Women Bloggers on Springtime Dining
By Gina Valentino
Photo by Stephanie Naru
On February 28, just over a dozen Italian female food bloggers from all over Italy gathered at Florence University of the Arts to discuss La Bambina Che Contava Le Formiche, a new novel written by the school’s president, Gabriella Ganugi. The bloggers are well known throughout Italy and were given a tour around FUA’s culinary campus, Apicius and the school’s eatery, Ganzo. The visit concluded with a dessert tasting coordinated by Pastry Chef Simone De Castro. I, along with three other FUA students, had the opportunity to interview them and ask for advice and for suggestions for fabulous spring Florentine dishes.
With Easter just around the corner, the food bloggers discussed their favorite dishes for this time of the year. Many of the women agreed that Easter is a time where chefs are resistant to change their meal for the holiday. Hardboiled eggs, lamb, and torta pastiera are some classic mainstays of the Easter menu. For an everyday meal in the spring season, a preferred pasta dish of one blogger is gnudi, “undressed ravioli,” with butter, cheese, and sage. Another general favorite mentioned by was the Sienese pici spaghetti dressed with duck ragù. To indulge your sweet tooth, enjoy a classic Tuscan themed dessert for spring, schiacciata alla fiorentina, a Florentine layer cake.
The remarkably talented women present at this event share a love for cooking, yet each writes for a different audience in her blog. They discussed where they got their passion for food and where their inspiration comes from. One blogger grew up in a family who utilized cooking as a recreational way for her parents to keep her occupied as a child. Another finds her children as an inspiration to blog. Other bloggers greatly benefit from the digital community and read other bloggers who serve as sources of information and inspiration.
In this digital world of technology, the bloggers said that they use social media as tools to inform their readers and audiences. They use computers and websites to research and record their new favorite recipes. Photos of their food creations are often posted on their blogs as beautiful visuals to accompany their recipes. Most women agreed that blogging can be considered both pleasurable and stress-inducing. Although they have a continuous desire to blog, they are sometimes bogged down with work or their daily routine. One blogger explained that there is a difference between blogging for work and blogging for fun or sheer pleasure. It is important to balance the many aspects of life: at home, work, for their blogs.
Do you want to know some more recipes but are not fluent in Italian? Some of these Italian food bloggers have English translations on their blogs! They also suggested some of their favorite English-speaking blogs including What Kate Ate and Alessandra Zecchini’s food blog. Stay up to date on the most delicious foods of the blogosphere!
The following bloggers participated at the event:
Sara Querzola, Giulia Scarpaleggia, Aurelia Bartoletti, Francesca d’Agnano, Sara Milletti, Teresa Balzano, Laura Adani, Nadia Taglialatela, Ilaria Mazzarotta, Simona Cherubini, Patrizia Malomo, Lorenza Pliteri, Silvia Ippolito.
Additional photos of the event can be viewed at the J School FB page.