Merry Christmas!

New Books in the Library

My Venice library keeps growing! I've added my latest additions on Library Thing. Check it out, you may find some ideas for holiday presents for the Venetophiles in your life. And, if anyone out there has any Venice books for sale, feel free to contact me!

I took the photo in May 2007. It shows one of the books in my collection (Chow! Venice) on the table in the apartment I rented. Undoubtedly I was looking for a good restaurant -- and this book is always a great help.

Olio Nuovo - new 2007 Olive Oil

Thanks to those of you who responded to my question about the construction in San Marco. I'll get to them later in the week. We on the East Coast of the U.S. had our first snowfall of the season -- and I'm tired from cleaning the sidewalks...

But, even if the dollar is keeping us here in the states, we can still taste Italy. If you are an olive oil fanatic, as I am, you have to get Olio Nuovo (I can post this now that my order is in! :-))

Here's a link to Casa de Case, importers of fantastic olive oils, including the just pressed that I'm addicted to. Kris and Howard Case (who are fellow Venice lovers). As their website says:

We distribute directly to the finest restaurants in the San Francisco Bay area, and we ship to fine specialty stores across the country. We also sell to consumers via this web site.

Once a year, immediately after the new oil is crushed at the Olivestri frantoio (olive oil press and factory), we airfreight it in for immediate distribution. We are one of the only sources in the U.S. offering this rare and wonderful olio nuovo.

Disclaimer: They don't pay me to say I love their olive oil and I don't give them any advance notice that I'm posting anything about them. And, I've already placed an order, but I think I'll go order some more. Drizzle this oil on toasted sourdough bread and you will be in heaven....