Bella Cucina Artful Food

SUNDAY SLOWDOWN | Stay in your lane. “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” - Mahatma Ghandi As I was driving to work the other day, the phrase “stay in your own lane” came to me. I noticed that when I am in a hurry, I change lanes, trying to shimmy my way through traffic to get to where I am going faster. What I also noticed was that changing lanes is stressful. It can be distracting, even dangerous. When you change lanes, you run the risk of a potential accident, especially when there are multiple lanes. Does changing lanes really get me to where I want to go quicker? Perhaps it does, but I suspect not by much. Stay in your own lane typically means that someone should “mind their own business” or “stick to what they know.” It's used as an admonishment, a kind of pejorative advice. Ever since my drive to work, I've been thinking about it in another way, as a useful, and positive, metaphor for life and creativity. There is a feeling of relaxation that comes when we go with the flow of life. When we stop swerving to chase the next shiny object or opportunity, when we we we stop resisting the natural rhythm of our own journey, we find a focused momentum and easeful grace. It's easy to glance sideways, the distractions are in front of us at every turn. The temptation to compare ourselves to others, to admonish ourselves against our selves. We question our choices, wondering if we are on the right road to “there," wherever we may be headed. In business, we see another's success and wonder if we should pivot, expand, or change course. What if the real wisdom lies in deepening rather than diverting? Refining rather than rushing. Going narrow and deep rather than changing our lane. To stay in your lane doesn't mean to stay stagnant. It is not about limitation, it's about alignment. You can stay in your lane and still meander, like a leisurely Sunday drive. You can listen to your intuition and take an intentional detour, a road that takes you to an unexpected experience, or a place that is exactly where you needed to go, to be. To stay in your lane is a practice of listening to what calls to us quietly rather than being distracted by noisy traffic of the world. In a world that celebrates quick fixes, fast paces, and doing and being more, more, more, there is something potent and powerful about being able to slow our speed and stay in our lane. We cultivate a personal point of view, a deeply intentional way of being, of working in the world. When we stay in our line, we let the magic unfold before us. We keep our eye on the road, but allow the horizon to be our guide. We embrace the nowness of life rather than the rushed demands of “getting there” in a prescribed amount of time. What would it feel like to trust your own pace? To stay in the lane that is meant uniquely and exquisitely just for you. Slow down and enjoy the ride. x Alisa

We love seeing Bella Cucina in your hands, bringing beauty and flavor to your table. Handmade, artful, and meant to be shared. Tag us in your creations and share how you savor Bella Cucina with #bellacucinalovers. We can’t wait to see what you’re making! Reel by @sophistiplate ________ #artisanmade #gatherandfeast #italiancooking #handmadebeauty #foodlovers #tablescapeinspo #culinarydelight #sharethelove #eatwelllivewell

Last Chance! ?? Our Fresh Pasta Making Class is tomorrow, and today is the last day to save your seat! Join us for a hands-on experience where you'll learn to make Southern-style semolina pasta, hand-roll it into strands of pici, and enjoy a tasting of pasta with Bella Cucina’s artisanal sauces. Guests will take home their handmade pasta to enjoy later. Make it a date night, a gathering with friends, or come solo and be part of the community. Light bites & chilled bubbly included! ?? Bella Cucina | 120 Buckhead Avenue, Atlanta 30305 ??? Tomorrow – Saturday, February 10th _______ #pastamaking #handmadepasta #bellacucina #italiancooking #buckheadatl #artisanmade #gatherandfeast #atlantaworkshops #foodlovers #culinaryexperience

Only 2 Days Away! If you've always wanted to learn how to make fresh pasta from scratch, this is the class for you! Join us for a hands-on Pasta Making Class where you'll learn the Southern style of fresh semolina pasta and hand-roll it into strands of pici. During the class, enjoy a tasting of pasta with a variety of Bella Cucina’s artisanal sauces and take home a selection of the pasta you make. Make it a date night, a girlfriend gathering, or come solo and be part of the community. Light bites & chilled bubbly will be provided. ?? Bella Cucina | 120 Buckhead Avenue, Atlanta 30305 WHEN? Saturday, February 10th Paid parking available. We recommend the North Deck (entrances on Bolling Way NE or N Fulton Dr.). Seats are limited, reserve yours at the link in bio! _______ #pastamaking #handmadepasta #bellacucina #italiancooking #buckheadatl #artisanmade #gatherandfeast #atlantaworkshops #foodlovers #culinaryexperience

Did you know our Preserved Lemon Cream isn’t just for sweets? It brings the perfect balance of brightness and richness to savory dishes like Pasta al Limone. Silky, creamy, and irresistibly vibrant. Find the recipe at the link in bio. __________ #sunshineonaplate #preservedlemon #bellacucina #italiancooking #artisanmade #pastalover #freshflavors #gatherandfeast #foodinspiration #culinarydelight

A Taste of Tuscany in Every Drop Our Taste of Tuscany Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the essence of Italian tradition—cold-pressed from the finest olives for a rich, velvety finish with hints of fresh herbs and a subtle peppery bite Drizzle it. Dip it. Savor it. Perfect over crusty bread, farm-fresh greens, or a homemade pasta dish. _______ #tasteoftuscany #extravirginoliveoil #italianflavors #bellacucina #artisanmade #oliveoillove #farmtotable #gatherandfeast #foodlovers #culinarydelight

Beautiful words, thoughtfully shared. ? ? A simple note can uplift, inspire, and encourage. Our Encouragement Cards bring inspiration and gentle reminders. ? ? Perfect for gifting, keeping, or sharing with someone who needs a little light.? ? Photo by @thegatehouseny? ? ? ? ___________? #inspiredliving #thoughtfulgifts #bellacucina #sharethelove #handwrittennotes #meaningfulmoments #giftideas #spreadjoy #littlethingsmatter #artisanmade

SUNDAY SLOWDOWN | The art of alchemy “People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own souls. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” - Carl Jung Many years ago, I gifted myself with a writing retreat in Maui. One of my assignments was to start a blog. The blog became a medium for my meditations, a documentation of daily devotions that became a writing practice. For 365 days, I wrote down whatever came to mind. I had no other goal than to simply show up and tell the truth. I didn't realize how difficult that would be. Honesty is a humbling teacher. No pre-determined destination, only the hope for an auspicious arrival. Some days, the pages dripped with excited enthusiam. Other days, it surprised me with abundant inspiration and enlightenment. Then there were days of dissonant dialogue. Challenging questions resurfaced relentlessly until the answer was slowly, sometimes painfully, revealed. I was broken open and sometimes found myself falling apart. With nothing to hold on to, I let go. The funny thing is, when I lost my way, I gained my ground. Once I was willing to surrender, synchronicity started to unfold with a kind of magic that only the divine can deliver. Trust, once a suspect enemy, became an ally. Faith, thought to be futile and forgotten, came sauntering in, no apologies asked or expected. The more I let go, the more I let life in. The truth-telling on the page about my inner landscape became bold and daring acts in life's outer landscape. Truth is a powerful ally, especially when we risk being blown open and seen, if only to ourselves.There lies the beauty of contradiction. What we think protects us actually hinders our connections. When we let go of the armor, we let go of who we believed ourselves to be. When we allow our suffering to be embraced, when we're willing to look with curiosity and kindness at the dark as we do the light, the healing happens. All of it is prima materia, the dark matter which makes us whole, and true transformation begins. We begin to live not as we believe others wish us to be, but as we really are. Even in the midst of adversity, or banal habitual routines and mundane daily duties, life can be a perpetual pilgrimage of aesthetic arrest and awe. The gorgeously good, the not so pretty imperfections, the evolution and embrace of everything. The creative nature of life always works on behalf of the good and the beautiful, but the way it works is the mystery. What I've learned is that we never “figure it out.” Life is not a linear path with all the answers already mapped out for us. Life itself is the map. Where is your path leading you? I invite you to take 365 days to find out. Start a blog, make some art, or simply set aside time each day to savor the art of doing nothing slowly as a daily meditation. May the mystery of what is revealed become your blessing, beauty and brilliance. x Alisa

Spring + Bella Cucina = yellow?? Stop by the store and join us as we celebrate the season’s vibrance See you soon! ________ #springawakening #bellacucina #seasonaleating #italiancooking #artisanmade #kitchendecor #gatherandfeast #shoplocal #foodlovers #culinarydelight

Make Your Own Fresh Pasta Class is Back! ?? Our most popular class returns—because fresh pasta just tastes better when you make it yourself. ?? Check out our spring calendar for upcoming classes! Tap the link in bio to explore & reserve your seat. In-store activations are back! Join us for hands-on experiences, seasonal workshops, and, of course, pasta-making magic. Reserve your spot at the table now—link in bio! ________ #makeyourownpasta #freshpastaclass #pastamaking #bellacucina #italiancooking #slowfoodmovement #gatherandsavor #handmadepasta #cookingclass #timelesstraditions