Taste Calabria

27/04/2024

Praia a mare!
📸 giusepperussofoto

14/04/2024

The Magliocco grape (not to be confused with Calabria’s main grape: Gaglioppo) dates back centuries and is the perfect introduction to Calabrian viticulture (in my opinion). The grape was brought to, and cultivated in, Calabria by the Greeks. In fact, the name Magliocco in Greek means ‘tender knot’ because of its appearance. Vineyards of this ancient grape variety were cultivated by both the Greeks and Romans in Calabria and the cultivar survived until today. It has a deep, dark color with a dark violet hue. Magliocco is a very elegant wine with a very harmonious, velvety-smooth taste, and low acidity. It is an excellent grape that is very much a reflection of Calabria’s terroir that the Greeks recognized and understood quite well. Calabria’s fertile landscape, warm summers and mild winters provide ideal conditions for growing this variety. Try some if you can! It is delicious!

13/04/2024

Good morning from the fishing village of Scilla! Have you ever visited this ancient coastal town?

12/04/2024

A little Calabrian snack! Happy Friday everyone!🍷

10/04/2024

Stromboli Island is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea between Sicily and Calabria. The island can be reached by ferry from Sicily or neighboring Aeolian islands. There are no cars on the island and it’s 3000 ft to the top which takes approx 4 hours to reach by foot, at a steady pace. It’s been the backdrop for countless films due to its cinematic landscape and unpredictable volcanic energy that often gets associated with the people who live on the island; volatile, tempermental and hostile. Maybe the stereotype is because volcanoes are known to cause catastrophes. Maybe it’s because Stromboli has been erupting for over 2000 years due to its open vent which allows frequent eruptions and lava bombs to occur. It’s so frequent in fact that geologists named this type of eruptive behavior “Strombolian”. This is an intense place that is definitely off-the-Italian-grid which is why it’s worth visiting if you get the opportunity. 📸 Nino Bartuccio Photo

06/04/2024

Cin! Cin! From the land of bergamots!

05/04/2024

Tour an abandoned village in the hills of Roghudi, Calabria.

30/03/2024

Calabrian Easter Cookies Recipe

A Calabrian Easter tradition

30/03/2024

Pecorella Pasquale (Easter Lamb) always gets associated with Sicily only but in the province of Reggio Calabria, it is also enjoyed this Easter weekend. Legend has it that it dates back as far as the 11th century. It is made entirely of marzipan and it is deliciously sweet and symbolic of the Italian Easter holiday which is a significant one. Have you ever tried the Easter lamb yourself?

28/03/2024

The Gothic portal of the church of San Francesco in Gerace (construction began in the 11th C and completed end of 13th C). The church is located in the "square of the three churches" in the medieval mountain top town of Gerace, RC. The monumental church has been declared an "architectural asset" and is an important Gothic-style building still standing in Calabria. Have you ever been to Gerace?

23/01/2024

A winter road and horses in La Sila, Calabria by Mario Greco Fotografo

22/01/2024

Winter in La Sila, Calabria🌲❄️🏔️

19/01/2024

Susumelle is a spiced biscuit with cinnamon, honey and cocoa covered in chocolate. It’s a very traditional (and very delicious) sweet from Calabria. Typically served around Christmas but definitely available throughout the year as well. Have you ever tried susumelle?

03/01/2024

Honey wine is an ancient wine dating back to when Calabria was a Greek colony. It is still enjoyed today wherever you can find it which is not in as many restaurants as you would think. Have you ever tried honey wine?

14/12/2023

Pignolata (fried honey balls) more commonly known by its Neapolitan name “struffoli” is a delicious sweet treat to be enjoyed this time of year. Christmas Eve is simply not complete without them. Have you ever tried pignolata? I posted the recipe link in the comments below if you're feeling up to the pretty simple task of making them at home. Buone feste!

Pignolata (fried honey balls) more commonly known by its Neapolitan name “struffoli” is a delicious sweet treat to be enjoyed this time of year. Pignolata is a classic Calabrian dessert. It consists of fried dough balls drenched in honey with a crisp texture on the outside and tender on the insi...

02/12/2023

It’s Christmas season in Calabria. Officially!

28/11/2023

Skiing in Calabria? Why not? If you think that Calabria is only a summer destination, think again.

Do you know the ski resorts where to ski in Calabria? A land of beautiful villages and excellent food, known above all for its hospitality, find out where to spend your holidays skiing.

14/11/2023

As if you needed a reason, here are 16 just in case!

Why you should travel to Calabria 96 million international tourists visit Italy every single year, so it will be no surprise that the land of la dolce vita is high on many travellers’ planning lists for 2023. Tourists arrive in droves to discover the ancient relics of Rome, glittering coastal town...

09/11/2023

Do you know the origins of Calabria's famous Corte d'assise sauce? It all began in 1958 at a hotel located in Gioiosa.

From Calabria this sauce was created at a restaurant in Gioiosa 1958. One late night as the chef was closing, court judges showed up, famished, and asked for something Calabrese. The chef created a spicy pasta dish on the spot. When asked what it was called, he said it didn’t have a name, so the j...

09/11/2023

All roads lead to Calabria!

06/11/2023

When visiting Calabria, eat like a Calabrian! 🌶️🍷🌶️🍷

01/11/2023

What is 'NDUJA?

‘Nduja is a fiery pork spread unique to Calabria, Italy. The salami contains about 40-50% fat content (hence what makes it spreadable). The meat and fat are both ground, heavily seasoned with local pepperoncini and salt and mixed until creamy, spreadable, and with an intense red hue. Then it’s s...

01/11/2023

‘Nduja (pro: in-doo-ya) is a fiery pork spread unique to Calabria, Italy (Vibo Valentia). The spicy salami spread contains about 40-50% fat content (hence what makes it spreadable). The meat and fat are both ground, heavily seasoned with local chili peppers and salt and mixed until creamy, spreadable, and with an intense red hue. Then it’s stuffed into a natural hog casing, smoked for several days, and then air dried. Have you ever tried the very unique 'nduja?

29/10/2023

Eggplant Balls is the vegetarian version of the traditional meatball throughout Calabria. Skins and insides of the vegetable all get cooked. Absolutely nothing goes to waste inside a Calabrian kitchen!

28/10/2023

Arco Magno beach in the Cosenza province of Calabria is uniquely situated in a rocky cove and surrounded by massive cliffs. A natural wonder and summer destination for many during summer. Have you ever been?

02/10/2023

Gerace is a very well preserved mountaintop town with a long history (duh!). Perched up high overlooking the Ionian Sea and several towns below it (like Locri), it’s been used for military purposes as well as a refuge for foreign invasions. Aside from all the important history hoopla, it’s a great town to walk around and enjoy a granita and even bergamot wine which we did. Lots of artisanal shops. I also noticed quite a few Germans moving in and buying up property

26/09/2023

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The first Italy in history was actually modern day Calabria. Calabria is Italy and Italy is Calabria in more ways than one. Its namesake is intriguing and has been described by many as both “prostitute” and “paradise”. I describe it as bountiful, beautiful and honest. A fertile landscape tha...

25/09/2023

Testa di Basilea - The Head of Basel dates back to the middle of the 5th century BCE. It represents a mature male, god, athlete or high ranking official (?) Apparently the Head was both discovered and sold in 1969 to a group of ancient art collectors based in Switzerland. These “connoisseurs” then donated it to the Antikenmuseum in Basel to then only sit in that museum for almost a quarter of a century. Keep in mind that very few Greek bronzes from the 5th century BCE actually exist in the world but still the museum didn’t see any urgency in actually displaying the Testa di Basilea. Very odd.

In 1993, it was returned to Italy. However, the unfortunate name stuck but also serves as a reminder of its strange journey.

It has since been repaired and is now where it belongs on display in the city of Reggio at the Museo Archeologico Nazionale Reggio Calabria. One of Calabria’s most prestigious archeological museums that has been adding more ancient artifacts to its growing collection over the years.

25/09/2023

Depending on where you are in Calabria, the meat preference varies. Although pork pretty much dominates the region, further south (particularly in the province of Reggio), Calabrians will typically opt for lamb or goat when cooking. This is due to both geography and cultural influences. Geographically, the area is dry and arid which, some say, favors raising sheep rather than pigs. Culturally, lamb and goat were favored by the Greeks as a matter of preference. Buon appetito!