Lee's Tuscan Odyssey: March 2015

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

185. Sara and Leonardo at Imprunrta

An invitation to Nadia's niece, Sara and her boyfriend, Leonardo's house brings a pleasant respite to all our furniture hunting. We've met them several times at the beach of Baratti and this evening we have been invited along with our good friends Alberto and Nadia.

They live in the very pretty Impruneta, near where we used to live in Greve, their flat is fairly big and modern and doesn't have a garden or a particularly nice view, but we have a very enjoyable evening.

Leonardo is into English Punk music and I get him to play some of his Sex Pistols CDs, which Annette finds rather amusing...

(Original journal entry 19/3/05)

184. Giorgio and Gelateria dei Medici

A special mention has to go to two new finds and two of Florence's best kept secrets...

We discovered the Gelateria de' Medici when some friends of Alberto and Nadia brought these ice cream balls to a party. They were delicious and when we inquired where they bought them from they mentioned this place... We went to investigate and were blown away by the quality and taste. It's actually in a road called 'Via Statuto' near the fortezza, so only about ten minuted from where we live. As well as these ice cream balls their regular ice cream is fabulous too. My instant favourites are the 'Parisienne' which is a caramel, nut brittle flavour. The 'Creme de' Medici', which is a cream with chocolate crispy biscuits and 'Buontalenti', a flavour named after the supposed inventor of ice cream, Bernardo Buontalenti.

When we tell one of our Italian work colleagues where we've moved to, they say, "Oh that's near Giorgio!". When we say who's Giorgio? They inform us that it's one of Florence's best and most famous pasticcerie... So we go and investigate and sure enough it lives up to its prestigious billing. It's famous for a light sponge cake filled with cream, called, 'Schiacciata alla Fiorentina' , but there is so much more... For example, the croissants filled with dark chocolate sauce are to die for! As are there rolls filled with the most amazing ingredients, but the piece de resistance are their 'Aperitvi' which we make full use of, with crostini and the most delicious toppings imaginable... What a find!

(Original journal entry 14/3/05)

183. New Furniture

The last two weeks of February and first two weeks of march kind of meld into the dreary dampness of a typical English winter... It is very cold and very wet! And Florence even gets its first snowfall in living memory. We are both ill over valentines day and in an attempt to spruce up our rather dull looking flat go on a furniture hunt...

We check out more furniture shops in four weeks than the previous 35 years of our life!!! We do however end up with some nice pieces, as well as necessary items for the new pad. Sometimes there are more important things to do than going to wine festivals... oh dear, what have I become!

Role on Spring!

(Original journal entry 12/3/05)

182. White Night

A moving in/Valentines double headercelebration here... I spotted an advert at the Vinoteca al Chianti and found it too irresistable to pass up... No less than 9 different French wines paired together with a 9-course fish meal!!! A perfect combination and antidote to the winter blues..

The evening lives up to expectations... we're on the same table as one of Annette's ex students and the two sommeliers hosting the evening. A memorable meal that easily gets on to our 'Best meals ever' list!

Here is the menu...

(Original journal entry 11/2/05)