Nancy, I so remember your neighbors, the Antolini family, and the time Mita made her “special” dessert that turned out to be an American style pineapple upside cake that I so carefully documented. I used it in my first cookbook. It was you who first taught me to fry sage leaves which have garnered praise for decades. Grazie
It's been a while since I've enjoyed such a well-written piece of "food" writing that is so much more (and obviously clearly exhibiting your studies at AUB, about which somehow I was unaware). A true pleasure to understand more about the origins and trajectory of your relationship with that aging structure that became a home rich in context and community. Thank you for a delightful and thought-provoking read, Nancy. I am only sorry that I didn't think to ping you last autumn when you were here (Tuscany)!
In love with this! In so many ways, want to know when the olives came or were uncovered, also did you ever get running water and plumbing. Love the downstairs animals, always delighted by this in my own life. So wonderful, this adventure, I want to know more! Brava, Nancy, brava!
I love this so much, Nancy. So beautifully rendered. And there are too many of us who come from the dream of a Tuscan hilltop, who grew up in our parents' dream of a Tuscan hilltop, who have now grown well past the possible. We had, in my mother and father - they'd spent their early marriage years at the Academy in Rome - everything but the hilltop... This morning, here in Union, the frost has finally left, warm air finally flows around the ankles and the birds are talking of spring. And I have a gallon of goat and raw cow's milk on the stove for cheese. And though their was a chicken on the menu for tonight, she will hold, and I just might have to turn to your evocative ragu
I love how the recent past and distant past are intertwined, so much of life the same as it ever was when you bought the house. I know that much is different now. As always, your vivid writing takes me there, seeing, smelling, feeling. Thank you!
Love this tale! I am watching Gabrielle Blair and her husband reclaim an ancient house in the French countryside so I know how much work this must have been for you, especially 50 years ago. Would love to see photos.
And my wayward suitcase that we had to pick up at the nearest “international” port, which turned out to be along the road at Pisa airport which may have been that hundreds of years before. Or shopping for a birthday present for my sister on our way to lunch in Fiesole at Le cave de Maiano
Marvelous post, Nancy. Wonderful to hear the back-story of the Tuscan house (more please, for memory's sake!). In the wilds of mid-Wales, where I lived for 25 years, my neighbours were a self-sufficient farming community, filling their own storecupboards (potatoes, leeks, carrots, hens for meat and eggs, milk-cow, stye-pig). Sheep were run on the uplands as a cash crop to pay the landlord, and cattle, the Welsh black, in the valleys. We were a butter-making area (too damp for cheese), which might explain why there's was no memory of milking sheep, even though Caerphilly, the classic Welsh cheese, was a sheep's milk cheese.
Nancy, I so remember your neighbors, the Antolini family, and the time Mita made her “special” dessert that turned out to be an American style pineapple upside cake that I so carefully documented. I used it in my first cookbook. It was you who first taught me to fry sage leaves which have garnered praise for decades. Grazie
I would love to see what your house looks like now. Love your writing and the stories that flow from your life, and thank you for the recipes. Ciao -)
It's been a while since I've enjoyed such a well-written piece of "food" writing that is so much more (and obviously clearly exhibiting your studies at AUB, about which somehow I was unaware). A true pleasure to understand more about the origins and trajectory of your relationship with that aging structure that became a home rich in context and community. Thank you for a delightful and thought-provoking read, Nancy. I am only sorry that I didn't think to ping you last autumn when you were here (Tuscany)!
In love with this! In so many ways, want to know when the olives came or were uncovered, also did you ever get running water and plumbing. Love the downstairs animals, always delighted by this in my own life. So wonderful, this adventure, I want to know more! Brava, Nancy, brava!
Nice piece Nancy. I still treasure those Taverna days.
Nancy, this is a wonderful read. Thank you for sharing the history and restoration of your Italian.
I love this so much, Nancy. So beautifully rendered. And there are too many of us who come from the dream of a Tuscan hilltop, who grew up in our parents' dream of a Tuscan hilltop, who have now grown well past the possible. We had, in my mother and father - they'd spent their early marriage years at the Academy in Rome - everything but the hilltop... This morning, here in Union, the frost has finally left, warm air finally flows around the ankles and the birds are talking of spring. And I have a gallon of goat and raw cow's milk on the stove for cheese. And though their was a chicken on the menu for tonight, she will hold, and I just might have to turn to your evocative ragu
I love how the recent past and distant past are intertwined, so much of life the same as it ever was when you bought the house. I know that much is different now. As always, your vivid writing takes me there, seeing, smelling, feeling. Thank you!
Love this tale! I am watching Gabrielle Blair and her husband reclaim an ancient house in the French countryside so I know how much work this must have been for you, especially 50 years ago. Would love to see photos.
And my wayward suitcase that we had to pick up at the nearest “international” port, which turned out to be along the road at Pisa airport which may have been that hundreds of years before. Or shopping for a birthday present for my sister on our way to lunch in Fiesole at Le cave de Maiano
Love!!!
Lovely image of the rustic Italian countryside. Reminds me of rural France when I was a child.
Marvelous post, Nancy. Wonderful to hear the back-story of the Tuscan house (more please, for memory's sake!). In the wilds of mid-Wales, where I lived for 25 years, my neighbours were a self-sufficient farming community, filling their own storecupboards (potatoes, leeks, carrots, hens for meat and eggs, milk-cow, stye-pig). Sheep were run on the uplands as a cash crop to pay the landlord, and cattle, the Welsh black, in the valleys. We were a butter-making area (too damp for cheese), which might explain why there's was no memory of milking sheep, even though Caerphilly, the classic Welsh cheese, was a sheep's milk cheese.
Time does fly. xxj
Lovely piece, Nancy! And the ragu sounds delicious.
I love this piece. Transporting me there.