Slow Food, Local Food

Today my friends Vandy and Phil and I ate lunch at Eat Local, up on top of Queen Anne. It's a great little place, full of frozen, ready to eat meals all sourced and cooked with local and organic ingredients. It's not really a restaurant, but you can buy a frozen entree, head upstairs to a cute little hang out spot, and cook your food choice in the microwave. It's really pretty good. We ate our lunch while chatting with the owner, who is a great guy. Got me thinking about our time to come in Italy, birthplace of the Slow Food Movement, and about as good of a blueprint of Eat Local as you can get.

What's for Dinner?

Last night, flipping through Gourmet Magazine, I came across a luscious-sounding polenta with gorgonzola and almonds. Then, on the next page, a tuscan steak recipe with olives. Mmmm. I thought, "Hey, I should bring this recipe with me, and make it on the trip." And then, it occurred to me to suggest that my fellow travelers also be on the lookout for yummy recipes that we can make for dinner at the house. After all, we all like to cook, we all like to eat...and red wine pretty much goes with everything. The only caveat I will throw out is that week one we will be focusing primarily on protein and veggies, and not so much pasta, as we have some folks eating low on the glycemic index. Not to say we can't make pasta, we just need to make sure we are cooking somthing else as well.

More wine, this time with food

This sounds like a good place for a tour and a tasting, followed by a little al fresco lunch. I have emailed them about availability - they are right outside of our little town.

Here is the description of the ristorante:
The Ristorante di Poggio Antico is widely acclaimed as one of the top restaurants in Italy and offers a creative fine-dining experience in elegant surroundings, with a stunning view over the estate vineyards across to Monte Amiata. Guests can look across the vines to the charming hamlet of S. Angelo in Colle and, on extremely clear days, the sparkle of the sea can be made out in the far distance. In the summer it is possible to dine outside.

Vampires in Volterra?

Okay, I admit it. I am a sucker for a good vampire story. And when I say "good" vampire story, I mean both -- I want a good vampire and a good story. A couple of weeks ago, my friend Kathy at bookclub (she's a teacher, she always knows what's hot with the teens) offered up a book called "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. The basic premise is about a high school girl named Bella, who moves to Forks WA to live with her dad. She meets a cute vampire boy (whose family is "vegetarian" meaning they only hunt animals), falls in love, blah, blah, blah Then, in the second book, things really start to happen -- werewolves, for one! -- but the part that was creepy is that they end up going to Volterra (which is certainly on our day trip list!) where there is a distinctly NON vegetarian coven of vampires called The Volturi. They don't hunt inside the city walls...they round up TOURISTS for "real city" tours....

Wishlist

Well, it IS my birthday after all...who's in? I know my dad will be up for a little Tuscan equine adventure...I am also equally sure that Matt would do it, but would rather not. I don't have details yet, but let me know if any of you fellow travelers are interested -- I am thinking a 4-5 hour ride through the countryside -- they usually stop for lunch and wine....

Plans are being planned...

As our good friend Dan Miller pointed out, Italy is a mere 10 weeks away. Time to get some plans planned.

I have started looking into making reservations at some of the local wineries, most notably Biondi Santi, the family that "invented" the Brunello using a Sangiovese clone. The winery looks beautiful, and the wine sounds quite delicious. We are also about to plan the catered "Typically Tuscan" five course meal that will happen on each Wednesday we're in the Villa. I will make sure to let you know what we have planned for you!

Matt and I have also started making our plans for AFTER our stay at the Villa, something that we suddenly realized we needed to do, ummm, NOW.

So we are leaving Amiata on Saturday, June 14 and meandering northward, ideally landing in the Lakes region on Monday. A couple of days there, and then on to Cap d'Antibes for a little sun in the Cote d'Azur (and a little "work" for Matt at Cannes with the Creatures). Friday, we pack up tents once again and get on the fast train to Paris, where we will play with our friends Audrey and Damien for a couple of days.

I just can't wait.

The Villa

We're staying at Villa Amiata, approximately 2km outside of Montalcino. From all accounts and photos, it's a lovely place to relax, eat, and use as a home base to explore random delightful villages. Montalcino is home to the lovely Brunello di Montalcino, of which I am sure we will drink plenty. Our house is also situated walking distance to a small ristorante. More about that to come, I am sure. Hopefully they will know about gluten-free dining, for the Lucia.

It looks like a lovely villa, with the exception of some quite frightening modern art featuring clowns..yikes. We'll have to turn that around for the duration. Don't need to frighten the kiddies. Or the adults. The pool looks quite inviting, although Denise did wonder if it is going to be warm enough (we had a cold pool experiencing wine tasting in Walla Walla that we haven't quite gotten over).

Starting Somewhere

Alright, so I've had my blog created for a couple of weeks, and have told lots of people about it...but until today, had yet to post anything. I guess, as I told my friend Laurie at lunch, I just don't have much to say. Oops. That got some shrieks of incredulity going.

I guess it's not that I don't have anything to say, it's just that I haven't been quite clear in my head what this blog is going to be all about. Initially, it was simply going to be a posting place for me to communicate with the folks at home (okay, gloat is a better word) about what we were experiencing in bella italia for my big 40th birthday celebration. But since we aren't leaving until May 30, what am I supposed to write now? I don't think anyone cares about my packing strategy (which I don't have yet), who is taking care of our animals while we're away (Karen and Jen), or my anxiety about the combination of an unfenced pool and 3, 5 and 6 year old kids, or any of the minutia of travel preparation.

Also, I don't have any beautiful, well-staged shots of impeccable meals with the Tuscan cypresses looming in the background to post.

So basically, it doesn't seem like it's going to be a blog of the sort I like to read -- full of adventure and flavor and fun. But I guess I have to start somewhere.

For now, this blog will just be about anticipation. Ours, and the anticipation of all the great folks who are making the journey with us -- Eric, Denise and Maddy; my mom and dad; Shannon, Dana, Pam and John, and Dan, Robin and Josh.

It's going to be a great adventure.