People

She Experienced Umbria

Linda Frey came to our birthday celebration last year and ended up getting more than a lousy t-shirt. Below is what our grand prize winner had to say about her week at our Umbrian villa. After reading, make sure to RSVP for Bella Italia’s 9th Birthday Bash on Facebook or by calling the store at (301) 654-2667.

Click the image to see more pictures from Linda’s stay at La Fattoria del Gelso!

Continue reading She Experienced Umbria

(And Can't Wait To Go Back!) Read more

Linda Frey came to our birthday celebration last year and ended up getting more than a lousy t-shirt. Below is what our ...

Sunday with Simone

How to beat the heat on a blistering Sunday in Umbria? How about chilling out and cooling down with our buddy Simone? That’s how we spent our Sunday. A little eating and drinking was thrown in for good measure. Continue reading Sunday with Simone

Great friends, great food Read more

How to beat the heat on a blistering Sunday in Umbria? How about chilling out and cooling down with our buddy Simone? ...

Language Lessons

Over the past several days Suzy and Erin have been taking Italian lessons with our friend Augusta Pardi, the “poet” of the Pardi family but also a distinguished teacher who spent a number of years teaching in Toronto and other places around the world. This week and next her classroom has been la Fattoria del Gelso and her students two eager American women. I was not invited to join the class. For whatever reason or reasons. Continue reading Language Lessons

Over the past several days Suzy and Erin have been taking Italian lessons with our friend Augusta Pardi, the “poet” of the ...

Unreal Monreale

For our penultimate day in Sicily our plans called for a drive toward Palermo to the town of Monreale, a community that could be described as a Palermo suburb perched on a mountain. The purpose of our visit was to meet with Maria Grazia, the owner of Elisa Messina Ceramics, a Sicilian ceramics studio that we were introduced to by the Italian Trade Commission (ICE) back in December. The day would also give us the opportunity to spend a little time in and around Palermo. Continue reading Unreal Monreale

The Enchanting Little Town Read more

For our penultimate day in Sicily our plans called for a drive toward Palermo to the town of Monreale, a community that ...

Che Syrah

Today’s story could be titled Two Gentlemen from Verona. Except they aren’t from Verona. One is from Costa Rica, the other from Sicily. Two citizens of the world. Nonetheless, it is the story of two gentlemen. Continue reading Che Syrah

The Story of Carlos and Giovanni Read more

Today’s story could be titled Two Gentlemen from Verona. Except they aren’t from Verona. One is from Costa Rica, the other from ...

Home Cooking

Why is it that we tend to make friends in Italy so often with chefs and winemakers? It must have something to do with the question posed to Willie Sutton about why he robbed banks. “Because that’s where the money is.” Continue reading Home Cooking

Hunting, cooking and eating Read more

Why is it that we tend to make friends in Italy so often with chefs and winemakers? It must have something to ...