i admit i changed the original title of this post simply because it has taken me so long to get to it. i had some information that i really wanted to include in it that i kept forgetting to ask Bill for. i had lunch with my new friend from Italy (Laura) who lives in Bend (a great perk of group travel!) and she quickly emailed the info i wanted to include! so finally, this post begins. bye the way if you'd like to translate any of my titles.... (or anything else) no, i do not know italian now, i use this site.
i forewarn you ahead of time. this is going to be a very long post, because.... although i would say there was no bad day no day that was better than another this to me was in rich experience and relation a fabulous day. i have so may photos i want to share... it's gonna be a long one, sorry just relieving Tuscany yet once again....
after a very long drive once again into, yet even deeper, into Tuscany we arrived at the farmhouse of a relative of Francesco. Sinibaldo Truffaldi, his wife was Daniela, his son (the quiet one) was Ameliano, his daughter was Francesco, who was married to Lorenzo who is the nephew of Francesco (Bill's new friend and one of our tour guides/driver...) (got all that).
the farmhouse was quite new but very simple. a two room home in which they had completely cleaned out and made comfortable to accommodate our visit. the visit of 'the americanos.' the hospitality of this family was overwhelming and humbling.
Sinibaldo Truffaldi is a shepherd and a poet (author).
this is his wife and her dear neighbor working away at our meal.
francesca is reading to us from her father's book. she is telling us how it is tradition for shepherds to be poets also. simply because as they are farming and shepherding they are overcome with the beauty of creation and are moved to put it to words.
Sinibaldo and his wife was Daniela believe fully in living off of their land and that is exactly how they walk this earth. it's also what they shared with us for an entire day. it was so fantastic. slave to fashion and modern things that i am... i often feel i was born in the wrong century. i loved the simple yet so rich life they live!
this pail of milk was sitting in the front room when we arrived. they had milked the sheep that a.m.
for our use to learn to make cheese. Sinibaldo begins the process for us, teaching us along the way exactly what it is he is doing.
Bill is quick to take over and get in touch with the ancestors he has felt so deeply all week.
once the cheese is hand churned to a very fine consistency (like curds n whey) we begin the very long task of pressing it into the rounds. it is a very time consuming process, where you attempt to get every last bit of moisture and air OUT.
the first round of cheese that we made will go into the cellar in hopes to look like one of these tasty delight, someday...
the second round is actually 'ricotta' which literally translates 're cook'. so you do it all again and this time you are able to eat fresh. which we did! here it is waiting to be made into the 'naked ravioli' that we made as a group. this was course.... um... i think four of our meal.
our meal really was 13 courses. as we worked diligently making our cheese under the tuscan sun soaking in the extraordinary view of the surrounding countryside we were served, perfect polenta, roasted potato bites along with prosecco.
the meal that followed began with a very thick, almost beady, tuscan 'soup'. followed by the traditional three courses of pasta (including the naked one that we made). two courses of meat a salad, a couple of fruits, then cheese courses and infine three course of dolce' along with, cappuccino! you can also be assured that a wonderful chianti was being poured non stop along with grappa (uck) towards the end. oh my, what a feast! it reminded me 100% of the movie 'babette's feast". oh yes, and the bread they made with yeast they made. yeesh...
not only did the family graciously bring us one course after another. they were so delighted that we were there that the joy of the moment continually caused them to break out into singing and dancing. it was by far one of the richest experiences of my entire life.
it was such a rich experience in conversation. life and fellowship. honestly i was continually choked up during the course of the meal, just thinking, "i wish so deeply in my heart that my father in law Bernie could be experiencing this right now". i knew i was in his homeland and felt his heart in mine.
i was an extra special blessing when Bill (through translation) shared with Sinibaldo that his last name was Chiaravalle. Sinibaldo's response was. "from Abruzzo? Bernardo?" for him to come up with the region that Bill's father's family is from and Bill's dad's first name. it was amazing. he later took Bill outside and pointed out to him the mountainside that his family's origins are just over. a moment never to be forgotten.
as you can imagine by now we are a pretty satisfied group marveling at the day we have just spent. a feast like this does take hours.
well the family was not quite done. we the had a walking tour of their beautiful farm that happens to be covered with 'Etruscan' ruins. it was pretty awe-inspiring to take in the history we were strolling through.
they are also quite certain the ruins were used as hideouts during WW2 because they were not visible when they took ownership of the property. they came upon them in the clearing of the land.
personally i was impressed with the greatness of what they shared with us despite how unassuming their lifestyle was. here where i live, we attempt to create amazing kitchens with appliances that costs the price of a small home in some areas, to show what fantastic hostesses we are.... this family showed us more hospitality and joy than i have experienced in a very long time along with cooking a true feast, in a kitchen with a range the size you would see in an apartment and a fridge the size of one in a dorm room.... the freshness of the food in Italy is something we need to learn all over again. there is something to be said for purchasing what you eat that day or in this case, picking it, milking it or even yes... chopping it up. (o:
i was blown away. this day has had a strong impact on me that i hope not to forget to soon.
on a funny note i just have to share the diversity of our 'tour group.' on our long drive back to the villa just verbally reliving our day over and over we were surprised when cristiano pulled over at a gas station/market type place. come to find out a couple of members of the group had been pleading with him to find a place to buy some 'potato chips and beer.'
okay my personal note to americanos. if you are gonna spend the time and money to travel to other side of this world. embrace it okay... because when you don't, to me and possibly others, you seem an idiot.
