Living Villa Cappelli

Love spicy food? Want to know what the health care system in Italy is like?   In this, the first of a two part interview, we discuss both topics with Joe and Andrea Lathe-Vitale. These two are making the big move to Italy as well as making their own line of hot sauces. Finally, near the end of the podcast, we get into how the healthcare is here in Italy compared to the U.S. Click here for 5 fun & delicious places to add spice. Topics we cover: How Andrea and Joe are planning on moving to Italy Our common love for hot sauces How they name their products after their cats You'll find their products at Fancy Cat Sauce Co. Joe's favorite pepper Finding the right mix of flavor and heat when it comes to hot sauces Joe and Andrea's visit to the mill The ibuprofen properties of extra virgin olive oil Where I first learned about it in Extra Virginity Why Steven doesn't fear fat (and how he lost 30 lbs. — Be sure to check out Vinnie Tortorich and Anna Vocino's podcast for more info and Vinnie's best-selling book)

  What's Christmas like in Italy? Well, some traditions are the same and some are very different. We'll take through our experience with this amazing season in Italy. Topics we cover Paul's memories of his family drinking Manhattans in Boston The Italians start celebrating the season on Saint Nicolas day in early December The fact that Saint Nicolas is actually buried here in Bari How the kids get gifts on Saint Nicolas day, Christmas day and on the Epiphany How kids put their shoes out during Saint Nicolas day to get presents How everyone makes their own homemade nativity scene every year with bark, moss, twigs and more A moving nativity in Terlizzi that as 40 moving parts that move 1000 pieces Steven's childhood memory of a children's book that explained how he got into home that didn't have fireplaces. We are still looking for the name of this book, but this one does mention fairies traveling with Santa to help him get into homes: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus How old Steven was when he stopped b

How do they celebrate Thanksgiving in Italy? Well, they don't. But WE do! So we invited a bunch of friends and family to join us for an American Thanksgiving here at Villa Cappelli. They were all terrified to come as there was no pasta on the menu, but.... Topics we cover Paul's new favorite drink for winter, a Manhattan Why we say the "locusts have descended" when the Italians come to eat Thanksgiving here How the turkey here in Italy broke our first oven A telemarketer calls, and we reveal our experience with them in Italy Just how big the turkeys are here in Italy Why Paul prefers I call our pizza oven a brick oven How the turkey cooks in the pizza...oops, brick oven Paul vents a little about his mother, like all Italian sons who love their mother The range of people we had this year How the Italians were afraid to come as there was no pasta on the menu How we arranged the buffet using makeshift heating trays Our challenge with cranberry sauce and how we made it this year with dried cranberries. Here's th

Not ketchup. Not mayo. Not even mustard. We think the world's best sandwich and hamburger topper is our Red Onion Jam (Cipolon'). After a few shout outs to some fans, we tell you just what goes into making this amazing product and what else you can do with it. Topics we cover: Some help from our fans: Susan W. who let me know the last couple of podcasts were in mono. Sorry guys! Michele who had his own story the Italian last name Esposito and from Episode 005: Italian names: nicknames, family names, married names and more, and a correction about the coastline of Rhode Island from Episode 18: Why southern Italy is better than northern Italy. Paul's mother living with us now and the one tool that helps us a ton at the villa. Check it out here. How we added 700 sq meters to the villa (7534 sq. feet) Red Tropea Onions — what they are and where the come from Why British and French Red Onion Jam It does sound strange, but why it's so good Our questions about what the difference is between jams, conserves, prese

After a short catch up on life at the villa, including a couple of culinary tours and our harvest of peppers, you'll learn about our PLUS method (Price. Label. Understanding. Source) which you can use to help ensure the extra virgin olive oil you are buying is truly extra virgin olive oil. Topics we cover: Why you should always back up your hard drive with an external drive like this one or a cloud based system Our two culinary tours and one bike tour we just had The first culinary tour with chefs Michael Howell and Michael Blackie Canada's premiere food film festival Devour! Michael Blackie's restaurant Next The fun with have with HETravel tours at Villa Cappelli Some of our favorite restaurants in the area, including Grotta Palazzese and Antichi Sapori Why most Italian restaurants don't like serving kids Why it's hard for Italian restaurants here in Italy, from the number of seatings to alcohol consumption Why you shouldn't order off the menu in an Italian restaurant Paul's long lost cousins from Californi

The second part of our Puglia coast series where you’ll learn all about the southern coastal towns of Puglia, including Bisceglia, Molfetta, Giovinazzo, Poliganano A Mare, and Monopoli, Otranto, Leuca, Gollipoli, Porto Selvaggio and one of the world’s most amazing places to take a swim. So put bring your appetites and bathing suits, and join us on this tour of the Puglia coast. Topics we cover: Bisceglia fish market Why fish from the Adriatic tastes better than fish from the Mediterranean Bisceglia’s old town The restaurant we found in Bisceglia who’s family has been has been running the same restaurant for 150 years Their amazing Braciola/Involtini made with horse meat The port and town of Molfetta The fishing port and market of Molfetta The connection of Molfetta and Hoboken The great shopping centers in Molfetta The charming seaside town of Giovinazzo Why the streets are so narrow and winding in Giovinazzo Polignano a Mare, a amazing town which juts out into the sea Grotta Palazzese, which is listed as on

In the first part of a two part podcast, you’ll learn all about the northern coastal towns of Puglia and why they are some of the best in the world, including Peschici, Vieste, Margherita di Savoia, Barletta, and Trani. So put on your sunscreen and join us for amazing ports, beaches, seafood and more. Topics we cover Our impression of Peschici and Vieste in the Gargano Why the drives are worth the visit to these towns Why Monte Sant’Angelo is one of the two most important religious sites dedicated to the archangel Michael And what makes Monte Sant’Angelo’s archangel appearances are so special The beautiful drive around Margherita di Savoia The fact that our sea salts come from the flats of Margherita di Savoia, in three varieties: Sea Salt Lemon Sea Salt Italian Herb Sea Salt Where we got the name Erbe di Puglia Barletta and it’s giant legend, no, really a legend about a giant and the statue in Barletta Trani a cute port town in Puglia [link] The funny thing about Trani weddings How it’s tourist friendly

Learn all about the spectacle of an Italian wedding. From tons of Italian food, to music and dancing, to some interesting traditions, a wedding in Italy is unlike anything you’ve ever experienced. Find out all about them in this podcast. Topics you’ll hear about: Anna Vocino, who does our voice over intro A little about the nearby town of Bitonto The funny thing the priest said at the end of a ceremony we just went to What the wedding spaces are like here Who gets more drunk at weddings, Italians or Americans Why there are so many babies at Italian weddings Where Italians leave their sleeping babies The food at an Italian wedding and the crazy amount of it The Italian wedding we went to years ago that had almost twice as much food What ballerinas have to do with the wedding cake at this wedding What they put out at the dessert tables (not just dessert) How “gifts” work at Italian weddings How there are no bridesmaids or groomsmen at Italian weddings How the bride and groom sit alone at an Italian wedding An

Learn some of the advantages southern Italy has over the northern sections. While most people have visited the northern cities like Rome, Pisa, and Milan, they might not realize what they are missing in the south. Paul and Steven discuss a blog post about this and whether they agree with every point. Topics covered: Paul’s Uncle Guy listening to boxer Nino Binvinito on the radio We discuss why southern Italy is better than northern Italy according to this blog post Why the “economic crisis” of the south is good news for any travelers coming to Puglia Why Paul thinks the “economic crisis” isn’t much of a crisis That the beaches in the south are better than the north It’s hard to find a lot of sandy beaches, but the beaches are spectacular This mind-blowing fact: Even though it is the smaller island, Sardinia's jagged coastline (1849km) is almost twice as long as Sicily's (1000km). Which mainland state in the U.S. Paul thought had the longest coastline, that being Rhode Island. This is actually incorrect, and

Learn all about the feast of the Madonna of Sovereto in Terlizzi and Sovereto in Puglia, Italy. From carts several stories tall to shepherd boys, you’ll feel like you’re in the middle of the celebration. So pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy the festivities! Topics we cover: The change in Italian clothing in August The difference between a feast and a festival The story of the Madonna of Sovereto The Knights Templars’ frescos in Sovereto What is a “black Madonna” How oxen played an important part in determining where the Madonna now lives Why the bloody ox still has a prominent place in the feast The difference between a triumphal cart and a float The construction of this massive (5 story tall) cart for the festival How the cart is manually pushed through the town by a group of men Why throwing candy at the kids in the cart isn’t such a nice thing Why they have to put gravel down on one corner How the cart is steered through the town The meat of the feast A special delicacy everyone eats during the feas

Learn how Italians deal with the summer heat, some traditions in Italy during the summer, and some of our favorite no-cook summer recipes. Topics we cover: The problem of finding fans in Italy at the height of summer And how this relates to the Italian mindset when doing business Ferragosto in Italy, where the entire country shuts down and goes on vacation for two weeks Puglia listed as having one of the best beaches The sea culture in Italy and how the sea water and air is thought to be very good for you Why Italians used to bring newborns into the stable to smell urine The different reasons Americans and Europeans come to Italy The theory of how the Serbian War was an economic plan What our neighbors think of our pool “Cliff diving” into our pool Our recipe for a wonderful tomato and tuna dish What we believe is the correct way to make a caprese salad, including putting the basil in the middle, NOT on top Why the caprese is the national Italian dish The correct to serve pasta and sauce, marrying the two fl

You’ll learn how a podcast and a pigeon lead Elizabeth Coughlin to return to her great grandfather’s hometown of Terlizzi and fulfill her grandmother’s dream of reconnecting with her family in Italy. Enjoy this interview get inspired to find your roots and your home. Topics we cover: Why Elizabeth’s family said they came from Bari when they actually came from Terlizzi Where the families around this area who left Italy settled in the US, including areas around Boston and Hoboken How Beth found us and how that lead to her finding her long lost family How her grandfather’s draft card lead to her finding Terlizzi Beth’s new tagline for Villa Cappelli “Eating at Villa Cappelli is like eating Sunday lunch every day.” Our signature cocktail made with Villa Cappelli extra virgin olive oil (recipe below) How the Spanish influenza influenced Italian immigrants in the U.S. Specifically how from the Spanish influenza killed Beth’s great grandfather’s first wife and her great grandmother’s first husband as well as how it

Learn about the challenges and issues of shooting the male figure when we talk with world famous photographer Paul Freeman about Italian art, photography and more. Topics we cover: Freeman’s shoots here at the villa on his first trip and this current trip Why the villa reminds Freeman of the film The Leopard (English Sub-titles) The theme of a lot of Freeman’s work of shooting the male nude within rustic blue-collar settings Why Freeman thinks every good photo should tell a story Why dumpster diving is not the same in Italy as it is anywhere else and the treasures Paul finds in the “trash” The difference Paul finds in Italian models v. Australian models What Freeman says to people when they say “what you do is just pornography” The surprising way Italian women approached Freeman’s books Why Paul believes the study of art developed these womens' point of view The difference in use of sex in American advertising and European advertising The use of the male figure v. the female figure in advertising Our take on

Need to plan the perfect destination wedding or event in Italy? Then this episode is for you. We talk with event and wedding planner Jeannie Uyanik, who we recently worked with here at Villa Cappelli, all about what makes for a great Italian destination wedding. Topics we cover: Jeannie’s first take on the villa and the importance of communication when planning events How space plays a part in planning an event How we play concierge for guests Why you have to think about guests from arrival point to departure point when planning a destination wedding Why a local source is important when planning an event Why Jeanie feels like a foreigner without being a tourist in Puglia Why Puglia is like “story book” Italy How “untouched” Puglia is from Jeannie’s perspective and the special nature that provides destination weddings or any event The trends of destination weddings and why they are now focused on doing something totally different Why so it’s important to give back to the guests who are attending your destinat

  We talk with director Scott Ellis and actor Scott Drummond, recent guests at the villa, all about their lives and how traveling in Italy has been, especially with two small children.   Topics we cover:   ·      Ellis’ experience with a naked Bradley Cooper in Elephant Man   ·      What Italians call people with elephantiasis (it’s flattering)   ·      Which craft Drummond prefers, stage or television   ·      Why Paul can’t remember the lyrics of any Italian song, but why it doesn’t remember   ·      Drummond’s experience on the new Tina Fey and Amy Poehler film Sisters   ·      Why the Appian Way contributes to the phrase “all roads lead to Rome”   ·      Why Scott & Scott fell in love with the place and might get married here (we hope)   ·      What stars ratings mean when it comes to a hotel   ·      Why Drummond feels Puglia is a more authentic Italy   ·      What it’s like traveling in Italy with kids   ·      What’s the advantage traveling with friends and families who also have kids   ·      How

Italian meat! Paul and Steven talk about Paul’s trip to Tuscany to visit family and the wonders of prosciutto, pancetta and sausage from Italy. Hopefully you’re not too hungry after listening to this episode.   Topics covered include: Paul’s problem with the Tuscan airport Paul’s arrival in America and a peek at why his ego is so big Why Paul can literally say “That prosciutto has my name on it.” What is unusual about Tuscan bread (hint: it has no salt) One theory of why the bread is unsalted Raw sausage and why we love it How to eat raw sausage How to freeze the sausage if you need to Why his cousin’s pancetta is so amazing Why people call the pancetta “the baby” How we were able to get some pancetta back to the U.S. one trip How women play a big part in the prosciutto and pancetta production How Paul’s trip brought on a wave of nostalgia Our advice on buying your own prosciutto or pancetta And what to serve with your prosciutto

It's all about biking Puglia, Italy.  We'll cover the itinerary for our amazing week of biking through the Italian countryside, from coastal towns to castles to amazing meals, it's all included when you hop on a bike a join us in Puglia. You'll learn: Why our Puglia bike tour is unique compared to most other bike trips Where most Greco Roman urns in museums around the world come from (hint: it’s a nearby town we visit during the first day of our tour) What Molfetta and Hoboken have in common A bit about Giovinazzo A little about Gravina and it’s ancient cave churches Where you’ll find a room full of stacked skulls What a “picnic lunch” entails at Villa Cappelli A bit about Castel Del Monte, a UNESCO World Heritage site What the artist who created the statue of Domenico Modugno was doing at the villa (hint: it’s all about ancient stucco) How cactus plants play a part on making ancient stucco A bit about Pogliano a Mare and Grotta Palazzese, a restaurant listed as having one of the best views in the world A li

This is the second part of our interview with John and Angela Cahill. This time we talk a bit about our other day trips south to Gallipoli and Lecce, and then we get into what you can do if you are looking to research your Italian heritage while visiting Italy. You’ll learn: About our trip to Porto Selvaggio, which Angela calls the Blue Grotto without all the people. About our drive to Gallipoli and Lecce About a day trip to Bovino, named the #5 top town in all of Italy to visit Why Angela calls Puglia the “quintessential Italy” About Angela and John’s first visit with us and our heritage services Where you can start with your research into your Italian heritage What is important to have when you come here looking for records What vital information you should know if you are looking to get photocopies of your family’s records (hint: it has to do with the age of the document) How knowing just a few family names can help you in these small town and might even find you some cousins Where all the old records are

Join us as we interview guest John and Angela Cahill and talk all about our trip to the amazingly beautiful Garagano, the spur of the boot.  Hopefully you’ll feel like you took a small trip with us and discover what sites not to miss when you come for real.  Plus, you’ll learn how to make our world famous limoncello and limontini.           This episode, you’ll hear:   ·      A bit about the Gargano   ·      Why the town of Monte Sant’Angelo was so special to us   ·      What role the Archangel Michael plays in the town (he is their namesake)   ·      All about the graffiti from the 1100s etched into the stone in the chapel left by the Crusaders   ·      The ex-votos, painting left behind thanking the Archangel Michael for the miracles he has performed   ·      All about Angela’s obsession with confessionals throughout the churches in Italy   ·      The castle in the same town that truly looked and felt like a real castle   ·      A bit about Paul, Angela and John’s trip to Lucera Castle   ·      Our delicio

It’s a podcast dedicated to Italian music. We talk about our adventures in the Italian music scene, covering everything from a great band that was playing in Terlizzi to our favorite pizzica group (Italian folk music) to movie theme songs blaring over the Italian radio. You’ll learn all about: Our special Italian music night in Terlizzi The muglese, a local band from the Muggia Why Paul loves Italian music from the 50s and 60s A special Italian homage to Frank Sinatra that we heard The Italian version of a grilled cheese sandwich, featuring balls of caciocavallo melting over a hot grill The portable pasta maker at the music night Why the old town was perfect for the concert Why you wont find a night like this in big Italian tourist cities like Rome Southern folk music, Pizzica And why it’s called Pizzica Why we call our handy man factotum Why his radio station sets the mood for the villa everyday Paul’s experience with Mina, Italy’s Barbara Streisand How a Mina song plays a big role in Paul’s 46th birthday a