Day Two--Tuscan Cooking

We slept so well!  These stone walls create a virtually soundproof room, so except for intermittent snoring, we didn’t awaken until the sun was well up.  And what a glorious morning!  

Kirk’s cappuccino was rated as one of the best he’s ever had, and the breakfast spread rivaled others I’ve drooled over while traveling.  

Sadly, I don’t care for much breakfast, but the melon, coffee and croissant were delicious!

This day was organized with a morning adventure to Montepulciano and cooking in the afternoon.  A mere 15 kilometers away, our first stop was the San Biagio church, just below Montepulciano which is the largest hilltop town in Tuscany. The shops charmed us, though the terrain was steep and rather precarious.  We learned to discover the upstairs, downstairs, and back rooms of the seemingly tiny spaces.  Leather, wine (and wine cellars), copper–fun shops and cafes.  

San Biagio chancel

Extensive wine cellar

Lunch was at Porto di Bacco and we enjoyed a to-die-for eggplant flan (really, it melted in your mouth!), gnocchi, pork, and biscotti.  Wine flowed, conversation echoed, and left with full bellies and the promise of a relaxing afternoon nap.

Eggplant flan

An afternoon of making our dinner: eggplant parmesan, stuffed chicken, panna cotta, biscotti, and pici (pasta).  Wow!  What fun, and this group works well together, making sure all are given a chance to bread, deep fry, stir, roll pasta and sip wine throughout.  With one hand gesture I smashed a glass to the floor (thankfully I’d drunk all the wine), so now I’ve limited myself to plastic glasses.  A bit gouche, but the group will remain safe from flying glass…

Above, making eggplant parmesan, pici, and biscotti

Dinner was, of course, all that we’d prepared.  We particularly enjoyed the eggplant parmesan and the panna cotta.  So much food!  Learning to eat only partial servings and drink water in between glasses of wine.  All is so delicious.