LA Dolce VIta, Alla Top Chef

Thursday, September 12, 2013
Peschici, Puglia, Italy
Leisurely had breakfast on the terrace that overlooks the olive groves and the hilltown of Peschici. Lots of people to chat with, couples from London. Belgium, France etc. For them this place is a short trip. Antonella made me delicious eggs, paired with their local bread, it is exceptional. I have become accustomed to an early morning cappuccino followed with a caffe latte. Terribly spoiled.
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Clouds scatter the horizon, we decide to just as stay and relax poolside but no, Francesco says we are needed in the kitchen to make homemade orrichiette with Antonella. She shows us how to make the dough-my new companion now known as GianCarlo, takes notes. He then proceeds to learn the unusual hand trick which creates the "ear" shape , for a few euros he will share it with you.She also shows him how to make their fusilli with a thin bar that you flip the pasta on. ANTONELLA' s kitchen is small, only the stove is large. She creates unbelievable meals in this space and tells us what she is making tonight. It is our last night and we will celebrate by having another of her fabulous meals-details to follow, so have a big lunch if you intend to read later...


The weather does not clear, so I decide to drag GC back to Vieste to walk around the historic center. There is a "meterological museum" ,it contains 14,000 different types of seashells...and we found it...who would have thought such a collection would exist here. They sold all kinds of shells selling for up to thousands of euros......me, I purchased a seashell from an eight year old sitting outside with a tray of ones she had colored. 1 Euro and when I told her I was bringing it to NY she smiled.

OK, DINNER...here we go. We are eating with Anna and Gunther so the conversation will be as varied as the food. We order wine, I can't resist a ittle taste. It is a full house all occupants of the ten rooms and some visitors. Francesco has the Italian music on and so.....each dish more delicious than the previous. Appetizers are staggered, stuffed tomatoes in a wine sauce, medallions of eggplant covered with local cheese, fresh spinach with some type of puree, potato croquettes, homemade burrata with sun dried tomatoes,....the only thing missing is Anthony Bourdain by my side....Next rectangles of pasta smothered in a sauce with their "local fava" beans, my favorite. Then medallion of stuffed turkey with zucchini strips...fresh fruit with a dusting of powered sugar, and a delicious chocolate nut cake. OMG, what could be better. All accompanied by great wine(none for me, boo hoo), the three finish two bottles, we linger , they have after dinner drinks, then everyone talks about what we have as eaten, so it just extends the experience even more-it is going to be very difficult to top this evening. Almost impossible!
 
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pam
2013-09-13

sounds so yummy!!!! how is your thumb? I guess no wine cause of antibiotics. you can make up for it when you finish the prescription.
enjoy

sandra
2013-09-14

will your new companion GianCarlo cook for us in America!!!

2025-02-08

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