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Campari, an iconic Italian aperitif, has a rich history steeped in tradition and artisanship. Founded in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Novara, Italy, the crimson-hued liqueur quickly gained fame for its distinctive bitter flavor profile and became a symbol of Italian culture. The signature notes of Campari are a harmonious blend of bitter herbs, aroma...

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An Iowa State chemistry professor who grew up in Italy has turned a family recipe for limoncello into an award-winning business. Sara Pistolesi is co-founder of IA-Native Spirits, which produces Lemoncello 50010 based on her grandmother Maria Pia Murzi’s recipe. That recipe was passed down to her mom, Tiziana Bernotti, and then to Sara herself. “I...

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Hit the slopes at Cortina, Val Gardena or Mottolino, and you'll quickly become familiar with one of Italy's most iconic winter cocktails: bombardino. Invented in 1972 by Aldo Del Bò, a ski lift manager in Livigno, bombardino mixes whiskey or brandy and hot zabaione, the Italian version of eggnog, finishing it off with a heap of piped whipped cream....

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Grazie Nonna, which rode the Italian-American nostalgia wave when it opened last year, now has a showier cocktail bar neighbor. Grazie Mille, sticking to owner Casey Patten’s gratitude-expressing naming scheme (his downtown sandwich shop is called Grazie Grazie), opened for drinks, Italian bites, and live-spun music last week. With low lighting, ve...

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Nestled in the scenic embrace of the Hudson Valley lies Il Figlio Enoteca, a culinary gem that I had the pleasure of discovering on a mission to find the finest dining experiences in the region. This Italian restaurant in Fishkill, NY, is a haven for epicureans, a place where the art of culinary creation meets an ambiance akin to a warm embrace. As...

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Yes, the holiday season from Thanksgiving on is about eating. Don’t get me wrong… I know it’s a lot more meaningful than that… but let’s face it, we all look at the holiday season as our excuse to splurge and eat just a little bit more. The possibility of feeling bloated, overstuffed and more than a little uncomfortable at one point or another is i...

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The holiday season is a great time to stir up cocktails for friends. Our tip? Try Italian vermouth. This ingredient has long taken a back seat to spirits in famous cocktails like the Negroni, Martini, and Manhattan. Recently, however, vermouth has been standing out on its own. Whether mixed into drinks or enjoyed over ice on its own, its glistening...

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While we feel there is no bad time to drink wine… there certainly is no better time than to enjoy it than with family and friends during the holiday season. Wine is an important part of bringing us together, and a fundamental element in the Italian festive season. Italians typically bring out special wines to celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day...

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Grappa is an after-dinner drink that is well-known by name but can easily be misunderstood. Like Taylor Swift, it’s had a reputation in the digestif world, and it’s time to bring this delectable drink into its Lover era. To begin, it’s important to understand what grappa is. Despite misconceptions, it is not wine. Grappa is an Italian distillate or...

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Limoncello is — for many visitors to Italy — a quintessential holiday drink. It’s synonymous with long, languid dinners in southern Italy, a marker to signal the end of the meal and the beginning of dancing and merriment. Just like other classic Italian consumables like carbonara or tiramisù, though, the history of this bittersweet Italian liqueur...

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