In Italy, when it gets hot in the summer, the Italians go outside and try to catch a breeze. In the evening they eat outside, moving small tables and chairs to the garden or the terrace or even on the street in front of their apartments. It gives the summer evenings a festive air and neighbors salute each other and say hello as they walk to the gelateria after dinner. Americans meanwhile move inside and crank up the air conditioning! Of course, Italy doesn’t experience the humidity that we do in most of the eastern and southern US!

The end of August usually is hot and none of us want to cook! When it’s summer in Italy, they rarely cook anything; they always have on hand some delicious things they can pull together and put it all on the table for a big smorgasbord! Mozzarella sales are especially strong in the summertime and is perfect with fresh tomatoes from the garden, a little basil and some great olive oil. We’ve put together some suggestions for you so enjoy the heat and get out of the kitchen! Scroll on to read more.

Keep cool for all you who are still sweltering, September is coming! Scroll down for some of the recipes, our latest tour news and a white wine feature!

A presto -

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Buon viaggio e buon appetito!

Gina and Mary

We love these salads and light eating during the summer. Add what's in your garden by way of herbs and vegetables! A family favorite is Panzanella – a Tuscan bread salad Gina has always included in her summer and late summer menus. Another favorite is tomato basil salad our mom and grandmother always had with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and garlic. A cold salad enjoyed by our Piedmont groups this spring consists of simple, good ingredients: tuna, white cannellini beans and red onion dressed with sea salt, great olive oil and some Italian parsley. 

Our current go-to is a fresh zucchini salad with thin slices of zucchini (use a vegetable peeler or mandolin!) tossed with shavings of parmigiano, aged balsamic vinegar and olive oil. 

We've included the recipe for Panzanella below. IF you can find a Tuscan pane from Trader Joe's, use that. It truly is an easy, satisfying salad to enjoy the bounty of the summer garden.

Tomato, mozzarella and basil salad – toss tomato slices with mozzarella cubes or balls, torn basil and a generous dosing of olive oil, maybe a splash of balsamico. The juice is wonderful for dipping bread into!

Fried shishito peppers with mozzarella - Clean the peppers and lightly fry in olive oil. Delish with mozz!

Tomato & Basil salad - a staple in our house! One or two good tomatoes, sliced garlic clove, fresh basil, olive oil and sea salt. Don't forget the bread. Simple and delicious.

A heads-up on olive oil: your local Costco may still have good olive oil and you should buy some while it’s still available. In Louisville, one location still has EVOO 2022 from Bari Puglia and the other from Tuscany. Once it’s gone you’ll have to wait for the 2023 to be released next year!