Sorano

Two weekends ago we went to Sorano (Tuscany) with our friends Federica and Riccardo. Riccardo is originally from Sorano, and his parents still live there. They have an apartment right outside of downtown and a country house 5 minutes away. Sorano, like Orvieto, is an Etruscan town, with a population of around 700 people. Its built on a hill side above a river. Across the river you can see ancient Etruscan caves dug into the tree covered hills. We only had a half day, so on our next visit we will have to explore the caves. This time we just walked around the town, through small alleys, and to the top of the fortress.

We stopped at the family country house, just for a quick visit. It is not fully heated, so it is definitely just a place to hang out in the spring and summer. Riccardo's parents have a wonderful vegetable garden and small fruit orchard, with peaches and apricots. Dinner was at Riccardo's parents house. His mother made 4 or 5 different kinds of pizza, it was delicious!


Sorano is beautiful, and quite charming! We will definitely be going back for a weekend visit this summer!!!

Caves

David, Federica & Riccardo

View of Sorano from the top of the fortress

Standing on top of the fortress

The river below

The fortress with the clock tower on top

Country house garden and fruit trees

Riccardo's family country house

An amazing sunset

Buon Natale!

The week before Christmas (Natale) food preparations started. Every year David's parents make around 700 cappelletti (small stuffed pasta similar to tortellini). This year they allowed me to join in, and showed me how to make them. They used two batches of dough, each containing 6 eggs and a package of flour. They were filled with a mixture of 6 meats, bechamel sauce and parmesan. You can imagine how tasty and wonderful they were. They freeze them instantly after making, and defrost as needed. Luckily we did not eat all 700 for Christmas lunch, so we got to have them for other meals as well (including the next day's dinner, where we had them in chicken broth).

Christmas lunch is typical in Italy. Starting around 1 or 1:30pm and lasting into the evening. After two servings of cappelletti, lamb, turkey, peas, salad and dessert, we skyped with my family on Cape Cod, and went for a two hour walk. Walking around town was great. Not only did it help you digest, but everyone was out chatting and exchanging good wishes.

It was a wonderful Christmas! My first in Italy and my first where David and I were on the same continent :)

Making the bechamel sauce for the filling

The finished cappelletti filling

Alba making the dough

Franco was in charge of rolling the dough

The professional production line in progress

The cutter/closer

As you can see I am the most helpful person here :)

Finished cappelletti before freezing

Cappelletti cooking for Christmas lunch

Tomato sauce for the cappelletti

Alba finishing the cappelletti

Mixed antipasto

Cappelletti

Roasted lamb and turkey with peas

Rainbow covering the sky after lunch

Skyping with my family on Cape Cod

Bartender - Making the Video

A few weeks ago Bartender shot a promotional video, directed and produced by their friend Montu. They used a recording studio near Assisi, about 40 minutes from here. I got to tag along and be an assistant, I was told I was more helpful than I felt. It was a full day of rearranging furniture, setting up lights, avoiding being caught on film, and listening to their song over and over and over and over. I am pretty sure that now I could pick up a guitar and play the song myself :)

Montu stayed with us for a week editing the video. He was up until at least 4am every night working. The final product was definitely worth all the effort!!! I have some behind the scenes photos, and I attached the video at the end of the blog. Enjoy!

The before picture of the studio

Arranging the space

The after picture of the studio

Test shots

Listening to a quick recording of their song

Montu used a dolly for some of the shots

Video editing

Montu editing the video at around 2am