Fall is for Inspiration

The weather has finally turned from the 30 plus degree weather, that left us coming home from grape harvest with sunburns like mid July in the Okanagan. Now in the mornings we see our breath as we head out the door at 7:30am but by the mid day it is still a comfortable 24 degrees and with the sun shining you can still take off the sweater and still stay warm. Welcome Fall!

We have been without the internet for the last week off and on thus the reason I haven't written this week so far. It has been a good week at Petraia, we have completed grape harvest this week. Now all the grapes have been sent down to the cantina. It has been a very hot summer in Tuscany with very little rain so the grapes suffered a little bit as a result effecting juice acidity etc. But we all have to make the best of what Mother Nature gives us. It has been a busy week for Marco Panichi overseeing things at the cantina, as the remainder of the grapes were being picked. Hopefully this week we will make it down to the cantina to see that side of Petraia's wine making process.
 

It's October 19th today I am sitting upstairs writing with the smell of risotto filling the apartment, and with music echoing from downstairs as the girls are busy in the kitchen. It is 8pm and has been dark for at least an hour and we avoid opening the door from the cold air. It's days like this that I find myself even more so inspired, fall reminds us about comfort food... in the culinary world translation: braising season, friends and spending time in doors, and BIG BOLD red wines.

 

Since my last blog seeming like ages ago, I do apologize for that. I have turned another page in my life as I have just celebrated my 27th birthday last week. But age not internet has been the reason it has been that long since my last blog. 

I found myself this year on my birthday away from the family I usually share cake with, the room-mate and best friend that I usually dine with,  and instead I was world away sitting at a table with 5 friends at 10:30am eating breakfast and mimosas. Then we were off to Petraia for work, where Susan was generous to give me a bottle of Nocino a Walnut Liqueur I had bottled the week before. It will be coming home with me, for friends and family reading this interested to try it. Then Susan handed me a box and said "This is from your mom and step dad."  My mom had called and arranged to have gift for me on my birthday of a bottle of wine. I was so touched, thanks mom! We went out on the Saturday night had a wonderful dinner with team from Petraia to celebrate both my birthday and Cecillia (one of the girls from Petraia) birthday and the best part was looking at the table of coworkers, their kids, friends, all these 20+ people sitting around laughing enjoying the company above and beyond all. It was a great birthday!!

This past weekend was great with Susan and Micheal taking us out for lunch on Saturday. To Da Delfina it is the hills outside of Florence. It was amazing to hear Susan talking about the history of this place. It was a windy drive that took us about an hour and half to get to from Petraia. But as we were standing outside the restaurant, she pointed out we had followed rivers all the way here that started at Petraia. Amazing that these narrow roads looking out to vineyards and valleys, there was a water the flowed all the way from Petraia. It was a great meal true with traditional Tuscan food. Much like a lot of meals in Italy it started with Prosecco, ended with Espresso and plates were passed back and forth across the table so everyone could try everything. It was a great lunch, and then a nice a walk that followed helped digest all the food. Thank you!

 

I has been a busy week for me in Italy and once again I will try to not let it be so long in between my blogs. One month left to go and I will be home, where has the time gone...

 

As I started my blog with ..for me fall seems to promote inspiration, time together and slowing down. We finished dinner tonight, Arugula with Balsamic and Olive Oil and the Risotto was great! We sat around the table three women at different stages in their careers, different stories, talking about cookbooks that have inspired, meals that were unforgettable, ambitions in the future, and culinary school stories.  I am inspired.  

 

Ciao!