served as the wedding cake.  During the festival in Cremona, all kinds of Torrone are displayed, sampled, and sold.  Mia Emilia’s Torrone is made by Torrone Di Iorio, a family operation that has been combining the best ingredients with slow, traditional methods since 1750.  Since the marriage of Francesco and Bianca in 1441, Torrone has...

Pistachio is an especially popular nut and flavor in Italy, and one of the many prides of Sicily.  Sicily is the region best known for pistachios, especially the small town of Bronte near the famous volcano, Mt. Etna.  Breaking open Mia Emilia's Torrone al Gusto Pistacchio, the inside was just right.  Just like the best pistachio products in Italy.  They all have this pretty, pale green inside and the unmistakable nutty flavor.   This Torrone is extra special, because along with the pistachio flavor, you also get the crunchy, roasted almond flavor, all wrapped up together in delicious dark chocolate. 

Torrone is an Italian nutty nougat candy, often combined with almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts or even fruit, and local Italian honey. The makers of Mia Emilia’s Torrone, available in different flavors and varieties, all spectacular, come from the region of Campania in the South of Italy.  The family tells us that their dedication to the “Vecchia Maniera”, Old Method, makes their artisanal products special.  Recipes have been handed down through the centuries.  Ingredients in the Torrone are made up of at least 50% nuts (most use almonds and/or hazelnuts, a few include pistachios).  Local honey gives a natural sweetness that combines...