Tuscan Hospitality
Arriving at the family-owned private estate,
Relais Gli Ulivi ( the Olive Orchard) felt like we were visiting family. The tables were set for lunch and the food started coming - salad, grilled vegetables, and grilled meats.
Italians take eating seriously. For some unknown reason at a restaurant in Rome, my husband was the only one not to scrape his plate clean. The chef actually came out to ask him if he didn't enjoy his food.
I love this Italian saying that expresses their love for food
and sharing.
Chi mangia e non invite, posse strozzarsi con ogni mollica.
He who eats alone and invites no one, will choke with every
crumb.
Under the Tuscan Sun
While everyone finished lunch, the junior adventurers had a chance to swim and blow off some energy in this postcard perfect setting
Before eating dessert we were shown how to make the delicious Torta Della Nonna. Grandmother's Cake is a thin top and bottom layer of a sponge cake like pastry filled with a delicious light custard. Oh, yes. I am definitely going to make this.
Room With a View
From here we moved on to our hotel - Borgo di Cortefreda.
There was time to relax and enjoy the view before dinner with a wine and olive oil tasting.
Wine and ...
We tasted Crema - a base di Balsamic with tartufo, Greppi Di Silli -
an amazing jelly like honey that's flavored with herbs, vanilla nutella, and cheese. I couldn't resist buying the honey and balsamic.
And the wine...There was a Prosecco, of course chianti, and a limited edition of a blended summer white wine. Our case should arrive by the end of the month.
There was still room for
dinner where we finished off the
wine from the tasting plus an
additional bottle or two.
Each day was more amazing than the one before. You'll have to wait until tomorrow's blog for our experience on a working Tuscan farm.
Ciao Bellas,
Zelda
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