Flavor of Italy podcast

The genius of Leonardo da Vinci remains unparalleled and his works of art and scientific knowledge are world renowned. One thing you might not know about him is that he also cultivated a small piece of land – about 8000 m² (a little under two acres) - as a courtyard vineyard.
In 1498 the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Il Moro, gave this piece of land to da Vinci in part as a form of payment for The Last Supper painting, but above all it w...

If you’re in search of short story collections to dive into this summer, The Perfect Fig by S.M. Walker should top your list. In this week's episode of the Flavor of Italy podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sharon Walker, the English-born, Italy-based author behind this charming and thoughtful work. With a cover featuring luscious figs—my favorite fruit and one I grow myself—this book caught my attention before I read a s...

How Fungus-Resistant Vines Are Shaping the Future of Italian Wine

A few decades ago, “PIWI wines” sounded like something out of a laboratory experiment. Today they are front-and-center in sustainable viticulture conversations from Alto Adige to Lake Garda—and for good reason. PIWI is an acronym drawn from the German Pilzwiderstandsfähige, meaning “fungus-resistant” vines. These precision-bred crossings can fend off downy and powder...

Why Italy Feels Made for Cycling Tours

Italy’s compact geography offers an unmatched cycling playground: from winding olive-lined lanes to vineyard-cloaked hills, dramatic mountain passes, and coastal stretches with endless views. Unlike the vast and often segregated landscapes of Australia or the United States, Italy’s countryside roads wind directly through life—farmers in the fields, shepherds with their flocks, hill towns cling...

In Atina, in the mountainous heart of Lazio, far from Rome's bustling piazzas and tourist crowds, a young girl claims to have seen the Madonna (a Marian Apparition). Her story, quiet yet profound, forms the core of Broken Madonna, the debut novel by Anna Lucia. The book explores one of the most mysterious and emotionally charged phenomena in Catholic tradition: the Marian apparition.

A Marian apparition is said to occur when the Vi...

Italy’s Mother Trees, Fishery Valleys, Endangered Wildlife and Invasive Species

When we think of Italy, our minds often turn to Renaissance art, Roman ruins, and unforgettable food and wine. But the soul of Italy is also found in its landscapes—its ancient trees, forgotten wetlands, and endangered species—and few people capture these overlooked treasures and environmental challenges better than documentary photographer Elisabetta Z...

The aggressive blue crab, a voracious predator, is devouring Italy's beloved clam population, now decimated by as much as 90% since 2023. This is a crisis you need to follow: listen today!!!

Before we dive into this urgent environmental and culinary crisis affecting Italy today, I want to take a moment to celebrate something close to my heart: this is the 250th episode of the Flavor of Italy podcast! That’s 250 episodes dedicated ...

Rome was buzzing this past weekend as something monumental unfolded: the selection of a new pope. And not just any pope. For the first time in history, the Roman Catholic Church has elected an American pontiff: Pope Leo XIV.
I chatted with journalist Eric Lyman, a seasoned veteran of three papal elections—to discuss what made this conclave so unique, what led to Cardinal Robert Prevost's surprise selection, and what kind of leaders...

Tucked away in the lush forests of northern Lazio, just over an hour’s drive from Rome, lies one of Italy’s most unusual and intriguing destinations: Bomarzo Monster Park. Known in Italian as Parco dei Mostri (Park of the Monsters), this 16th-century garden is unlike any other—part dreamscape, part nightmare, and entirely unforgettable.

This isn't your typical Renaissance garden filled with symmetry and order. Instead, it’s a chaot...

Tucked away just around the corner from the bustling Piazza Navona, in the heart of Rome, lies one of the city’s most magical and often overlooked gems: the Biblioteca Angelica. Founded in 1604, this remarkable library is one of Europe’s oldest public libraries, created with a revolutionary vision for its time—free and open access to books and knowledge, regardless of social standing or class. It was a bold idea, and one that conti...

If you've ever cracked open a sweet, succulent blue crab in the United States, you know how beloved this shellfish is across the East Coast. But in Italy, the story of the blue crab is far more complicated—and, until recently, largely untold. This invasive species, once a stranger to the Mediterranean, is now causing ecological upheaval and threatening Italy’s prized seafood industry.
In this episode, I spoke with marine biologist ...

The Glassmaker
Exploring Venice, Murano, and the Art of Glass Beads through Tracy Chevalier’s Vision

Venice, with its dreamy canals and labyrinthine streets, is a city steeped in timeless beauty. But nestled just a stone’s throw away is the island of Murano, a place with an equally rich legacy—one forged in fire, colored in precious minerals, and shaped by centuries of craftsmanship. It is here that Tracy Chevalier sets her luminou...

In Part Two of my conversation with cookbook author and recipe developer Maria Zizka, we dig even deeper and explore her work in Americanizing recipes, and her experience teaching at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Northern Italy.
Maria explains how she guides students through the many ways to write a recipe—always encouraging them to embrace their personal voice in the process. “Only you can write your version of a recip...

How Cookbooks Travel Across Cultures, Part 1 
A Conversation with Cookbook Author and Recipe Adaptor Maria Zizka

When it comes to writing and publishing cookbooks, adapting recipes for different countries is far more complex than simply converting grams to ounces. In this week’s Flavor of Italy Podcast, I chatted with acclaimed cookbook author Maria Zizka, who specializes in the art and science of recipe adaptations—specifically th...

Lake Garda, Italy’s largest and most picturesque lake, is not just a scenic marvel but also a hub of exceptional wines. Thanks to its unique microclimate and diverse soil composition, this region produces some of Italy’s most distinctive and celebrated wines. From refreshing whites to complex reds, Lake Garda’s wines offer something for every palate.
One of the best ways to visit the enormous Lake Garda and its wineries is to ferry...

If you’re looking for a fascinating drink that combines history, craftsmanship, and a bouquet of flavors, Italian Vermouth is a must-discover gem. And if you want to understand vermouth’s origins and why it’s so closely tied to Italy—and specifically the city of Torino—you need to hear the story that global sommelier and vermouth expert Martina Doglio Cotto shared with me on today' podcast episode.
So what exactly is Italian Vermou...

Italy and wine are inseparable. To understand Italy, you need to understand its wine — and to truly appreciate Italian wine, you have to dig deep into its rich history, ancient traditions, and deep cultural roots. This connection comes to life beautifully in Marc Millon’s latest book, Italy in a Wine Glass: The Taste of History. I had the pleasure of speaking with Marc on my Flavor of Italy Podcast, and the conversation was a treas...

Magical Sulmona: A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Abruzzo

Sulmona is a town that is often overlooked by travelers but is an absolute gem—Sulmona, in the heart of Abruzzo.
Sulmona’s rich history, stunning architecture, culinary delights, and unique traditions—are the things that make this town a must-visit destination. And it's just an hour and a half drive from Rome.
Listen in for all the details on what to see and do, where to eat, th...

Italy is world-renowned for its incredible culinary heritage, from pasta and wine to olive oil and, of course, its Italian cheese. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the fascinating world of Italian cheese with Gaetano Mina di Sospiro, also known as Tano—a certified Italian cheese sommelier. If you’ve ever wondered what it means to be a cheese sommelier, how Italy’s cheese culture compares to other countries, or which cheeses you...