Michelle Damiani
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Michelle Damiani
  • Buy my books/
  • Blog/
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
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    • Gabe's Blog
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
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aperol spritz, spello, umbria, italy
Michelle Damiani

writing with Italy at heart

Food and Drink

Michelle Damiani
  • Buy my books/
  • Blog/
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • What I Love/
    • Books and Movies
    • Food and Drink
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
  • Coaching/
  • About/

Explore the best of Italian food and drink—classic recipes, regional specialties, and culinary travel stories from across Italy. Get even more tips and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for the Grapevine.


August 11, 2020

Sausage Sugo

August 11, 2020/ Michelle Damiani
Sausage Sugo

Welcome to Italy! It’s time to feast.

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August 11, 2020/ Michelle Damiani/ 2 Comments
food, recipe
recipe, food, Spello
November 28, 2018

Four Secrets to an Extraordinary Ragù

November 28, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Four Secrets to an Extraordinary Ragù

Here’s what I learned from living in Italy about how to make a profoundly good meat sauce.

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November 28, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ 8 Comments
recipe, food
Spello, Umbria, recipe
November 18, 2018

Vin Brulé (Italian mulled wine)

November 18, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Vin Brulé (Italian mulled wine)

Vin brulé is Italy’s answer to mulled wine. Warm, and flush with intriguing spices it’ll be your new cold-weather go-to.

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November 18, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
food, recipe
drink, Spello, celebration
July 24, 2018

Focaccia Pizza

July 24, 2018/ Michelle Damiani
Focaccia Pizza

It’s easy to make a soft, delicious focaccia pizza. Let me tell you how, and let you get creative with toppings!

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July 24, 2018/ Michelle Damiani/ Comment
food, recipe
Spello, food, party
January 07, 2016

Ditching Your Pasta Machine

January 07, 2016/ Michelle Damiani
Ditching Your Pasta Machine

Making pasta doesn't require a fancy metal machine. All you need is a wood surface and a wooden rolling pin for the best pasta you've ever had. Here's how.

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January 07, 2016/ Michelle Damiani/ 2 Comments
food, recipe
pasta, food, recipe, Spello
  • Buy my books/
  • Blog/
  • Travel/
    • Spello
    • Visiting Umbria
    • Travel in Italy
    • Around the World
  • What I Love/
    • Books and Movies
    • Food and Drink
    • Gabe's Blog
    • Italian Cats and Hidden Madonnas
  • Coaching/
  • About/

Michelle Damiani

Website for Michelle Damiani, author of Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center, the funny and heartfelt memoir of an American family living in Spello, as well as Santa Lucia, a page-turner set on the Umbria border. 

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Follow me on Instagram!

ONE SPOT LEFT ✨ Max and I are at it again! We’re taking a small group to Italy, this time Tuscany and Umbria. Max (co-owner of Ciao Andiamo, a fabulous boutique travel company) brings the Italy know-how like niche truffle hunting experiences an
As a shy and insecure child who moved every few years, I was lonely. A lot.

Stories became a way to feel connected. They opened doors into other lives when mine felt small and uncertain.

I’m 54 now. No longer shy, no longer insecure, and pret
One year ago, I became an Italian citizen. ❤️🤍💚
Flashback to gathering wild asparagus outside Spello 🌸 one of those flavors I miss!
Anyone else more than a little in love with Bologna? The city’s unofficial motto is “the red, the fat, and the learned”… what is your favorite aspect of Bologna?
Happy birthday to Rome! I love you for your old bits and your new bits. You make aging an inspiring thing.
What nobody tells you about Japan is even when you’re too early for cherry blossom, there are plum blossoms. Plus, Japanese gardens are glorious with no blossoms at all.
As a person who grooves on food and connection, the Omicho Market Tour and Cooking Class offered by In Kanazawa House was one of the most satisfying and delicious experiences I had in Japan. Our guides Naoko and Kazuko (tagged in stories) introduced

A trip to Italy is better with language basics! Here’s my recommended course to learn Italian and make your trip fantastico!


Festival participant, speaking about “Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center”

Festival participant, speaking about “Il Bel Centro: A Year in the Beautiful Center”

Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”

Featured speaker on panel discussing Romance for “Santa Lucia”