After spending our first week on this trip touring in the
North, we ate at several mediocre restaurants. Granted we were in tourist spots in the lakes region and the
Riviera, but as my son tried to put it in perspective for me, he said to think
of it like being in the Adirondacks of New York. In any case, yesterday we arrived at the home of my cousin,
who is a doctor, and were treated to a wonderful ‘light’ supper starting around
8:00pm. Focus on the word starting. First came a big bowl of delicious fusilli
pasta with a light homemade tomato sauce and fresh Parmesan. After discussing truffles, my cousin fetched
a big hunk of one made by a grateful patient, and he proceeded to grate some on
top of the pasta. Naturally some
homemade wine called Aglianico, typical from the area of Benevento, filled our
glasses, given to him by another thankful patient. Although I don’t really drink much any more, I could
not pass up wine in Italy. It was
a smooth red that went down too easily.
Our bowls emptied quickly, and then came another clean dish,
which we filled with scrumptious green olives, home made carciofi, bruschetta
with eggplant and artichokes, cheese with tartufo, fresh bread, and a salad
with melt-in-your-mouth tomatoes.
They have a dressing here called aceto balsamico from Moderna. You can put it on more than just the
salad and we did. It seemed to go
well with many tastes. While savoring
all these amazing foods, a second bottle of wine was opened, and I partook even
more. The expression is “Riempi il bicchier che è vuoto, vuota il bicchier che è pieno, non
lo lasciar mai pieno non lo lasciar mai vuoto” which means when the glass is
empty you fill it and when it is full, you empty it. In other words, you always have to drink, therefore… the
second bottle. Just when we
thought we were done, out came a plate of freshly cooked sausages to end the
‘light’ supper.
As we sat back and sighed with total contentment, out came a
bowl of fresh fruit and an ice cream dessert with raspberries. Naturally we needed something to drink
with that, so a bottle of Grappa appeared and yes, it was homemade by yet
another appreciative patient. To
accompany the Grappa for those of us not inclined to finish the meal with a 40%
alcohol beverage, there was Passito di Zibibbo from Sicilia. Again, for me, the non-drinker, it was
delicious and I enjoyed it quite a bit.
As my husband sliced up a fresh peach, it was suggested he
drop it in his wine glass and let it sit for a bit. This tradition I know from my father and grandparents. After retrieving it with a fork, he enjoyed
its sweet taste infused with wine flavor.
Our taste receptor cells had worked overtime and were now settling back
to savor the entire experience.
Not only was there fantastic food, but the company of family, the
exchange of Italian and English, and the laughter made the evening one for the
books.
As I sit here early in the morning, waiting for everyone
else to awaken, I wonder what is in store for us today, not only for our taste
buds, but also for our camera lenses and our souls. In any case, I am grateful for my family in Italy, grateful
because we are able to travel and be in the land of my roots, and grateful for
the appreciative patients of my cousin.
Ciao for now!
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| We were totally involved in the meal, and so sorry to say I didn't take a photo of any of it! |
