The Cappella della Madonna di Vitaleta on the road from Pienza to San Quirico d'Orcia

In 2001 I came to live in Italy. I had some fun, wrote a journal and this is the blog of my story...

"Tuscany is a state of grace. The countryside is so lovingly designed that the eye sweeps the mountains and valleys without stumbling over a single stone. The lilt of the rolling green hills, the upsurging cypresses, the terraces sculptured by generations that have handled the rocks with skillful tenderness, the fields geometrically juxtaposed as though drawn by a draughtsman for beauty as well as productivity; the battlements of castles on the hills, their tall towers standing grey-blue and golden tan among the forest of trees, the air of such clarity that every sod of earth stands out in such dazzling detail. The fields ripening with barley and oats, beans and beets. The grape-heavy vines espaliered between the horizontal branches of silver-green olive trees, composing orchards of webbed design, rich in intimation of wine, olive oil and lacy-leaf poetry. Tuscany untied the knots in a man's intestines, wiped out the ills of the world. Italy is the garden of Europe, Tuscany is the garden of Italy, Florence is the flower of Tuscany." Irving Stone from my favourite book " The Agony and the Ecstacy" A fictional biography of Michelangelo



150. Badia a Passignano 'Anniversary edition'


This year we've decided to have our anniversary meal a week early, as on 24th we will be in the UK.

The lure of Badia a Passignano is just too much! We came here last April with Phil and Leonie and were mesmerised...



We make the half hour drive to this beautiful area of Chianti, it's a balmy evening and we have a very romantic outside table. While checking out the mouthwatering menu we share a glass of Krug champagne to get the juices going!

Complimentary hors d'ouevres of some homemade breads and 3 different olive oils set the mood for our first courses.

I have fusilli with guinea fowl in a nutmeg and parmesan sauce, while Annette goes for the red mullet with 3 different sauces. Of course we have a bottle of the local red wine! A 2001 Chianti Classico Badia a Passignano riserva.

For main course, Annette has stuffed pigeon with asparagus wrapped in pancetta. I have a veal fillet rolled in spices with a vegetable caponata. Both dishes are sublime.

On to dessert and Annette cannot resist the 'cioccolato al cioccolato' a dish of 3 different chocolate desserts. Last year I spotted an amazing looking cheese trolley and vowed to try it if we ever returned... I choose about 10 different cheeses and as a real treat order a glass of their premier cru wine, Solaia (which usually sells for around 100euro a bottle) it goes down a treat!



With the coffee they bring out a selection of chocolates, including little choc-ices and cherries dipped in chocolate! Mmm

Without doubt it's the best meal we've ever had!

Happy 5th Anniversary!




Protected fortress,
Passignano's wealth reveales,
Overflowing feast...

(Lee's Haiku - 17/7/04)

Posted by at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)