I'm off!

This is just a quick note to say that in 30 minutes I'm off to Rome to meet Brenda at the airport! So I won't be back till Monday! Have a wonderful weekend! I know I will be!

My first dinner service...

I had two great fears before coming to Italy, one was of driving old standard vehicles and the other was falling in love with Tuscany and never wanting to leave. The second may seem completely irrational, who's afraid of falling in love with a place and never wanting to leave? Uh, that would be me. I am a family girl, as most of you know, I am never more happy than when I'm with my people. And I was afraid of getting "tricked" into staying. It may seem crazy but this was a true fear, ask my mother, and I was so happy that after a month of being here I was certain that while this was a very beautiful place I was happy to be returning to Canada in a month and a half. But then (oh no, not the "but then"!) I had my first dinner service and it all changed. It was amazing. The dedication and time that they put into creating a meal for as little as 2 people is astounding. It is so beautiful. Everyone is calm, but efficient, serious, but easy-going, and so very caring. It is my dream kitchen. And I am so happy to be spending this month in it.
Don't worry though, I'm not staying forever (Mama, you can't let out that breath you were holding!), it's just going to be harder than I thought to leave.

A Spontaneous Dinner

I love knowing I'm going to eat out ahead of time. I love the anticipation and the excitement. I love reading up on the menu and debating what I should order. But there is also something so pleasurable about a spontaneous evening out. Tonight, for example, was just going to be my usual Tuesday night, maybe some pasta for dinner and a load of laundry. But then, there was a knock on the door, Tobey was there and invited me to go to the store with her, Michael, and Tobey's mom (who's visiting for a couple weeks). I said yes, of course, and hopped into the car. It turns out we weren't going to the store but out for dinner, I had been kidnapped, but the good kind of kidnapping...the kind involving delicious tastes!

We were off to Arezzo, a town about 30 minutes away. Like most towns here it was old and gorgeous. The restaurant we went to is one of Tobey and Michael's favorites. It's tiny and adorable (it had gingham nappies as light fixtures!!). The waitress was still writing the evening's menu up on thick pieces of paper when we were seated, and she brought them to our table as soon as they were done.

I ordered two primis (first courses) a farro and cannellini bean soup and papardelle with rabbit ragu. Both were amazing.

(Check out that pasta!!)

I was so full by the end of the two dishes, to the point of uncomfortableness, but we sat and talked, and my food digested. Then after we got the bill the server brought out 4 shot glasses of a bitter herb digestive. It knocked my socks off and made my lips feel tingly for at least 20 minutes, but by the time we got up to leave I was ready to eat some more. I can not think of a better way to spend a Tuesday night, can you?

Saturday's are for eating...

Eating here is such a joy for me. There is an abundance of food, every where I look there is something that catches my eye and makes my mouth water. Sometimes it's just handed to me, like this morning when Tobey brought down fresh strawberries with whipped cream and sprinkled with crushed almond macaroons. Oh, yum. Sometimes I have to go out and get it, like a mid-morning snack of pastries and coffees at Zagara's. Either way my belly is always satisfied. And Saturdays are no exception. In fact Saturday is usually the most delicious day of the week, it's just one scrumptious bite after another.
These are our produce guys, we visit them every Saturday at the market. I am at the point where I can do all my shopping with only a tiny bit of help from Tobey or Michael (not many people speak English in San Giovanni), I have my favorite guy and he is always very patient with me as try to remember what 'cucmber' is in Italian.

Then I must stop here to get fried, stuffed olives. I only get four, 1 euros worth, and I enjoy ever bite. Tobey keeps going on about festivals that have stands that sell paper cones filled with fried olives, fried bechemal balls, fried mozzarella balls, etc. But I have yet to see one and I'm starting to think she made them up just to toy with me.
Today, not only did I get my fried olives but I also got a panino di porchetta, a bun filled with roasted pork and it's salty stuffing. Heaven.

Now, you must realize that at this point it's around 11:00 and I've already had two breakfasts, a mid-morning snack, a mid-mid-morning snack, and lunch. But it doesn't stop here, oh no, because when you're on an adventure with Tobey you always end with gelato.

This is the third time we've been to this particular gelato place, yes, it's that good. All their ingredients are natural, they don't use stabilizers, and they store the gelato the proper way. Today's picks (the same as last time's too!) were fig and walnut, chocolate with rum, and pistachio.
Then I came home for my actual lunch, which was toast spread with Chianti butter (pork fat seasoned with rosemary and salt), prosciutto, and cheese from France as well as a heaping bowl of fresh fennel.

And finally there was supper....Zagara's pizza. Just Margherita (tomato sauce and mozzarella) but probably the best pizza I've ever eaten.....so pure and freakin' delicious.

And that concludes today's devourings-oh, wait-Tobey just brought down a warm brownie, hmmm, that would go perfectly with a glass of cold fresh milk, just when you think it's over there is always more.

The countdown begins...

2 weeks ago I found out I was getting a visitor in Italy...my dearest Brenda (known as Brendini to me) is making the trip over. It is now less than a week till I see her in the Rome airport and I am so thrilled. And this isn't just good for me, it's good for you too! Now you'll get to see a whole week's worth of new and exciting Italian places. So, starting May 15th you'd better be watch out because Revanna + Brenda + Italy = Really good food, really fun times, lots of laughs, and maybe a few crazy Italian driving adventures (crazy good, Brenda, crazy good!). I cannot wait.

The Pastry Kitchen

A couple of weeks ago I showed you the main kitchen at Petraia and today I will show you the pastry kitchen!
The pastry kitchen is right off the main kitchen. It's tiny and cute! This is where we wash dishes and do all bread and sweet baking.
It not only has a cute fridge and freezer...but a cute oven as well! (The fridge and freezer are the two 'cupboards' on the left and right!)I love working in this kitchen. It's cozy, warm, and always smells good.

(Yes, that's my lunch on the table...liver and gnocchi au gratin!! Yum!)

Rescue Misson

Today we picked up three pigs. What an adventure. I was ready for sunny fields filled with frolicking piggies. Not even close.

This was a sad place.

But what's even sadder is the fact that this place is 1000 times better than industrial hog farming in Canada.
Am I happy I went? Not happy, but I am glad. It's important to see the other side, and it's important to see what I don't think is the proper way to raise animals. I've always heard stories about the industrial animal business, but it never really sunk in until I saw these pigs in filth and misery.
I also got to see the mama and baby pigs, but I don't want to relive that experience here, it was heartbreaking.
So, our trip to pick up 3 pigs became a rescue mission.
They were so happy to be outside.
And I was so happy to save them from the hell hole they had been living in.
This story ends well for Sophia, Tristan, and Isolde, who are currently getting adjusted to their new home, munching on acorns and chestnuts.

But what about the others?

(Note: Guiliano named the pigs and already has next year's names picked out...Guinevere and Lancelot.)