The last few days revolved for the most part around food. That’s a given when I am in Italy. Fortunately I was neither on a diet, nor am I a vegetarian. Otherwise I’d have had a hard time :)
If I had to summarize the essence of my stay in Saracena, it would be something like this:
The table set up next to the fireplace. The hot coals ready to roast the bread, the homemade sausage, bell peppers and artichokes. The beans cooking inside of a terracotta jar set right next to the fire, getting ready for the following day’s lunch. Homemade pasta in all kind of varieties, ranging from maccheroni to orecchiette. The bottle of wine, the white one to be more precise, which is my favorite. Hearing ‘mangia!‘ (eat!) for the 20th time, while you try to make them understand that you’re about to explode. Talking about what to eat the following day, while still sitting at the table. The smell on the streets of the smoke coming from the chimneys. The very first blossoms of the almond and peach trees. The mountain tops covered with snow. And last but not least, the biggest highlight is always the great hospitality and spending time with my family!
While I was there I could not resist browsing again through my grandparents’ cellar. I found a true jewel! It’s the grinder that you can see in the pictures. While my grandpa was sharing stories from the past, he mentioned that he used to make a rustic pizza back in the days. And the very next day, my aunt made her version of it. Oh, I am really starting to love these broccoli! I feel like I’m making up all those years I avoided eating them.
As soon as got back home I had to make the same one again! And yes, I am pretty satisfied with the result. So tasty! But I need to be honest though, it’ll probably never taste as intense as in the village. Even using my grandpa’s olive oil. No matter which ingredients they cook with, they just taste so different..
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