Lee's Tuscan Odyssey: May 2016

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

A frenzied weekend sees the usual pre-dinner shopping, house cleaning and this morning buying of new curtains at the Cascine market. We enjoy a stroll along the river Arno and everybody has come out of hibernation to enjoy some unseasonal sun.

This evening we are hosting my friend, Davide, along with his wife, Rossana and their six year old son, Lorenzo. I knock up my party trick, Melanzane alla Parmigiana and toasty bits to go with Annette's saltimbocca. We have a great evening and little Lorenzo enjoys himself too, colouring, playing noughts and crosses and cards.

My 98 point Wine Spectator 1999 Fanti Brunello di Montalcino (courtesy of friend and maker of the wine, Stefano Chioccioli) is sensational and the Poderina Moscadello dessert wine and Medici ice cream balls finish off the evening nicely. Oh and our new blue curtains are appreciated too!

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

247. Davide, Rossana and Lorenzo