Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Alessandra Donà [dropcap]E[/dropcap]arly on an Arizona morning, the moon has already begun to rise over Vicenza, Italy where Alessandra Donà is beginning to relax after a busy day. From an office in the 500-year-old Palazzo Capra Ouerini, her eyes smile beneath rimless glasses as she talks about her work….
The only thing better than Arizona sunshine and moonrises are the delicious foods of the Southwest. In the North Valley, it’s not only the smoky bite of anchos, the kick of serranos, or the fun in experimenting with prickly pear, saguaro seeds and other desert bounty that makes for a good meal; it’s the brilliant infusion of local ingredients with other national and international flavors to create something wonderful.