WINE FESTS, ICE FALLING FROM THE SKY, UMBRELLA GOSSIP, AND MORE... While the topic of this site is cuisine, there's a lot more to Italy than what's on the burners, and many things influence the foods of the land. Cosa Bolle in Pentola looks at some of them, and also strays into other things, in an attempt to answer your questions and help you get the most out of visitng one of the prettiest and most varied countries in the world.

Browse past issues from the index below, or use the handy signup box to add your name to the mailing list, so you can be sure you never miss an issue!

# 1: Thoughts on the Holiday season, and how to greet the New Year.

# 2: La Befana, and places & activities you should be aware of when you draw up plans to visit Italy.

# 3: A couple of recipes, one for Pasta Atomica shared by Brad O'Connor, and the other a dipping cookie.

# 4: Il Migliaccio Sette Anni Dopo, a touching recpe for a Neapolitan Easter cake. Also restaurants in the Dolomites.

# 5: The lot of the farmers, on buying olive oil, and a recipe for Fra Diavolo sauce.

# 6: The pernicious influence of wine journalism, and almond cakes.

# 7: Florentine restaurants, upcoming winefests, Tiramisu and Panna Cotta.

# 8: Why Italians don't bake bread at home, Zuccotto, and a stunning restaurant in Imola.

# 9: Crema fritta, linguine with dried fruit and fresh fish, and Roman restaurant suggestions.

# 10: Risotto techniques, tomato soup, and summer travel.

# 11: Urban legends, selecting wines, and calamari sauces

# 12: Florentine fish & vegetarian restaurants, creamed chicken and risotto with strawberries.

# 13: The Italian diet, pasta with salmon, cannolo recipes and pasta e fagioli.

# 14: Food buying in Italy, Bistecca alla fiorentina, bean cooking and chicken Marsala.

# 15: Serving Espresso, Sun-Dried Tomato Sauces, & Frittata for Dessert.

# 16: Cholesterol avoidance, recollections of Italian ices, and Zucchini.

# 17: Thoughts on the Olive Garden, vitlello tonnato & millefoglie.

# 18: Converting recipes, what to do with lupini & braciola recipes.

# 19: Seasonality, basil-containing recipes, and Venetian restaurants.

# 20: Soft-wheat pasta, truffle recipes and resataurant suggestions.

# 21: Politicians, the origins of pasta, synthetic corks, and a tasty mushroom sauce for pasta.

# 22: Mushrooms, rains & the vintage, a Roman restaurant, and Veal Piccata.

# 23: Veal & Chicken Francese, dietary questions and renting a car.

# 24: Attitudes towards alcohol, chicken Marengo, sfogliatelle, and penne all'arrabbiata.

# 25: Cooking Holidays, thoughts on Gaja and his wines, & Polenta e Osei.

# 26: The joy if being Italian & stuffed chicken Calabrian style.

# 27: The ALF steps on its toes, Panettone & Cassateddi.

# 28: Pipes, Epiphany and the Befana, garlic use, & veal peperonata.

# 29: On authenticity, pollo al mattone, and anise cookies.

# 30: The New Langhe DOC, tagliatelle pie, pastries from Asti and a cheese soup.

# 31: La Cucina Italiana, Stracciatella & Zuppa Lombarda, and Travel.

# 32: Zeppole & Neapolitan Restaurants.

# 33: Sassicaia, Gateau Savoja, Scaloppine di Coniglio & Rosolio.

# 34: VinItaly, Winefest 1999, and Torta della Nonna.

# 35: Spring Cherries, Breakfast, and Heavy Cuisine.

# 36: Dario, Italian wine journalism, brovada, salami and eggplant.

# 37: Soccer madness, the basil tax, fagioli al fiasco and riciarelli.

# 38: Thoughts on Gender, and a few recipes.

# 39: Umbrella gossip, four cheese sauce, and Pan di Spagna.

# 40: Justice (?), Florentine hotels & restaurants, gnocchi and torta di ricotta.

# 41: EEU food legislation, Cell Phones, Supplì al telefono, Sugo Finto, Torta di Riso & Ristoranti Friulani.

# 42: Tourist Taxes, the Corridoio Vasariano, Spaghetti allo Scoglio and an odd Penne alla Carrettiera.

# 43: The Italian Wine Review (my magazine), the Vintage, Borlotti, Another Carrettiera, and Cavatelli..

# 44: Italian wages & labor, more dioxin, garlic soup, and sfinguini.

# 45: North Italian Travel, Greed, More Sfincioni, & More on Beans.

# 46: More Beans, More Agribusiness, Onion Pie, Rum Cake & More.

# 47: The IWR, Bringing up Baby, Calabrian cookies and a pie for Santa Lucia.

# 48: Holidays, 7 fish, Video Perils, Restaurant Falls and Holiday Recipes.

# 49:Lentils & Cotechino for San Silvestro, Restaurants in Lucca, and Happy News for Pizza Lovers.

# 50: The Politics of Legalization, Mortadella di Bologna, and Some Recipes.

# 51: Falling Ice, microwave dangers, commercial fishing, passatelli and Valentine's Day.

# 52: An urban legend revisited, Luna Rossa, and Cornetti.

# 53: More on Panissa, unexpected consequences of unleaded gas, restaurants in Trapani and fig cookies.

# 54: Race Relations, Goings on in Cars, and a bunch of recipes.

# 55: More on Green Gasoline & Lots of Stuff from the Mailbox.

# 56: Tuscan Restaurants, EEU Chocolate, Easter Marzipan and Winefests

# 57: Happy Birthday Italia!, Limoncello, Cold Cuts, GM foods & Parmigiano, Trofie and Restaurants

# 58: The Importance of Wine Tourism & Cantine Aperte, Stuffed Loci Necks, Focaccia with Ricotta, & More

# 59: Public Service Announcements, Asparagus Pie, the Sauce/Gravy Controversy & More

# 60: More on Gravy/Sauce, Farro, a holiday in Friuli, Gay Pride, and several recipes.

# 61: Vegetarian foods revisited, The Olive Garden, and a Bunch of Recipes.

# 63: Correction of the Radio Time, and a Couple of Recipes.

# 64: Teaching Scandals, Mostarda, Hope for Traditional Foods & More.

# 65: L'Arte di Arrangiarsi, The Coming Vintage, and Recipes from La Cucina Italiana.

# 66: Health Insurance, Artichokes, Squid Ink, Slow Food's Salone del Gusto & Le Baccanti

# 67: Livorno, Rosh Hashanah Desserts and a Cookie to Break the Fast, Bad Weather, Horsemeat & More.

# 68: Sfinci, Religious Freedom, Bad Weather & More.

# 69: The Salone Del Gusto, Threats to Cheese, Energy Independence & More.

# 70: Mad Cow Disease (Again), Merano's Winefest, Bertani's Amarone, and more.

# 71: More Mad Cow Disease, Legumes, Valpolicella Smear, and a Couple of Vacation ideas.

# 72: Carchiola, Santa Giustina, Marriage, the last of BSE (for now), Christmas & More.

# 73: Soccer Madness, The Holiday Rush, San Silvestro, and Christmas Cakes.

# 74: Peasant Bread, the Ground Shakes, La Befana, Traffic fines, Plane tickets, Assorted Commentary & Recipes.

# 75: Strange effects of the David, Mad Cows Close to Home, the Big Chill, Transgenic Wines & More.

# 76: Stendhal's Disease, Still more Mad Cow, Employer Gripes, & More.

# 77: Accompaniments to Recioto, Viterbo, Changes in Alto Adige & Some Recipes.

# 78: The new Tuscan vintages and where they're headed, Jota, a Cold Snap & More.

# 79: Hoof n'Mouth Madness, Felice San Giuseppe & More.

# 80: Farewell Fiorentina, Lardo di Colonnata, La Corte del Vino, Italian Cooking & Living & more

# 81: Easter Lamb, Savory Spring Pies, and lots of Winefests.

# 82: Restaurants, A New Guide, More on Gene Theft, Rosolio, Babà & More.

# 83: Politics, The Italian Family, Germany Howls about Italian foods, Olives & More.

# 84: La Certosa, Politics, Sicilian Pasta & More.

# 85: Doping in Sports, Genova, Recipes and More.

# 86: Tuscan Dining & Accommodations, Pesticides in Fish, Umbrella Gossip & More.

# 87: The Genovese Nightmare, Sircam & More.

# 88: Summer Heat, Tourist Food, The Chianti DOC, Cooking with Grace & More.

# 89: Being an Expat in Times of Woe, Soups from the Abruzzo, and a superb Neapolitan Cookbook.

#90: We've come a long way, the harvest and autochthonous varietals, and a tasty artichoke recipe.

#91: Massa Marittima, La Cucina Ebraica, Rice & More.

#92: Vinum, Torrone, The Euro & More

#93: Happy Holidays!

#94: The Euro is Here, the Big Chill, Piemonte in Cucina, Cabbage & More

#95: Vanna Marchi, Giorgio Perlasca, Octopus & More

#96: The Return of Mad Cow Disease, Olive Oil, And Valentine's Day Recipes

#97: A Novel Way to Fly, Brunello to Zibibbo, and Some Easter Recipes

#98: Labor unrest, Unexpected effects of the Legge Sulle Rogatorie, View of an Italian Life, Buccellato & other things

#99: The Eternal Youth (?), Winefests, Recipes from Easter & More

#100: Easy-To-Drink: Drink it Now, Driving in Italy, & More

#101: The weather again; The Credulous and the Nubile, and Preserving our Italian Heritage

#102: The ground's still shaking, Baladin, Il Salone, Honey & more

#103: Sangiovese: What to blend it with?, Thoughts on Parmigiano & Grana Padano, Politics & the Magic of Fire.

#104: A Special Quick Stuffing The Bird issue for Thanksgiving.

#105: Corrections, Travel Ideas, and the Happiest of Holidays!

#106: Wines of the Val Di Cornia, More Travel Suggestions, A Fine WIne Book & More.

#107: How to taste (as opposed to drink) and the importance of blindness, a public service announcement & more.

#108: Auguri (di San Valentino), Assaggi di Cinema, the Pyramid & More.

#109: People, Carnevale, Tracciabilità, Amarone & More.

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