2 nights and 10 courses!

It has been a while since my last entry. Now that the summer days and summer nights are almost gone,  I am ready to get back into the swing of writing some new posts. Lots of dinners have been had and many delightful home cooked recipes will be coming in the weeks ahead. I thought I would start with finishing up a few more posts on our summer trip to Italy in June. 

Upon our arrival into the heart of Tuscany, we stayed a few days at Torracia Di Chiusi, a beautiful farmhouse a few miles outside the medieval city of San Gimignano. We relaxed by an incredible pool with a view of vineyards in every direction. Included with the stay was a bottle of their wine, which was cellared in an old Etruscan tomb. The owner was kind enough to give us a tour of the cellar, the farmhouse, and a private chapel while explaining the history of the place, which also sits right on Via Francigena, an ancient road that was a pilgrimage route to Rome. We felt very special to be staying at such a place, and if I had worn my plush Buster Brown boots I might still be in Italy walking this road. Also included in the stay was a 5-course Tuscan feast that was prepared every night with love by in-house chef Bruno. I did not think I would be able to knock down all five courses, but both nights we dined there I persevered and loved every bite.

The first night, our dinner began with melon and prosciutto -- a nice and light way to begin the feast.

The second course was Pappa al Pomodoro (tomato and bread soup). A classic dish that makes great use out of stale day-old bread, this simple and delicious soup is made special by the quality of a few ingredients. Following the soup was a butter and sage potato ravioli. The portion sizes were just right, not too overwhelming. This was a super rich and satisfying dish. I was just about ready to throw in my towel until I smelled something fowl in the air.

The courses were spread out, allowing you to enjoy a glass of wine and not be bombarded by the gastronomic delights. The sun began to set, and by the time the main course came out it was hard to photograph. By dessert there was nothing but light from the candle on our table. The dining area was outside on a large patio where there were about ten tables of couples all enjoying the Tuscan atmosphere. The main course of the night was guinea fowl cooked with zucchini from the garden. It was absolutely phenomenal.

Day 2

On the second night -- after a long day of exploring the small Tuscan towns in the area and another dip in the refreshing pool -- we saddled up to the table for a second round of La Dolce Vita! The first course was a cold farro salad with a nice vinegar tang. I tried guessing what the night would hold for us, and before dinner I bet Regan that we would have zucchini soup, and (sure enough) we were slurping it up and enjoying every bit.

The pasta course was the standard classic that we enjoyed throughout Liguria, but this time the pesto pasta was served with homemade spaghetti noodles. This was good but not quite up to par with the versions we had in Monterosso with the trofie pasta.

It seemed like the dinner started a little later the second night, because by time the main course came there was no more sunlight so I had to resort to using the flash. These were pork ribs, and they were even better than the guinea fowl from the previous night. Meat fell off the bone and melted in our mouths! I had no problem finishing off this plate. The desserts were kept fairly simple and light, which was all that anyone could handle after all the pasta and meat. The first night it was a chocolate gelato, and the second night it was a lemon sorbet. 

Above is one of the views from the house, and another with me floating in the pool. I must also add that there was a huge breakfast spread every morning with juice, pastries, meat, cheese, and fresh veggies and fruit. 

Regan's selection                                                                                      my morning