An Italian Feast – The family embrace us
I think most of you know I don’t cook. My New Year’s Resolutions were among other things to serve an Italian feast like the one from Under the Tuscan Sun. Mi Amore is a marvelous cook, he can turn his hand to any flavor. We eat each night in countries worldwide, that was until I took over the cooking.
Sam has been working nights to help out a friend so it’s been up to me. No need to tell you we are all getting thinner. It’s not so much the cooking that gets me in a muddle rather the shopping in advance. The idea of planning that morning for our evening meal totally throws me.
So with great respect for all those who see the words Italian Feast and don’t tremble with fear, this one’s for you.
We climbed and climbed unsure if we were going the right way. Past the ladies washing clothes in the fontana, through the village and at last the right driveway. This is the family of my father in law, his niece to be exact. He hasn’t been back to Italy since he left age eighteen many years ago. The families have never met, yet we are instantly embraced! It just happens to be her 60th birthday and the entire family are there. Thirty people getting ready for a birthday festa, and us.
The first thing I notice as a novice Aussie who can’t cook is that they have three kitchens. The one we are shown and sit in is the “posh” kitchen for entertaining and show. The real action is taking place through another door, the one that keeps wafting incredible smells every time it swings open. I am shooed out as soon as I manage to sneak in. Secret Italian women’s business in progress.
The third and most fascinating of the kitchens is under the house, a tiny dark room with a huge pot hanging on a tripod 0ver an open fire. This is the kitchen presided over by the Nona, all in black and tiny she has something mysterious bubbling away in there.
The other thing that I will never forget about this Italian Feast is the table, it was a table which just kept extending. It ended up seating thirty people. Each time they folded out a new section we all got the giggles. Carina thought it was magic.
Even though I didn’t understand a word the entire evening it was one of the best meals of my life. Everything including the meat was home grown. I’ve never tasted anything like it, a simple meal of many courses but the most incredible flavor. The food just kept coming along with the vino, kisses for the children, laughter, and a family just shining with love.
An Italian Feast I aspire to one day creating….
ciao and buon appetito…
Has food played a part in your travels?
and the gang x
The 3 kitchens sound so fascinating, especially that 3rd one. Thanks for showing how you can travel with the kiddos and have a great time for all!
Anthony it was that third tiny kitchen down stairs where all the good stuff was happening. It was so dark I couldn’t get a photo. I still loved the kitchen just for show. Traveling with kids is not only possible but unavoidable once you have them lol, different to the single backpacking days but just as wonderful.
happy travels
ciao lisa
Loved that video. I want to be in your family! I have always told my own children that the privilege of being together around the table with plenty to eat is the reason all of our ancestors worked so hard for so many years. Think about it…..what other reason did they have for living?
The desire and necessity to eat drove everything. I have been reading and studying about how, for our ancestors, certain foods came to be, or rather, certain ways to use the only foods available and it is absolutely fascinating.
It should still be that way.
It’s something that has always been part of my family tradition as well. We always ate around the table together (just not so big) and now our children do the same. My husband was only talking about this yesterday, how the ancestors worked to provide for the family and eating together was so important. I’d love to hear more about your findings, food is a driving passion in life. It’s funny to watch people returning to “slow food” and organic when this is what we left behind.
ciao lisa
I can just imagine it Lisa. It sounds exactly like eating with my husband’s family in southern Italy. The food keeps on coming, and you are encouraged to eat so much. I too am not marvelous at cooking. I hope that you do one day create your own, Under the Tuscan Sun feast.
Yes Cathy that food just keeps coming. I didn’t know this the first time I ate with my Italian family and thought the pasta was the main course. The plates cleared and then the real meal started to arrive. Sam’s family are from the south, Calabria and Sicily and very friendly. Glad to know I am not the only one who is cooking challenged. I so love that scene from Under the Tuscan Sun, she is so proud of herself and the table is just overflowing with food, vino and love. ciao lisa
How great is that video! A scene right out of our family vacation last summer with the Mirabile family. They are truly magic tables that just keep extending to accommodate more and more family members. I just love it! Buon appetito!
Magical tables I like that, and since marrying into an Italian family I have grown used to these big gatherings. It’s almost like two lives, my Aussie one and my Italian one.
You know what I mean with family gatherings….ciao lisa
How I love the sights, sounds and tastes that beckon us a’tavola! There is no better place to reconnect, rediscover and celebrate la dolce vita.
My family has always gathered at the table for meals, and now we keep the tradition alive with our own children. I especially love it at Christmas time with everyone together to celebrate.
ciao lisa
Hi Lisa,
Now that is what I call a feast!! Love how the table kept on extended, and you all got to have lots of yummy food, with love, kisses and laughter! Now that is what I call the best way to eat….I so should have been an Italian…but then again I don’t like cooking!!!
Love the family meal. Thank you for sharing.
Cheers
Lisa
Fantastic isn’t it Lisa, it felt it would never stop. That meal was just so simple but the flavor was incredible, as if I had never eaten before. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like cooking, and if you were an Italian girl you probably would just grow up learning.
So much to share,
ciao lisa