If you have un-sprayed roses in bloom right now, use them to make this delicious and spectacular cake. Any colour roses will do, so long as they are fragrant. The recipe 250g/9oz softened butter 250g/9oz caster sugar + extra for … Read More
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Delicious Italian gluten free cakes
We see an ever-larger need for gluten-free recipes here at our agriturismo in Chianti, Podere Patrignone. Gluten intolerance is on the increase, particularly amongst our guests from the US. Some think it’s down to how wheat is grown in the US, … Read More
Honey and rosemary cake
Whenever the rosemary is in bloom, as it is now, I start to think about making this delicious cake. It makes a great cake for Easter or anyother time when you have delicate rosemary flowers available. Torta di rosmarino e … Read More
The Easiest Bread Ever
Nothing beats the smell of freshly cooked bread, the perfect antidote to a cold, damp winter’s day. I get enormous pleasure from making all kinds of bread, and although I bake most days of the year, I bake a lot … Read More
Pasta fagioli – a winter winner!
We have this dish throughout the year, it’s one of our staple meals – and the kids love it! But it’s especially nice and warming in the winter with lashings of fresh-pressed olive oil. It’s super-quick, super-good for you, and … Read More
The last wine fair, in a magical town…
The grapes are in, and the season of chianti wine festivals comes to a close with the smallest event in the calendar, the Montefioralle Divino. First, a bit about Montefioralle, a charming little town in the hills just to the west of Greve in … Read More
Two fantastic wine fairs in Tuscany
The grapes are fat and juicy, the harvest is in full flow, and so is the wine. Because while people are toiling in the fields breaking their backs picking the new grapes, lots of other people are tasting huge quantities … Read More
A very particular wedding in Tuscany
As we have a large wedding party arriving today, maybe this is a good time to talk a bit about the Tuscan weddings we occasionally host here at Podere Patrignone. Twice each year (and no more, see below) Podere Patrignone plays host … Read More
Want the best fruit & veg at the best prices? Head to a market in Tuscany.
There are dozens of produce markets in Tuscany every day of the week. No matter where you are staying, there will be a daily market somewhere near you. And while the quality of the fruit and vegetables sold in the … Read More
Our Tuscan Banquet. Not your usual Tuscan fare.
Once a week we cook for our guests. It’s a fun, informal dinner, with lots of chat, lots of wine, and lots of laughter. Everyone staying in one of our Tuscan villa rentals is invited, and we usually put everyone together … Read More