We are back from our quick Spring Break trip to the flat in Crasciana and it was a great vacation once again.
Every time I visit I give it a nickname..there is the romantic weekend trip, the olive trip, the museum trip, …etc. This is without a doubt the FOOD trip! Not that we planned it but we really had some of the most amazing food this time.
Our first day in Tuscany is always rough because we have just survived 13 hrs of travel and although we have tried to sleep on the plane we rarely get the rest we need-so the first night dinner we like to be close to the flat so we can then crawl into bed….
We arranged a dinner 1 mile away in Casabasciana with a lovely lady who was described as “addicted to cooking”-her name was Gabriella. She cooks real Tuscan meals in her home to weary travelers who want to experience a true Tuscan “cena” (dinner). It was the best meal the kid and I had ever had! The pork roast was crazy great but the best course was the “Italian” flag color pasta dish. The previous day was Italy’s birthday (150 years since italy was unified)so she wanted to celebrate by offering a spinach ravioli filled with white cheese and red sauce-the colors of the flag! My aunt and I enjoyed the wine and the vin santo and the kid and her cousin licked every plate!
Sunday we went to a festival which will deserve it’s own page that was a flower festival but actually turned out to be…FOOD! A walking tour of 11 food and drink stations…kid and I loved the farro/bean soup so much I bought some! We also bought some fresh pecorino cheese and fresh baked “dolce” (sweets). It was a lovely sunny day and what a surprise to find all the food the kid and cousin could eat!
Monday we went to a farm to make bread with Paollo. We went to also learn about farro and baking and of course the baker’s wife made us a 5 course lunch! This FOOD was serious…I think the cousin wanted to marry Daniella…her cooking was so fresh and she was so eager to share that I actually wrote down a recipe…I know…all of my friends are in shock…to make it more dramatic..last night I made this dish for my family and so far everyone is still living!
Tuesday we went to Florence where we ate our weight in gelato-Florence has the most lavish gelatera’s. The kid spend enough euro’s on gelato I had to visit the ATM!
We also visited a wonderful Pizzaria the night after touring Lucca-we all had our own pizza on the ramparts of Lucca and waddled to the car…the walk around the Lucca walls at night was beautiful and we sure needed it…
I’ll share individual posts regarding all of the above but here are a few pics the kid took of her FOOD trip.
Breakfast anyone?
First of eleven food stops along this festival!
A plate of different meats to try.
Dolce…yum..we brought some home for Hubby.
