Mobile Captures

Today was special. June 29 is the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. This is a holiday only in Rome, celebrating the city’s two patron Saints. This afternoon I got to celebrate my dad’s name day ‘onomastico’—a word he always purposely mispronounced—saying a prayer in St Peter’s, meeting friends and embracing the entire city from the top of the dome: the highest spot in Rome. I then picked up a box full of cheese sent over by cheesemaker friends in Puglia. Check out my stories, it’s all there. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCJBJmFchm/?igshid=omcxgss8lgwa

“What’s the first place you’ll go?” This is the question my son and I kept asking each other during quarantine, dreaming of when it would all be behind us. The fear, the solitude, the losses. We were so ready to move on. Now that many restrictions have been lifted, we are still too afraid to leave the nest that kept us safe for almost 60 days. Days that we thought would never end. Days spent washing dishes and sanitizing. Self care, reading and sudden bursts of tears would come after a long list of chores. Yet now, I am comforted by the repetition of those daily tasks. It’s what’s outside that I’m not looking forward to. Mostly because I am disappointed in my fellow citizens who didn’t learn anything from the quarantine. Yes, I hate the smell of my breath in the mask. I hate that my glasses fog up with each exhale. I hate how the latex gloves irritate the skin of my hands. Yet I will continue to wear the protective gear, obsessively. I will continue to distance myself from strangers. I will resist the temptation to hug my mom and my sister, something I painfully miss doing. I will continue to sanitize and use every precaution. I will pretty much continue living like it’s still Phase 1. I am sad that my son’s last year of middle school won’t end with a prom, or kissing someone in the moonlight with fireflies. But selfishly, I’m relieved he’s not back at school. I’m furious and heartbroken that I will never see my friend Matteo’s face again, hear his cheeky laugh. Yet I dream of him and of my father almost every night (something that hadn’t happened since his passing in November 2017). I feel like both are watching over me and visiting me that way. I am aware that my son’s and my mental health are at risk. I know we are traumatized, scarred for life. I know we had dreamed of driving to Abruzzo, taking the train to Venice and using any means possible to get to Sorrento and Positano... our favorite places. But this is too fast, too soon, too easy. For now #iorestoacasa https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVm1sjlvZE/?igshid=8zb7z8h9xi2k

Lo sai, eh? Cute and he knows it. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAR1477lFTV/?igshid=xjvvud7ueass

There’s a good chance the live interactive online artichoke workshop I’m teaching on April 16th will sell out soon. We will set new dates for anyone on a waitlist, but artichoke season ends soon. Sign up, there are only a few spaces left! Details on how to reserve your spots are on the blog. Link in bio. #whatscooking #carciofi #casamia_italy #cookwithus #vegetarian #glutenfree (at Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-jHjbalSOM/?igshid=1479avj5rwfco

In questo momento surreale—nel quale viviamo l’isolamento con un misto di paura, malinconia e noia—capita che la generosità ti coglie di sorpresa e ti commuove. Ieri è arrivato uno scatolone dalla Sicilia. Dentro, un arcobaleno di colori e sapori. E una scorta di yogurt senza lattosio perfetta per #iorestoacasa ❤️ Una mappa dei prodotti nella foto: in senso orario da ore 12, pecorino affinato al pepe rosa e alloro ~ pecorino al cacao ~ caciottina ai frutti di bosco ~ Moro al pepe (ottimo) ~ ricottina salata allo zafferano e pepe ~ caciomarsala ai pomodori e salvia. Grazie Federica, grazie Caseificio Genna! Evviva la Sicilia! https://www.instagram.com/p/B9q2NheFA2S/?igshid=4nlpaaq73wub

Che c’è per cena? 🐕 What’s for dinner? (presso Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Kafz9o3ik/?igshid=7h4gdgdg6rnm

Ripped away from the mother, thrown in a cardboard box and left outside the gate of the dog shelter in the mountains of Sardinia on New Year’s Eve night, the litter of 5 was doomed. Thanks to the commitment and compassion of the dog shelter volunteers four out of the five weathered the cold and lack of maternal antibodies, and made it through the first month. Then the second. And then, by pure chance, we heard of this miraculous survival and we decided to adopt overnight. As soon as our puppy was old enough to travel, he flew in from Cagliari to Rome and tiptoed into our lives. We saved this little one’s life, but he was the one who rescued us. We’re proud and happy to welcome Theo as the newest member of our little family. #rescuedog #puppy #amore #buonavita 🐶🐾♥️ https://www.instagram.com/p/B8zXLT1FeK6/?igshid=1dmpwm6uvqg75

Il conciato romano, il formaggio che in qualche modo mi ha portato dove sono ora. Se non fosse stato per Vincenzo Mancino che mi ha segnalato la famiglia Lombardi, Manuel, Liliana e Eulalia, io non avrei potuto raccontare il conciato romano e tanti altre realtà per ABCheese. A sua volta, la trasmissione del Gambero Rosso mi ha aperto le porte di tanti altri caseifici, facendomi scoprire altrettanti prodotti, storie, territori, sapori, mani piene di calli. Se non fosse stato per loro adesso non sarei chiamata in giuria a premi, eventi, convention e fiere. Non sarei considerata “un’esperta” (titolo che ancora non sento di meritare—perché il formaggio è un universo immenso che non si padroneggia mai del tutto). Soprattutto non avrei costruito così tante belle amicizie. Lo scorso fine settimana ne ho abbracciati tanti di amici a Formaticum, una manifestazione importante che unisce le rarità casearie d’Italia in una mostra mercato dedicata a tutti noi amanti del latte, sia professionisti che consumatori. È stato bello vedere il pubblico interessato alle storie e tecniche, e non solo agli assaggi gratis. È stato bello vedere vecchie conoscenze e scoprire nuovi prodotti e casari giovani. Bravi! Adesso ciao, che devo andare a mangiare la mozzarella. https://www.instagram.com/p/B8eikGAFc2j/?igshid=rixfxd426zwj

La carbonara di mamma. 🥚🥓🧀 (presso Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8PjdfmFzhb/?igshid=1dxa5vni02iky

La meraviglia. Non si compiono 14 anni due volte nella vita. E allora li si festeggia alla grande, nella Grande Mela. Amore mio, anche se sei grande, più alto di me, pieno di peli e ormoni, e ormai parli con voce da baritono, per me resti sempre il topolino di Ratatouille che si addormenta guardando le luci della città dalla finestra. Happy birthday, kid. (presso New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7yT93JoGsu/?igshid=54cg185lodaq

• 01.01.20 • la felicità (presso Matera, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6yGuoqloUF/?igshid=1mkx6fyzocfy4

Oh my darling clementine 🍊 December staple 🍊 (presso Mercato di Testaccio) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6oEfJ6F3JV/?igshid=1q0i9ql0g24yc

Auguri @gamberorossohd! Vent’anni di gastronomia d’eccellenza in TV. Che onore far parte delle celebrazioni di questa importante meta. È stata una serata stupenda, grazie a tutti per aver partecipato. (presso Milan, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/B57AXiLFaVk/?igshid=a3n78ict14md

Carciofi galore • winter in Rome means that, too. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5xa9jXFv4K/?igshid=19a5o5md0wqv

Quanto ti amo. Quanto mi manchi. Forza Venezia. (presso Ghetto Ebraico Venezia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5IUzLCFxbw/?igshid=ds5seag7onx0

November in Rome. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4VPdzeoxjG/?igshid=jqr64su2yc17

The beauty of nature. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4PmltYlhhd/?igshid=13he2sc90j4z0