Saturday in Assisi

After several days of soaking rain, yesterday dawned with bright blue skies, dotted with beautiful cloud formations.  I hadn't been to Assisi, and wanted to see my friend Franca, who owns the restaurant, La Fontanella,.  Assisi can seem like Disneyland some days, with hordes of tourists shoved into the town from 40+ passenger diesel spewing buses, but Saturday seemed quite calm, as you can see from the photos. 

Santa Chiara

As I walked the narrow streets approaching Franca's restaurant, I saw this.....

Such a beautiful day for a wedding, and the look on their faces was pure bliss

 there were at least 5 photographers with varying amounts of equipment running down the street trying to catch the one great shot

They turned up the alleyway, and I was on my way to La Fontanella once again.

Franca's Secret Garden

Although the view from here is spectacular, it's the food that is the prize

Franca forages for wild mushrooms in the hills above Assisi and Spello, and turns them into dishes that are superb, you can taste the earthy flavors accented with hints of grassy olive oil; something to be savored. 

Franca calls this dish, pasta al tartufo di povera, or pasta with truffles of the poor.  Truffles are prized here in Umbria, but very expensive.  After picking the mushrooms, she chops them finely, into a duxelle, and sautes with a bit of garlic, rosemary, and olive oil to bring out the flavor.  She preserves the just picked flavor by cooking them as soon as she gets back to the restaurant.  This dish was so delicious, and I used bread to spread the leftover sauce on, it was heaven!

Although any normal person would have stopped there, I of course had to have another course, and I got a bit of delicious Chiannina beef with salad.  I couldn't finish all the beef, but Franca's new dog Argo helped me out. 

It is such a joy to spend time here, Franca's beautiful garden, the food rivals the surroundings, and having a friend here makes my life so much richer. 

Grazie Franca, for the beautiful time in your garden!

 

As I drove home to Spello I saw 5 para-gliders that had taken off from Mt. Subasio; just another day in Umbria.  Buona Sera!

Meanderings

Ten days ago, I left New York for Rome.  I've been in my beautiful apartment here in Spello for a week, and love this new place.  I have a beautiful terrace, and can look out onto the valley below --- across the way I can see the hills towards Montefalco, Trevi and the city of Foligno.  Directly behind the apartment is Mt. Subasio, the mountain that St. Francis roamed during his time here.  It is peaceful, and calm here, and I'm enjoying a respite from 24 hours news, internet, and cell phones.

Mt. Subasio from the terrace

Full moon, at dusk

Fortress in the back yard

The building in the foreground is the frantoio where the DOP olive oil is processed

Tartufo!

At Enoteca Properzio

Truffle lasagna

The food and the company here are superb;  truffles that was dropped off at Enoteca Properzio it was made into an amazing truffle lasagna for a special dinner served with superb wines.  I have company coming tonight for a few days, so I'll be back after our adventures.  Until then, Ciao!

Excellent Adventure

Dr. C. and I are in Tulsa visiting my brother and his family.  They wanted us to have the true Tulsa experience, and I'm up for BBQ anytime, so we headed to Burn BBQ.  Up until about 6 months ago, this was a tiny place in another part of town, now it's a huge place, with communal tables and some of the best BBQ you will eat on the planet.  The special side today was creamy cheesy corn with bacon, and as we all know everything tastes better with bacon, and corn is a match made in culinary heaven with bacon!

This is the menu; short and sweet, and the "happy plate" is a mix of almost everything. 

Obviously this one is to share; or maybe not! 

There is some amazing food coming out of this small kitchen, and the ribs were dry rubbed, and appropriately smokey. 

Diners line up and order, then they yell your name when your order is ready--trust me, you are so happy to get these plates, it doesn't matter who you are sitting with.  While waiting in line you might be lucky enough to get a free sample--we got a rib each, and that settled my choice of lunch item. 

There is also a meat market here, and the products looked awesome.  I'm not so sure about the "fatty burger"  but  I have to say anything pork that is wrapped in bacon has to a be a star.

Donald was nice enough to let me take photos.  Thanks D!

Dr. C. far right, my niece Megan and SIL Ann

The chicken

Pulled pork and slaw

Ribs and the cheesy corn and slaw

that is a fatty burger in the forefront---through the fuzziness--not really facile with the cell phone for taking photos

At the end of our meal, after we'd tucked the leftovers into foil and paper bags that they provide, I took a few more photos.  Thanks Burn BBQ for a great Tulsa experience.  You all rock!  I told my sister-in-law that I'd have driven 50 miles out of the way just to do this!

On the Road Again

Dr. C. and I left San Diego this morning with my car loaded from front to back. 

We are headed East to NYC to give this car to our daughter who is expecting twins.  Along the way, we will be seeing family, and friends, and I'll be teaching in West Lafayette, IN a week from Monday at KitchenArt.

The scenery on this part of the trip (San Diego/Barstow/Flagstaff on I-40) is mind numbing; nothing but barren wasteland, or cactus, and the temperatures are outrageously hot.  Outside of Barstow, the traffic was slowing, and we were watching truckers, leave the highway in droves, and so we followed them.  We got onto the old Route 66---the Mother Road. 

Dr. C. has long had a romantic notion that he'd love to drive Route 66; but he thought he'd be driving in a sporty car like these two guys instead of a Mazda 5. 

Most of you are probably too young to remember this TV show.  Two guys in a corvette, driving Route 66.  Today, while we were driving on the Mother Road, Dr. C. was cured of ever wanting to drive this road; unfortunately, it needs some mothering.  It was more like driving a washboard, than a road, and the scenery, was even worse, with ramshackle places, that have been abandoned over the years.  Fortunately, we missed being stuck in the 10 mile long traffic stop; my three words to you if you are traveling on the Interstate:  follow the truckers. 

This is what we saw for miles and miles---we might still be there, if we hadn't followed the truckers. 
We are in Flagstaff for the night; on to Albuquerque tomorrow. A month ago today, I did this drive in reverse with our son Ryan. The light at the end of this tunnel is seeing our granddaughter Poppy and her parents when we get to NYC.  Then I am off to Italy for 2 months, and Dr. C. will come for October.  I'll be gone from home for 4 months....seems like an eternity, but I will be blogging as time and energy permits, and will share what's going on in each place, for now, enjoy your Sunday.