Author: kjohnston22

An excerpt from Blood, Bones & Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton “In the evening, we were joined by a friend of his, and we walked to a restaurant near the Acropolis…Iannis, without wasting a moment on that awkward and tedious conversation that will unhappily precede so many hundreds and hundreds of future restaurant meals in all… Continue reading The most wonderful thing you can offer someone, or be offered, in a foreign place

I have always wanted to travel to Greece, not predominantly for the cuisine, but let’s be honest; food sells me on visiting just about anywhere. That said, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Greek salads are exactly the cubed tomato, cucumber, onion, olives and feta that I had imagined. Other Greek specialties, however, were… Continue reading Trust Greeks bearing delicious mezze

Yes, I quit my job and moved to Italy to pursue a Master’s Degree. No not an MBA or a PHD like most of my former classmates in San Diego or New York, but a Master’s in Food Culture and Communications at the University of Gastronomic Sciences. Understandably, many colleagues, friends and family members were… Continue reading Master’s in Food Culture and Communications: Media, Representation, & High Quality Food

The more one can appreciate and understand another perspective, the more dimension and depth they bring to their own. On a recent study trip to Calabria, this became very clear to me when expressed by the manager of a beautiful agriturismo at which we were lucky enough to stay. Calabria is the southernmost region of… Continue reading “The eye of the foreigner is magic”

To say that I was anxious walking into Cracco is an understatement. I had made the reservation in the famed Milan establishment based solely on my fascination with the sweet and salty contrast for which Chef Carlo Cracco is known. But upon perusing the reviews of the restaurant itself, the words “AVOID” “MISTAKE” and “INEDIBLE”… Continue reading Two stars that changed my life

What I didn’t realize until I moved to Bra, is that for my entire life, I have lived on the water. I grew up in Connecticut, on a sailboat in the Long Island Sound, and spent summers in Michigan on a lake that appears to be ocean. When I moved to San Diego, I rolled… Continue reading A blissful food flashback in Vernazza

We arrived in Istanbul, early, barely, and still slightly intoxicated from the night before (okay maybe, that was just me and Charlotte). Most importantly we arrived, and to a city unlike any I have ever visited. After a treacherous cab ride (which doubled as a lesson in Turkish) and an aggressive uphill walk to Galata… Continue reading Istanbul: Imperious Energy

After a weeklong stage throughout Emilia Romagna, I had the wonderful opportunity to discover my new favorite city in Italy – Bologna. Famed for tortelli with ragu, Ferrari, and arguably the oldest university in the world, Bologna seems the perfect synergy of modernity and antiquity in all elements. But after climbing the 498 wooden steps… Continue reading Beauty Behind Bologna

Olive oil is not only a cornerstone to the Mediterranean diet, but also a versatile, must-have in the American kitchen and all over the world.  No matter where the oil comes from (Spain, Italy, California…), these oils compliment different foods and uses. Yesterday Professor Bosticco clarified some basics that may help you to decide which… Continue reading A lesson in olive oil