This month marks the one-year anniversary of our “Cucina” column and we hope you have been enjoying it! 
In this column we share the cuisine and recipes of Italy and our Italian American communities. Each month we feature recipes curated from our research and those shared by LGI readers.
Food and cooking are important aspects of our cultural identity and sharing recipes is one way for us to connect to our roots and to one another! 
We invite you to share your family recipes and the stories behind them with us! For our October issue, we would like to feature your dishes, so if you have a special recipe, we would love to hear from you! Please email your recipes to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before Sept. 10. We also love photographs, so please feel free to share a photograph of your family making or enjoying the recipe; or of a beloved family member who is or was the “cook” in your family!

dalla cucina di www.veranda.com

Renaissance Spritz

Soak up the last moments of the season with this bubbly cocktail in hand.

Ingredients:

3 Blackberries
¾ oz. Gin
¾ oz. Campari
¾ oz. Cocchi Americano 
½ oz. Lemon juice
2 oz. Dry sparkling wine
1 oz. Club soda
1 Olive, for garnish

Directions:

In a cocktail shaker, muddle 2 blackberries. Add gin, Campari, Cocchi Americano, and lemon juice. Fill shaker with ice, and shake until surface of shaker is very cold, approx. 20 seconds. Strain into a stemless wine glass over ice. Top with soda and sparkling wine. Garnish with a skewered olive and remaining blackberry.