Ciao Bella
Welcome to Ciao Bella, where travel writer Erica Firpo sits down with Italy's 21st century creators - contemporary artists and artisans, heritage brands and innovative aesthetes, chefs, experts and more who are defining, redefining and evolving Italy, and beyond. Fashion. Food. Art. Travel. Hotels. Galleries. Pizza. Aperitivi. Coffee. And more. Cocktail conversations and behind-the-scenes visits that will make you want to pack you bags and go! Episodes drop every Monday!
Episodes
Fresh pasta is delicious. But is it easy to make? Master pasta maker Julia Ficara shares the secrets from water and farina to 1 meter rolling pin, water and farina. Join in with Erica and Julia on making pasta in the Bologna tradition.
Guest: ?Julia Ficara of?Grano Farina
Bagels don't always equal Rome, but believe or not, they are the next best breakfast delight in the Eternal City thanks to Linda Martinez and Steve Brenner, husband-wife duo who've gone from the Beehive hostel to the beginnings of a bagel empire.
Guest: Steve Brenner and Linda Martinz of Beehive Bagels
and The Bee Hive
Sant'Eustachio il Caffe could be Rome's very best coffee bar. For nearly a century, the beloved caffe has charmed residents and visitors with great coffee drinks and an a yesteryear vibe. Federica Ricci joins Erica for the history and secrets of her family's coffee caffe.
Guest: Federica Ricci of Sant'Eustachio il Caffe
The Uffizi is the Best. A must-visit museum in Italy, one of the world's most important and most visited, and with one of the largest and best known collections of Italian Renaissance art, there is nothing quite like it. Michelangelo, Leonardo, Botticelli and Uffizi director Eike Schmidt join Erica to talk about the amazing and every innovative Uffizi. Location: Florence
Guest: Eike Schmidt, Director of the Uffizi
Everybody's dream is to move to a beautiful home in Italy, but what does it take? Interior designer Arlene Gibbs shares her story on building a career in interior in Italy, from Rome and a small Lazio town to around the world.
Guest: Arlene Gibbs
Where did Woman Woman go when she came to Italy? The Cilento, a beautiful area south of Napoli, known for its beautiful culture and landscape. Join Erica as she gets into Cilento with writer, art historian and Feast on History founder Danielle Oteri. Location: Cilento, Campania
Guest: Danielle Oteri, Feast on History
Curves, colours and a clever wit, welcome to the world of Olimpia Zagnoli. OZ is everywhere . . . on the walls of Uniqlo, Prada t-shirts, covers of the New Yorker, and boxes for Estee Lauder, Perugina and Barilla. Join Erica and Olimpia for a deep dive into OZ's technicolor designs.
Guest: artist and designer Olimpia Zagnoli
Karime Lopez is amazing - chef du cuisine at Florence's Gucci Osteria, the first Mexican woman to receive a Michelin star, and an all-around cool woman. Join Erica and Karime to talk food, travel, Gucci and women in the kitchen.
Guest: Karime Lopez, Chef du Cuisine, Gucci Osteria
Gianduja, Gianduiotto, Creminio, Bicerin. Torino is a chocolate lover's town. Join me and Sandra Salerno, food journalist and pen behind Un Tocco di Zenzero for some chocolatey history and insight on why your next winter wonderland visit is Torino and where you'll be enjoying your own bicerin and cioccolato caldo.
Guest: Sandra Salerno, Un Tocco di Zenzero
Biondi Santi is one of Italy's vineyard pioneers, trailblazing in Tuscany for decades but in this century, Biondi Santi is a whole new world. Join Erica at Castello di Montepò (in the hills near Scansano) with Tancredi Biondi Santi to talk wine, history, clones and terroir.
Guest: Tancredi Biondi Santi Castello di Montepò
Art, wine and great food, the trifecta and Piemonte's Langhe has all of it. Roberta Ceretto of the wine family Ceretto shares her story about brining contemporary art to Barolo and more.
Guest: Roberta Ceretto, Ceretto
Castello di Ugento is a love story, and no one knows better than Diana Bianchi and Massimo D'Amore, 21st century promessi sposi who've transformed the former fortress and Baroque castle into a beautiful home and hotel. Join me for a voyage to the very heel of Puglia - the Salento- for a conversation on history and hotel-making.
Guest: Diana Bianchi, Massimo D'Amore Castello di Ugento
There is a something about a beautiful shoe that can make you feel like a walking fairytale. Edoardo Cavovilla shares the stories behind René Caovilla, Venice's heritage, couture shoemaking atelier.
Guest: Edoardo Caovilla, Rene Caovilla
What’s soaked in coffee, slathered with mascarpone, and started off as a post-coital snack? Tiramisu, of course!Join Erica as she discovers what makes Tiramisu the pinnacle of Italian desserts with guest Gaia Passi de Preposulo.
Guest: Gaia Passi de Preposulo, Eccetera Studio
Karole P.B.Vail, Director of the Peggy Guggenheim Collection has a personal relationship with Venice. Join us as we take in the Grand Canal with Karole from the gardens of the PGC to talk modern and contemporary art, Peggy and Venice, of course!
Guest: Karole Vail, Peggy Guggenheim Collection
Everybody loves Lambrusco! Join Erica for a trip to Emilia Romagna to chat with Julia Prestia, co-owner of Venturini Baldini, a historic estate dating back to 16th century to talk about Lambrusco, organic wines and an ancient acetaia.
Guest: Julia Prestia, Venturini Baldini
Sicily is a cornucopia of incredible and unforgettable treats and sweets but there is nothing like il bacio di Pantelleria, an unforgettable pastry only to be found on the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean. Join Erica and food writer Salvatore Spatafora to discover food and culture in Pantelleria, Sicily.
Guest: Salvatore Spatafora
Is Italian coffee really the best? Caffe consultant, co-founder of 3 Coffee Guys, long-time Piemonte resident and all-around coffee expert Damian Burgess spills the beans on what makes Italian caffe and coffee culture so beloved.
Guest: Damian Burgess
Alessia Antinori has seven hundred years of wine flowing through her veins, but it's recent history that keeps the wine maker in Rome at Fattoria di Fiorano. Vineyards in the Eternal City?! You bet. Lazio wines, Italy and more.
Guest: Alessia Antinori
There's nothing that tortellini in brodo can't fix, or at least make feel a little bit better. And that simple concept is what led Massimo Bottura and Lara Gilmore to create two community programs - Il Tortellante, the local Modena tortellini-focused alternative education program for special needs kids, and Food for Soul, soup kitchens across the globe that feed the community while fighting food waste.
Guest: Lara Gilmor...
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