For me, Food.Stories.Travel allows me to connect with the heart of the matter when it comes to food: Time spent with my grandma Letizia in her kitchen, and my desire to remember her through her recipes, like the one for anchovies with green sauce, which I have written in her own hand. My grandmother is no longer here but I feel her with me again through her food—an onion frittata, insalata russa, bagna cauda, and stuffed cabbage.
One of my favorite aspects of America is how richly mixed the culture is and the fact that you can travel, in a way, to another place right from where you are. In the last five years, I have met plenty of incredible Italian food makers and chefs – like Angelo – who lives right around me here in Boston!
Just as we would on our tours in Italy before the cooking classes, we like to emphasize Know Thy Farmer, as Dan Barber of Blue Hill Farm calls it. This has been the Italian way for centuries and we are excited to offer this close connection to the farmers and the land by featuring their local and organic ingredients whenever possible in our authentic, traditional Italian recipes.
Many Americans know Italian food, but there are many lesser-known, regionally-specific recipes to be tried—with more opportunities to use fresh New England produce and products! For instance, I love to feature zucchine alla scapece, green savory torte, or green sauce.
Stories, conviviality, and tasty foods and wines are the three components I look for when enjoying a meal. I have found eating together is the best way to connect with the people who grow or make your food with the ones around the table—now or in the past—and with yourself.

He still sees the bicycle as a great (and healthy!) vehicle for travel and, whenever possible, also scouts new tours this way. Currently he also works with PuntoTours consulting and leading cycling vacations in Europe.
This post "Remembering Through Food" is also featured on Cristiano's tour blog; to read more about his culinary adventures, discover authentic Italian recipes, or to embark on a food tour guided by Cristiano himself, visit Food.Stories.Travels.