Italy Journal
Monday, February 25,
2013
GRIMALDI’S FOR DINNER
We invited the Grimaldi’s for dinner tonight – Mara,
Valerio, sons Alberto and Giovani. It was delightful to be with them at our
house. Valerio provided some wonderful pasta and sauce, which he let PETER
cook! It was marvelous! Mara brought my favorite peaches with chocolate cookies
on top, and I had a pecan pie she had made for me, too. Peter thought her pecan
pie was even better than the Southern Pecan Pie we are used to…not as sweet.
Sometimes, substitutes are even better than the original ingredients. Peter
made some roasted bell peppers, and he baked some fish. It was a wonderful
meal.
I showed Alberto (8 years old) my Bulldog musical card, and
he was truly enamored with it. Every once in a while, we would hear “WOW! I
FEEL GOOD!” We are getting a lot of mileage from that card! He also enjoyed the
Slow Food Vegetable card game that Valeria our language swapper gave me. I had
bought another one for a present, so I gave it to him to take home. He’s been
studying foods in his English class at school, and this deck has the Italian
and the English name for the vegetables on each card.
Giovani (15) has learned that he is going back to England
again this summer for 3 weeks to a special English training school. He will
stay with the same family with which he stayed last year. He is really looking
forward to it. Congratulations,Giovani!
Tuesday, February 26,
2013
A DAY OUT WITH ALEX
AND ANJA
Chocolates were calling when Alex, Anja and I left home. By
the time we reached Riccardi’s in Cherasco (6 km away), Mauro Riccardi was more
than happy to make bags of baci di Cherasco for me, a large gift box of
assorted goodies for Alex, and a lovely tasting of many of the unusual chocolates
for Anja to take home to share with Konny, who stayed home sick today. I asked
Mauro if it would be ok for Peter to bring our tour group to his laboratory and
shop. He encouraged us to come back with our group in the fall, when he will
give tours of the laboratory where the chocolates are made. He is closed
June-August for vacation, when the chocolates would melt anyway (no air
conditioning). We’ll look forward to that visit in the fall.
From Cherasco, Anja and Alex wanted to see what the Vestebene
Factory Outlet had on sale; and after shopping a while, we left with no goods
purchased. It was a miracle, from what I hear! We went home to a good lunch of
leftovers from our feasts the last two nights.
Thanks for a delightful day out with you ladies Anja and
Alex.
A presto!
Colleen
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