Saturday and one of Annette's classes have arranged to take her out for lunch. I get to crash the party as they're going to Quattro Leone (4 lions), a small restaurant on the 'Oltrano' side of Florence in a small square. Apparently it's quite famous and judging by all the photos plastered over the walls, we are in the presence of greatness. Dustin Hoffman, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sting, Italian film directors, Federico Fellini, Bernardo Bertolucci and Franco Zeferelli. Not bad company eh? We settle around a large old wooden table. lunch is simple and tasty. Farfalle with fresh pesto and some wicked steak, with plenty of house red to wash it down. We have a very lively time. I wonder if they want to add my photo to the wall?
Sunday and we get to witness our first 'Sagra'. Which is a special evening organized by the local town to raise a bit of money. A huge marquee is erected and volunteers cook up a themed meal, there is usually music and dancing and everybody turns up to have some fun. It's the Italy that you see in films and that everybody imagines and yes it does actually happen!
This evening our local town of Strada-In-Chianti has organized a 'cinghiale' or wild boar sagra and it's too good to pass up. We turn up promptly at 8 o'clock and it's already packed! All the locals are out and we queue up, put in our order and collect the grub. It's wild boar salami for antipasti. Papardelle pasta with a rich wild boar sauce and yes you've guessed it, wild boar stew with polenta for the main course! Mmm I'm in Cinghiale heaven! One thing though, all the people here seem to be boss-eyed? Maybe too much pig will do that to you!
(Original journal entry - 15/3/03)
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