Life...Italian Style

VINITALY 2009

Sunday and Monday I was in Verona for my third annual VinItaly trip.  By chance I spent almost the entire day Sunday this year tasting wine from Abruzzo.  I had been going around with my friend Alessandro (also Abruzzese), so we really had been having fun talking with all of the people from the different wineries and hearing their stories. Needless to say, after all of these new aquaintances I had made (and with our plans to spend Easter in Lanciano, Abruzzo),  I was especially saddened by the news of the earthquake Monday morning - they and their families are in my thoughts everyday....

The tastings started out a little rough, as Ale wasn't exactly dressed for the part (this event is geared towards buyers and distributors), and none of the cantinas wanted to waste their time or wine on us... however we soon found out that my lovely american accent was music to their ears...and things changed....  There was much less of an American presence this year at the fair, much to the dismay of the producers trying to sell their wines oversees, so as soon as I asked to try something, business card in hand, they embraced us with open arms....and open bottles..... I loathe the fact that most Italians think that all Americans are rich, and convincing them otherwise is all but useless... but I have to admit, it worked to my advantage.   Next year I'm just going to make things easier for everyone and wear a Prada t-shirt that says:  Yes, I am American and I own a restaurant in Italy!

Favorites this year:
Cantina Pasetti:  Pasetti Pecorino I.G.T,  Terre di Chieti
                              Testarossa Rosso Montepulciano D.O.C. - this is a really original wine, un vino unico, and its inspired by the redheads in the family (testarossa), so of course its excellent!
Cantina Emidio Pepe:  all organic wines, and all excellent - I had a Trebbiano that was amazing,     and a desgutazione of different vintages of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ranging from 2005 to 1982! (the 1982 bottle is when it comes in handy to be an american  who owns a restaurant in italy....)
Cantina del Glicine:  found these guys at the end of my tasting so my judgement could be a little fuzzy, but they definately win the award for best labels - all hand drawn and some with cats!  I liked:
                                     Il Mandolo, Roero Arneis
                                     La Sconsolata Barbera d'Alba
                                     Grappa di Arneis
Domenis Distilleria:  Storica Nera grappa - its a classic!

 

Is it Spring yet???

enough for dinner, originally uploaded by jennifer mcilvaine.

It was raining all last week, and now it will rain again for the next 3 days, but yesterday was really nice (until 8:00 when it started raining..)  so I went into the hills to try to find some wild asparagus.  Last year people were finding asparagus in February, but this year the seasons are respecting themselves, and February was wintery, March came in like a lamb, and went out like a  lion, and April is at least starting with the showers.  Great for the environment, but bad for those of us who are impatient for warm weather and spring veggies...
Here in Umbria wild asparagus (and the wild fennel) are always the first true sign of spring, because they don't pop up until the ground starts to thaw.  The best place to find them is in the unkempt olive groves covering the hills, the more natural and "weedy" they are, the better.   In fact the spiny weed that drives you nuts when harvesting olives (because it catches and tears the nets) is the signal for exactly where to find the asparagus.  Besides in the hollows of the olives trees, this weed, or herbaccia, likes to grow out of rock groupings, always on the steepest part of the hills.  While this makes it easier to find the asparagus, its also a little more dangerous because the rocks are home to vipers and bats.  If you ever see a viper, run like hell, because from what I hear, they bite without hesitation.   Other warnings......don't leave your stuff around....I left my jacket hanging on a tree because it was hot, and luckily I came back to it just in time as an old woman was about to carry it away.   She talked my ear off for 20 minutes about everything that had ever been stolen from every person she knows, and how she wouldn't want that to happen to happen to her because everything comes back to you....I guess with the story she earned the change she nabbed out of my pocket...poveraccia......

2 Events this Week at Basilikó!

L’Orto Bio Logico Ariel e la Trattoria Basilikò presentano

DALL’ORTO ALLA TAVOLA
Una serata BIO-LOGICA
alla scoperta dei sapori provenienti dalla nostra terra

protagonista: il CAVOLO NERO

insalata di cavolo nero con caprino del pastore
involtino di cavolo nero
“caldo verde” zuppa portoguese
gratìn di cavolo nero

€ 30 (compreso vino, cibo, discorsi, tutto!)
Mercoledì 25 febbraio
Ore 20:30

********************************
La Trattoria Basilikò in collaborazione con Bengodi
E La Cantina Zaccagnini presentano

“La Montanara”
Alla scoperta dell’ Appennino Abruzzese
   
Ventricina del Vastese
Pecorino di Farindola
Crostini alla Chietina
Pallotte Cace e Ove
Pizz’ e Fojie
Pecora al Cotturo
I Bocconotti
*******
€ 30 a persona
Tutto incluso

Venerdì 27 febbraio
Ore 20:30

Prenotazione Obbligatoria!

could the white house go green???

From the New York Times:
Well: Alice Waters and Obama’s ‘Kitchen’ Cabinet

The first “kitchen cabinet” was President Andrew Jackson’s team of close but unofficial advisers. Now the chef Alice Waters is leading a campaign to persuade President-elect Barack Obama to create a literal kitchen cabinet.

In a letter to the president-elect, Ms. Waters — joined by Ruth Reichl, the editor of Gourmet, and the New York restaurateur Danny Meyer — urged Barack and Michelle Obama to set an example for the nation on culinary issues like the naming of a White House chef and growing organic vegetables in the White House garden...... 

ITS OBAMA TIME!!!

For all of the Americans living in and around the Umbria area, there will be an aperitivo party at Winner in Foligno to watch the inaugural speeches.

Party kicks off at 17:00 with Joe Bidens speech, Barack scheduled to speak at 18:00.

Obviously everyone is welcome to continue the party at Basilikó!

BUONE FESTE!!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

All I want for Christmas....

or...things I can't find in Italy....(at least can't find easily or for a decent price or the good kind)....

1. Method- Good for Wood
2. Tums
3. Advil
4. Catwalk Curls Rock, curl amplifier
5. vanilla extract
6. brown sugar
7. ziploc freezer bags
8. the "Asian Pack"

• soy sauce
• fish sauce
• rice vinegar
• mirin
• good sushi rice

Turkey Day at Basilikó this year!

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

AUGURI OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, after many, many years of feeling guilty and/or embarrassed to be a citizen of the United States, I can finally say that I feel PROUD to be an American!  I could hardly go to sleep last night as only the earliest results were trickling in at 1 am italian time... and when I woke up, I could feel the excitement of the world.   Italian election coverage went though the night  - the same people from 10pm to 10am - makeup worn off! (unheard of for Italy...).  Journalists were making "gaffs" saying how excited and happy they were that Obama was elected.  I think the world has breathed a sigh of relief!