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Listen to Cucina Chatter Radio hosted by Lorraine Ranalli.

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My pal, colleague, and favorite Yoga guru Michele Paiva, author of Fattitude, Lose Your F in Attitude, gave us the green light to indulge (moderately) in pasta, Italian bread, olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, and all that is typical of Italian soul food. On a recent episode of Cucina Chatter, Michele equated free radicals to seedy guys in a nightclub, an analogy to which I can relate. Calling antioxidants (found in many Italian foods) dysfunctional enablers that seek out free radicals like bouncers seek out losers in a nightclub, she says these antioxidants escort the free radicals out of the club (our bodies). You can hear the segment on YouTube.
 

Does Cucina Chatter have good peeps or what? I am so blessed to have on my show on a regular basis such talented, fun, enthusiastic, entertaining, hard working, and honest people. I just have to express my gratitude from time to time.

If you haven't heard Cucina Chatter, please schedule your lunch break around it. Grab a hoagie, pull up a chair at our virtual table nella cucina, and bring the show up on your computer at http://www.wbcb1490.com/. We love company, so please share this link!

Here's what we have lined up for this week, July 20, 2010.

This week's edition of Cucina Chatter Radio actually begins in Cape May. It's a special seashore edition. Listen live Tuesday at 1:00pm on line at http://www.WBCB1490.com/. You'll hear my interview with Chef Geoff Johnson of Copper Fish Restaurant in Cape May. He'll take us around the world as he describes the fish he imports fresh.

While most Americans enjoy a good Pub Crawl, certain ethnicities prefer a good Food Crawl. Not that I'm stereotyping those of us from Italian decent. OK. I am!
 

Entertainment is always a pleasure but when you have an opportunity to go behind the scenes, it's super special. Top that with a tour guide who is "in the know" and you have an over-the-top experience. This is the essence of Jacqueline Peccina Kelly's Taste For Travel. From her charismatic enthusiasm to her deep knowledge of the tour route and venues, Jacquie captivated our entire group along Philadelphia's Italian Market yesterday.
 

They don't change. Italian stripes are the same regardless where you go. I'm talking about the warmth, the camaraderie, the desire to feed everyone, the hugs, the kisses, etc. I had the pleasure of visiting Boston, Mass. this past weekend and boy did I have a great time! Gravy and "Gravy Wars" was embraced enthusiastically from the Back Bay to Cambridge to East Boston, where the "real" Italians live.
 

Nay sayers told me that the subtitle, South Philly Foods, Feuds & Attytudes, would keep Gravy Wars bound to the Philadelphia region. I never believed them. I always felt that the world could appreciate such a humorous and relatable narrative regardless its setting. Besides, despite ethnicity, race, creed, or geographics, behind closed doors most people share similar values, especially when it comes to the most basic human necessity--food!

I suppose the concept behind 'Whole Food' is eating pure food with no preservatives, fillers, chemicals, or any other funky stuff. The phrase conjures up an entirely different notion in my mind. I imagine all seven courses, leaving my plate clean, and being bloated like a zeppelin. When the ADD is seriously kicking in the cover art of Led Zeppelin’s debut album comes to mind, and that sends my train of thought on an entirely different course.

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." The important thing, however, is to be an alert student so as to avoid missing your teacher. Usually a few cinder blocks to the head is what I need to get a message. Thankfully, that was not the case this week.

Ever since the release of Gravy Wars, I've been eating more and exercising less, hence a few wayward lbs. found their way onto my skeleton. Try as I might to wish these unwelcome intruders away, they just seem to enjoy their new home so much that they are multiplying. For someone who never really had to battle weight, this is quite an adjustment. I want these fat cells to STOP inbreeding at my expense!