Archive for December, 2011
Fun and Flair with my Aussie Co-worker for th New Years Celebration
Posted by Pierotucci in Cosci, Out and about in Florence on December 30, 2011
So when asked how she would celebrate the arrival of 2012 – she responded with lots of glitter, color and playfulness . . . right down to her toes. Our Aussie shelia (a/k/a Susan) is quite the party girl. She loves to mix and mingle and always on the look out for a place that is really going off. It’s London to a brick that dressed like this she is bound to find an Italian bloke to dance the night away with.
$160 - pacificplex.com
$1,995 - net-a-porter.com
€210 - pierotucci.com
caroletanenbaum.com
$9 - dorothyperkins.com
The Brits prefer a good Brindisi for the New Year along with elegance
Posted by Pierotucci in Italian Shell cameo art, Out and about in Florence on December 30, 2011
So this is another dreamy New Years option from my British colleague and though she is a little more subdued in her choice of bling bling have choosen a more sophisticated and elegant black agate cameo to grace the simple lines of her tunic you can see she is ready to dance the night away. She is quite the international person – a Brit living in Italy and drinking French Champagne for her New Years Brindisi – brindisi is the Italian word for a toast.
My New Years Dream Outfit
Posted by Pierotucci in Guest Writer, Out and about in Florence on December 29, 2011
It’s not hard picking out what you would love to wear for a formal evening out – the hard part is where to go. Today’s “festas” don’t seem to include the elegant wardrobes and evening bags like those that we see in the old time films which fill me with the desire to sing and dance…even though I am awful at either one.
Dark blue velvet is my dream evening gown (of course with the size 8 to go along with the curves). And silver are my accent colors – lots of sparkles and dangles…not to mention the love of my sweetheart hanging from my neck. This lambs wool jacket is as close as I can get to all the fluffy frills that surrounded Ginger Rogers as she glided from one part of the stage to the next.
£195 - lkbennett.com
€8.320 - montaignemarket.com
$373 - bergdorfgoodman.com
$900 - swarovski.com
$53 - endless.com
$595 - mytheresa.com
$295 - ice.com
$45 - narscosmetics.com
€11 - placedestendances.com
1.095 NOK - nelly.com
$31 - bergdorfgoodman.com
Splashing in the rain
Posted by Pierotucci in Braccialini, Italian Traditions and Culture on December 29, 2011
inspired by the weather forecast for this first official work day in 2012. There was a great desire to add a splash (that had nothing to do with the passing cars and puddles along the street) of color to what could be considered a bit of a drab day between the massive back to work re-entry, the clustering rain clouds and the upcoming threat of all kinds of new taxes and price hikes in the Italian government. The bright spot in this day – other than the fantastic orange found in our Braccialini shoulder bag, is that this week (at least for the Italians) is another short work week!! Friday is (yet another) a national holiday celebrating Epiphany on the catholic calendar, however most Italians know it as the BEFANA, which says there is an old witch who distributes gifts and stockings full of candies to little children….and some not so little children.
$1,495 - net-a-porter.com
$60 - nordstrom.com
€242 - pierotucci.com
$130 - barneys.com
$15 - asos.com
$108 - nordstrom.com
£6 - topshop.com
Some handbags are a fashion statement and some designer handbags are just plain fun!
Posted by Pierotucci in New Designer Handbags on December 28, 2011
I am probably not what you could define as a bag addict, because the first thing on my list of “must have characteristics” of a handbag – designer or not – is that it must be practical! It needs to have all the right pockets, alternative carrying options and be made of a durable and easy to keep clean material (or leather).
Once those options are taken care of, well then I can look at color – design – trends and “wear-ability” (how many outfits do I have that I will wear with this bag … or vice versa)
But if I were to have two sets of bags – those I use because I need this appendage to organize myself and another set for bags I like because they are gorgeous, adorable, exciting or just plain out and out fun to carry around – then the collection from Braccialini would definitely hit my list.
What could be more amusing then sitting in the waiting room of any office, restaurant or cafe – with nothing but mags that are 2 years out of date or a menu that will have you eating all of those appetizers and ruining your figure and a fanciful bag that will keep your imagination active and running in circles – just like a kid again. Personally I delight in examining these bags and finding new pieces that were hand sewn into the story of the bag, this makes the designer handbag come alive! I guess I sound a bit like a kid … while I am looking at this irate French chef as he rants and raves in his kitchen:
or is this Fred Astaire waiting to wosh me on the dance floor? and twirl me around while singing – I’m in heaven…
However I can appreciate not everyone has the personality (or the desire) to carry a bag with a story around so openly – exposing this light, even more so playful, side of their personality to everyone, so maybe they would be better off with something that dabbles with the fun side – yet can be easily tucked away inside a more serious handbag :
Of course there are even more subdued patterns, that from a distance seem quite upstanding – however upon closer examination one can easily fall into the fantasy of the pattern – such as the zoo come to life with lions and tigers and bears (oh my!) :
What would be your favorite ?
Tuscany and how to enjoy it!
Posted by Pierotucci in Out and about in Florence on December 23, 2011
Where to go in Italy ? – Why Tuscany of course! But when you are in Tuscany there are so many areas to visit – each with special characteristics, it really merits looking for accommodations that compliment your travel style, expectations and dreams of Tuscany vacation. Tuscany Villas & Tuscany Apartments to rent in Italy is an excellent way to visit and enjoy the country side. Something a little different from a classic hotel which allows for more freedom in your daily activities and gives you an opportunity to meet the people and life the Tuscan life style.
Christmas Lunch in Tuscany includes . . .
Posted by Pierotucci in Out and about in Florence, Tuscan Christmas Table Talk on December 23, 2011
I was introduced to this great idea of receiving Christmas baskets from your employer while working in Tuscany and though sometimes they can be quite predictable filled normal kind of stuff . . . every once in a while there are a few surprises. Last year both me and DH brought home Christmas baskets filled with sweets – and while they were all delicious . . . there is a limit to how much sugar two people can consume (I know not everyone agrees…but in our household it is true!)
This year we have two complementary baskets – DH brought home an artisan baked pandoro, ricciarelli, panforte and a delicious selection of dried fruit (figs, dates, apricots) AND chocolate covered torrone – then he had a hunk of Parmesan cheese, two different types of salami and the traditional cotecchino for the New Year celebration. – Practically one third of Christmas lunch is in his basket. I instead am bringing home three bottles of Chianti wine – another third of Christmas dinner. The last piece is already in the refrigerator waiting to be baked, broiled and roasted.
We will start off with what the Italians call “affettati.” Translated this is a huge cutting board filled with salami, prosciutto, dried figs, Parmesan cheese and honey and on the side there will be a few crostini neri (the Tuscan chicken liver patè) and of course a fett’unta! We have been saving all the bottles of fresh pressed oil so that we can taste our way through the holidays.
OK.
I admit we have already done a fair bit of taste testing – but in our defense we have received over 10 different olive oils from friends, clients and relatives. We couldn’t possibly control our urge to taste the new oil with some toasted bread, a bit of garlic, fresh ground pepper and salt…. yummmmmm.
After we have finished off the cutting board – we then move on to the pasta. This year DH has requested lasagna, just like Nonna used to make. Well I don’t know if it will rank up there with Nonna, but I have been told my lasagna is definitely a 4 star masterpiece. So I do aim to please. It’s simple enough in the ingredients (pasta, Italian style meat sauce, besciamella, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese) but the mix is just . . . oh scrumptious! I know most people are used to hearing ricotta in the list but in the area where I learned how to make lasagna …. or as some will call pasta al forno there is no ricotta.
Once the pasta has been drooled over and plates licked clean we start with the main course. Though many of you may be thinking…what?!? there is more to come? I say – YES ! absolutely, there is always more to come in an Italian household.
Another Italian tradition – anatra con l’arancia – duck with oranges. The main course for Christmas in Tuscany usually includes some kind of fowl and the list is long: there is chicken (three types to be exact: gallina, cappone or fararona) or duck (anatra) and then pigeon (picione), quail (quaglia), some will even do goose ( oca). This year I have ventured into unknown territory and bought us a lovely duck all decorated with oranges and pancetta (as if a duck needed any more fat in it!)
Though its hard to imagine – there will be side dishes to this meal – potatoes (because every thing that is roasted gets potatoes with rosemary and sage on the side) and most probably peas . . . another tradition with any Sunday or holiday lunch.
All this will be accompanied by a selection of various wines . . . and maybe some water but as the Tuscans, or any Italian for that matter, like to say – water? No thank you, I’ll wait until it rains. I will definitely start off with some chilled prosecco – because I love the dry bubbles! The lasagna can have either a lambrusco (because la Mamma likes it) or maybe a fresh white – we have a Pecorino sitting at home taht is very fregrant. Then the roast duck will most definitely have a Chianti Classico – and do have an selection to choose from! Probably something robust and flavorful – like those that Pierotucci gave out this year from Tenuta San Vito.
And then … well now the tough part starts because you just ate until you can eat no more and then there the desserts are spread out on the table, and they literally seem never ending. Panettone, Pandoro, panforte, ricciarelli, torrone, nuts and dried fruit, chocolates and candies, fresh fruit (well that is more for show than anything else) and the spumantes and vin santos.
It would appear that you really couldn’t eat another bite . . . but low and behold you start to nibble here and then there, and before you know it you have just consumed another 1000 calories without even trying!
Rich in flavor, perfume and let’s face it calories! Italian Christmas treats
Posted by Pierotucci in Italian Traditions and Culture, Out and about in Florence, Tuscan Christmas Table Talk on December 21, 2011
Each culture has its own special desserts for the holidays, things that have been passed down from generation to generation following traditional recipes. These things are part of us since we were children – however as an adult in Italy I have found the room to add a few new holiday favorites to my list. Though I am not a big fan of almond paste, marzipan and almond cookies – I do have to make an exception for the Ricciarelli. I certainly hope that Santa has room in his bag to bring me a nice tray full!
These holiday treats are cookies made using an ground almonds (no flour) with sugar, honey and egg whites then formed into oval shaped cookies that is normally lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. I had the great fortune to work in Export Sales for an Italian bakery called Menchetti, and they made a ricciarelli — well as the Italians would say these cookies were “parlante”, which means that it was so good it “spoke” to you. Not only did they make them with powdered sugar on top but also ricciarelli dipped in dark chocolate. . . now that was (as my little sister used to say) to die for!
These cookies were originally found in the Siena area, but now they are definitely synonymous with Italian Christmas Treats all over Italy. There snow white tops call to mind the beautiful snow capped mountains in Abetone or Mt. Amiato in the Tuscan area near Siena. Legend accredits these cookies to Ricciardetto who brought the recipe back with him during the crusades, yet the BuonItalia site which takes care of all DOC and ITG recipes and foods indicates that these cookies most probably have its origins in the fact that this area of Tuscany was particularly strong in the trade of spices and other delicacies.
The new addition to Florence’s Holiday Decor
Posted by Pierotucci in Italian Traditions and Culture, Out and about in Florence, Tuscan Christmas Table Talk on December 20, 2011
Just a quick photo of the beautiful new addition to the holiday decorations in Florence Italy. Located outside of the Duomo – this almost life size nativity scene is beautiful in its simplicity.
and this is my new design at the house – set on three levels, and for those of you who are wondering the blue stuff on the left is supposed to be a river which turns into a waterfall in the shepherds pasture….have a little bit of imagination! :
a close up with soft lighting gives it another look:
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