It’s here!!! Our newest zine has arrived: Il Mare 🩵
Dive ☺️ into the splendid waters of Il Mare - our latest zine that celebrates the beauty and cuisine of the Italian sea
We are so excited to announce the arrival of our latest love letter to Italy: Il Mare - a tribute to the beauty of the Italian sea! 🥳
Joey and I have long been fascinated with the unparalleled beauty and tranquility of the Italian sea as well as the enchanting islands and villages that grace its shores. Over the years, I have been on a mission to explore as many of the Italian islands as possible. My travels have taken me to Sardinia and Sicily; the Aeolians and Elba; Giglio and Pantelleria while Joey needs nothing more than an “ombrellone da spiaggia” (beach umbrella), a small stretch of sandy shoreline and the warm Italian sun to further his pursuit of the perfect “l'abbronzatura” (tan).
This issue, Il Mare, is our tribute to the special beauty and grace of the Italian sea. Dive in 😊 to over 70 pages, featuring some of my favorite images and tales from our travels, along with two full menus and recipes to recreate your own Italian island adventure at home. Travel with us to two of our most loved Italian islands: the beautiful paradise of Capri and the windswept island of Pantelleria.
Capri: The Island of Sirens
“If you loved me, we’d be in Capri.”
Our first stop in Il Mare is the island of Capri where our fascination with this Mediterranean jewel began in the late 80s. It all started when Joey, out in Los Angeles, offered to host a wedding guest for a friend. The guest, named Marco, was from Italy and happened to live on the beautiful island of Capri. They became fast friends. Numerous trips to the island followed and Joey soon became known as “Capri Joe”.
Joey’s enthusiasm for the island was enough for me to follow in his footsteps a few years later. A long-ago weekend turned into one of the most memorable and unique travel experiences of my life. You will read more about my ‘Vacation with the Dead’ in the pages of Il Mare (teaser!)
Over the past year, we have forged a super fun collaboration with a husband-and-wife duo, chef Gianluca and his wife Holly, who run Michel'angelo Cooking School in Anacapri. Formerly owners of Ristorante Michel’angelo in Capri, Holly, and Gianluca generously shared a few of their recipes which are featured in our menu. Holly also shared a few tips with us on bringing the magic of Capri home to your table. (You will also be hearing a lot more about them in the coming months!!)
Pantelleria: Daughter of the Wind
Our second stop in Il Mare is the tiny island of Pantelleria. Have you ever visited a place that stays with you long after you return home? Those places that leave an imprint deep upon your soul? For me, windswept Pantelleria is one of those places. I first visited Pantelleria on a solo trip, taking 3 flights to finally reach her shores. I went in search of the island’s famed capers and as you will read in the pages of Il Mare, I found so much more. Arab-influenced Pantelleria is both exotic and familiar; and, as you will read, it was the people of this island that touched my soul.
We hope you will love our latest issue as much as we do. 🩵 From both of us, we hope these pages inspire you to take that trip to a destination that sets your soul on fire. And we sincerely hope that the menus and recipes within these pages will inspire you to not only recreate them at home but also serve as a catalyst to gather around the table with those you love.
Also, be sure to check out what's below! We included a cocktail recipe from Il Mare. We have been making this one non-stop all season - so we wanted to share. And should you need some ‘sea-inspired’ goodies to set the tone, we have included links to a few items in our shop.
Tanti baci, xx
A heartfelt grazie for allowing us to be part of your inboxes,
Michele ❤️ (and Joey too!)
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“Daughter of the Wind”
This recipe is a twist on the classic Paper Plane cocktail and substitutes Sicilian Averna and orange bitters to add a bit of Southern Italian flair. Equal parts bourbon, Aperol, Averna, and lemon juice create a beautiful balance of bitter, sweet, and sour (and make it super easy to make!). Finish the cocktail with a sprinkle of sea salt and bright orange zest for that perfect island vibe. ☀️
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For each cocktail:
3/4-ounce bourbon
3/4-ounce Aperol
3/4-ounce Amaro Averna
3/4-ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Orange bitters
Fine sea salt
Orange zest
1. Into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the bourbon, Aperol, Averna, lemon juice, a double shake of orange bitters, and a sprinkle of sea salt. Shake until well-chilled, about 30 seconds.
2. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with orange zest and serve alongside any body of water!
And if you need some sea-inspired goodies to go along with our zine - some ideas from our shop! 😊
For over seventy years Tessitura Toscana Telerie has been producing superior quality and beautiful linens for the home. We adore their kitchen linens and the fish linens are our absolute favorite - select from either three or five fish to grace your kitchen. 🐟
Valentina D’Andrea’s handcrafted and handpainted products are made with natural fibers and with low environmental impact. From beach towels to totes, Valentina's use of bright colors and whimsical designs are sure to dazzle and are born from her personal creativity and experience.
Bring the Ionian Sea to your table with these marine-inspired, artisanal ceramic bowls from Linea Dria in Sicily. Dria was born in Catania and grew up in Aci Castello, a stone’s throw from the sea. Each dish is lovingly hand-painted. Mix and match either sailboats or fish to entertain with color and conversation.
Amazing magazine. Thank You!