August 11, 2026
In conversation with Trine Hahnemann
Trine Hahnemann is an extraordinary and fascinating human.
March 1, 2026
In conversation with Marco Viola
Marco Viola represents the third generation of olive oil producers. Based in Foligno, Umbria, his company Frantoio Viola continues a tradition of excellence in Italian extra virgin olive oil making that spans over 70 years.READ MORE
March 8, 2025
Oral Health and impacts of the Mediterranean Diet – In conversation with Prof. Dr. Simone Grandini
We felt like it was time to understand a bit more about oral health and how the mediterranean diet can have extremely positive impacts, so we arranged a conversation with Prof. Dr. Simone Grandini DDS MSc PhDREAD MORE
March 1, 2025
Podcast with Prof. Tim Spector and Frantoi Founder Elizabeth Berger
Our Frantoi founder, Elizabeth Berger, joined the CEO of Zoe, Jonathan Wolf, and Tim Spector MD FRCP FRSB, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, to talk olive oil, polyphenols, and the benefits of eating what’s in season. You can listen to the full podcast here.READ MORE
November 8, 2024
In Conversation with Prof. Sarah Berry
Sarah Berry is a Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King’s College London and Chief Scientist at ZOE. She is the lead nutritional scientist on the PREDICT program. Her research focuses on precision nutrition, postprandial metabolism, food, and fat structure. READ MORE
August 11, 2024
An A to Z of Pasta: Rachel Roddy
Rachel is one of the most highly recognised food writers in Italy. She has lived in Rome for 20 years learning about, cooking and eating pasta. Her book, An A to Z of Pasta tells stories of pasta shapes and the best sauces to pair with them. If you don’t already have a copy, you really should.READ MORE
November 22, 2023
In Conversation with Tim Spector
I was extremely fortunate to spend a couple of hours tasting our new season releases with Tim Spector in London this month.READ MORE
June 7, 2023
Interview: Avi Shashidhara
Putting Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the context of Asian and spice laden food is something that interests us hugely. It is here that layering of flavour is so well understood and so rather than always using a neutral cooking oil, a great extra virgin olive oil can contribute a layer that might not have been historically thought of. READ MORE
September 17, 2022
Activist of Biodiversity: A conversation with Quinto Sapore
Quinto Sapore is a farm located on the Tuscan / Umbrian border outside the beautiful medieval walls of Citta della Pieve. It is an unbelievably thoughtful project, aiming to interpret and renew the agri-food tradition towards an indispensable healthy future.READ MORE
November 29, 2021
The Queen of Truffles: Meera Cortese
Your journey into the world of truffles is fascinating from what I know! Please can you tell us a little bit about it?
Well, I worked my way up the ladder in private banking for a number of years, but when I had children I realised that I had to find something that I could fit around them a bit more.READ MORE
September 25, 2021
ENDANGERED PIECES A conversation with Jono Nussbaum
Jono grew up in London but has always been a keen observer of the natural world: “I started drawing animals and insects when I was young and basically never stopped; the complexity of nature continues to challenge and inspire me.”READ MORE
April 11, 2021
Painting Flavour: Letitia Ann Clark
Letitia Ann Clark is a chef, food writer, painter and illustrator based in Sardinia. Originally from Devon, she’s been based on the West Coast of the Mediterranean Island since 2017, after she honed her skills as a chef in various London favourites of ours such as Moro, Morito and Spring. READ MORE
November 18, 2020
The Storyteller: Nancy Harmon Jenkins
Maine native food-writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins, is one of America’s foremost experts on extra virgin olive oil. She’s written many cookbooks on Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, born from her experiences living in Lebanon and Italy. READ MORE
May 8, 2020
The Rockstar: Fil Bucchino
Fil Bucchino is a Florence born – Toronto bred punk musician turned olive oil taster, producer & ambassador. His latest venture is a documentary, Obsessed with Olive Oil, which goes behind the scenes of the rebirth of quality olive oil production and the lengths Olive Oil professionals will go through to make that perfect product. The film is currently doing the festival circuits around the world, so keep an eye out for it.
November 22, 2019
The Forager: Caterina Cardia
Pienza native Caterina Cardia has foraged in the spectacular lands of the Val d’Orcia ever since she was a young girl. Today she supplies some of the best restaurants in Italy with native wild plants, which she has helped recuperate and propagate. She helps run her partner’s lovely restaurant La Buca Vecchia and supplies wild herbs, salads, greens and flowers to the kitchen. She also runs courses and tastings for anyone who wants to learn more about wild foraging in the Val D’Orcia.
November 22, 2019
The Modern Italian Cook: Joe Trivelli
Joe Trivelli is co-head chef at London’s iconic River Café, where he has worked since 2001. Southern Italian on his father’s side but born and raised in Kent, Joe’s first book, The Modern Italian Cook was released last year and has been talked about non-stop since.
October 27, 2019
The Landkeeper: Luca Gregori
Brothers Stefano and Luca Gregori share the joy of running Frantoio Gregori with the support and guidance of their wider family, following in the footsteps of their father and his father before him. We were invited to their annual summer family and friends gathering, where we sampled their mother’s utterly delicious Olive Ascolane – a local traditional delicacy, made with their own Ascolane Tenera olives – honestly this celebration was beyond a feast, so many incredible flavours each speaking of their territory.
October 26, 2019
The Organic Agronomist: Angelo Bo
Angelo Bo is an Agronomist specialised in organic Olive farming and based in Tuscany. He talks to us about why organic farming has a higher gear.
August 11, 2019
The science of good health: Dr Simon Poole
Physician, award winning author, public speaker and broadcaster, Dr Simon Poole has been extolling the virtues of the Mediterranean Diet and the use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil in particular since the 1990s. His seminal book, The Olive Oil Diet (authored with Judy Ridgway), brought to life how easy is it to live better for longer. You can follow him on twitter @thetasteofthemed READ MORE
April 29, 2019
The memory collector: Tessa Kiros
Tessa Kiros’s work has been very important to us: her book on Tuscan cooking ‘Twelve’ was the first cookbook we bought together as a young couple and the pages have been worn and loved over the years. She has written an incredible selection of fascinating books, combining her love of travel and collecting, but also her heritage and eclecticism. She was very kind to speak to Frantoi.org about her journeys, life in Tuscany and naturally Extra Virgin Olive Oil. You can find out more about her and her wonderful books via tessakiros.com
January 25, 2019
Interview: Giulia Scarpaleggia
Giulia has written five cookbooks and has an acclaimed blog featuring delicious, faithful Tuscan recipes. She also runs cookery classes from her countryside kitchen.
November 14, 2018
Nutrition and vitality: Emma Ellice-Flint
Emma Ellice-Flint, has created an incredible following in Australia and globally for her attitude to nutrition and in particular how to assist hormonal balance naturally.
September 30, 2018
How EVOO changed my life: Yves Meijer
Yves lives in Esch, the second largest town in Luxembourg with his wife and twelve year old son. He has been working in the recruitment industry for the last 20 years following his studies in industrial and social psychology.
November 29, 2017
Food, Family and Florence: Emiko Davies
Emiko Davies has written two incredible books about Tuscan food: Florentine and Acquacotta, both available on Amazon and from all good bookshops. You can find her beautiful pictures, recipes, and words on www.emikodavies.com
November 28, 2017
Drappellone: the prized asset
People are often surprised when they find out that the only prize awarded in the Palio di Siena is the Drappellone – a vertical drape. Given the passion and intensity of this extraordinary horse race, one would expect hefty prize money after a race, but in Siena all you get is the Palio (the actual name of the drape).
October 8, 2017
Life, food and garden-making in Italy: Anne Hanley
Born in Australia, but raised in the UK, Anne Hanley has found home near Città della Pieve in Umbria where she runs a landscape gardening practice. A former journalist, she has lived in Italy since 1984 and has written extensively about travels in the country, editing amongst other things the Time Out Guide to Venice.
November 23, 2016
What organic means in the Olive Grove: Ruggero Mazzilli
A number of different people have been consulted for this topic such is its complexity, ranging from olive growers to agronomists. The main source of information however was from the highly respected organic viticultural consultant, Ruggero Mazzilli who has famously practiced his art since the 1980s.
October 25, 2016
Lunch with Raffaella Cova
Born in Como in northern Italy, Raffaella’s first career was in TV and film production in Milan before she moved to the Val d’Orcia in 2003. Sharing her Tuscan life with Montalcino architect Marco Pignattai and their two sons, she finally has the time to knead all the pasta, pizza and pastry dough she always wanted to.
September 1, 2016
The apothecary’s daughter: Maria Vlotides
We begin our series of interviews with Maria Vlotides, an inspiring Medical Herbalist based in London and travelling widely.