Graduates!!!

Another successful week at Il Sasso! Can't wait to return.

Telma and Luisa all washed up

Hah!! We're just getting started.

Today we drove to the wine mecca Montalcino so Luisa could get a feel for what all the buzz is really about regarding Brunello. We took a nice walk around to get familiar first and found an artisanal producers' market in the lower end of the town where they were selling newly pressed olive oil that had my name on it. Joe specifically asked for chestnut honey, so I found some of that too. Can't disappoint such a nice guy.

So finally it was time to taste Brunello. We went to the Fortezza and were greeted by Tomas, who turned out to be a real gem. I will always ask for him in the future. He was so kind, patient, and when I told him which Brunellos I already liked, he pulled together an excellent assortment that matched my palate, but also reflected the different styles so Luisa could experience the differences. When we were through tasting, we had been introduced to 9 different wines and loved 3 of them. Lucky Joe will get a very nice surprise in a few weeks when the boxes show up at his office.

Later, we went to Bagno Vignoni, because in five trips to Tuscany, Luisa had not yet been there. We had a heck of a time finding a parking place--it was mobbed. The restaurants were full, the spa was full--I had never seen so many people before. But we lucked out on a spot with someone else pulling out, then found the burbling waters and giant bathing pool the Medici family created so many years ago.

We stuck our feet in the warm stream and sat awhile thinking that life was treating us pretty well. Then lucked out again and got the last outdoor table at La Loggiata, where I enjoyed polenta topped with pecorino, radicchio and walnuts with a glass of vermentino. Another very special day.

Prima e dopo

Prima:

Ho comprato tre grande funchi porcini freschi dal fruttivendolo in Montepulciano. Vorrebbe fare un sugo per la pasta con funghi. Mettevo anche le cipolle, un po' di carne ed un pizzico delle spezie.

Dopo:

Il sugo dei funghi e carne, cipolle ed un pizzico delle spezie.

Yum!!