The senses are a driving force for many, and none are more demanding than the sense of taste. It is the driving force that compels the young and young-at-heart to seek out new and exciting ways to satisfy their culinary desires. And Lodi and its neighboring areas are willing to oblige.

(BPT) - When the weather warms, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities to enjoy, which means there’s also a bounty of summer fare to eat. From the traditional to the intriguing, you never know what interesting food choices you may find while out and about. What better way to kick off summer than with a few fun activities that pair good times with the foods that define the season?

Ken Albala has been cooking and writing and teaching about cooking since 1993. He is a food history professor at University of the Pacific and a self-taught cook who likes to experiment with food.

When Nick and Shelly Guantone lived in Clements, having a pizza delivered was not a common occurrence. Nick Guantone began cooking it on a barbecue and many began telling the two to open up a restaurant. The couple later acquired a wood-fired oven, and today they own and operate Guantonio's Wood Fired pizza.

The Italian region of Tuscany has taken on legendary status for travelers – it’s an absolute must on everyone’s list, whether they love wine, food, history, art or the simple beauty of nature. But with so many attractions, it’s easy to end up feeling like you’re rushing – and still not getting a complete experience. However, savvy travelers know that there are strategies to ensure that you’re maximizing your time while minimizing your stress. One of the best of those strategies is to go on an expertly planned Tuscany tour.

1. Isleton Cajun Festival

Italy has been a hot travel destination since the age of the "Grand Tour." Its allure hasn't faded at all, thanks to the country's astonishing natural beauty, cultural diversity, historical riches, delectable cuisine and welcoming people. But for travelers who want to really get in touch with the country, and experience the lifestyle on a deeper level, it's important to seek out an Italy tour that takes you beyond the usual checklist of "must-sees."

If hunger is your driving motivation, Lodi and its surrounding areas have a multitude of flavors to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites

“Nobody cooks like this anymore.” Those are the words restaurant owner Sara Randall hears often from the customers who are becoming quick regulars at Bueno Italiano, a new Italian cafe on Kettleman Lane in Lodi.

The Phillips family has always enjoyed cooking together so when Trevor and his mother, Leslie, were given the opportunity to enter the food business, they jumped at the chance. Since 2006, they have owned and operated De Vinci's Delicatessen and Catering.

Mexican and Italian food will soon be under one roof when a new restaurant opens at Lockeford and California streets in Lodi.

The building that once housed Teriyaki Time on West Elm Street has been vacant for months. The open sign has remained off, the tinted windows dark at all hours of the day.

A leaf blower sounds from across the parking lot of Pietro’s Trattoria. Sprinklers finish their cycle as the Italian restaurant’s own, Jim Murdaca, checks on his zucchini in the lot.

My instructions for this week weren’t very specific — I was simply assigned to write up something “food-related” to stay with the theme of this week’s Lodi Living. And when I’m not given ironclad instructions, I tend to take advantage of the situation and use it as an excuse to get a little weird. So, I present to you a painstakingly assembled hodgepodge of awesome food-related things in movies, in no order and adhering to absolutely no rules or guidelines. Bon appetit?

Ever been tempted to compare the taste of cheddar cheeses from Wisconsin and California, or sample some feta cheese made with sheep's milk?

What's the attraction: Santana Row is a little bit of upscale Hollywood shopping in the middle of San Jose. Santana Row has all the big stores: BCBGMAXAZRIA, Burberry, Diesel, Gucci, H&M, Salvatore Ferragamo, Anthropologie and more. They are the stores that most of us can't afford, but still fun to walk through because you hear young groups of friends say things like, "$400 for a pair of jeans — seriously?"

Wow, I really took a loooong break from this blog. My apologies, the retail world pretty much took over my life towards the end of last year. Glad to be back!

The song "Stuck in Lodi Again", while quite popular, always stuck in my craw, even though I have always loved Creedence Clearwater Revival. But after reading Joe Guzzardi's column recently, it took me a while to come down from the ceiling. So let me rant for a bit.

In a revamped building on the Delta, there is a new restaurant where raviolis are handmade with family recipes and clam chowder is just as creamy and flavorful as you'd find on the coast.

After eight years of creating unique meals for his catering company, Black Tie Gourmet, chef Julio Camberos has opened a restaurant where locals can enjoy his food without having to atttend one of his catered events.