Near Deruta, More Than a Rural Feast

Lunch with Giuseppa and Paolo at their Deruta countryside farm is not only a feast for the palate. It’s a joyous experience of family warmth – even more so if grandchildren Irene and Edoardo are there, too.

Friend Iva recently joined in on a visit to Paolo and Giuseppa. She had an idea of the rural goodness as soon as we arrived: Giuseppa was in front of her farmhouse grilling the veal and pork they’d raised.

Inside, meat sauce – made with their tomatoes, veal, garlic, onion, carrot, olive oil – was simmering on the stove.

But before the pasta course, a typical Umbrian rural antipasto, served up by smiling Irene: coratella with la torta, a bread baked stovetop. (Not sure I should translate “coratella,” though: a savory dish of veal innards. Try it to be convinced).

…and then, what pasta!

Grilled meats followed, served up with the help of grandson, Edoardo. Before dessert, Irene brought out the family albums to share with Iva – and both children made sure we did not leave before Iva saw their prized wild boar dogs.

Nearby, we stopped in the tractor shed so that Giuseppa could proudly show Iva the grapes hanging on the rafters to dry for the sweet wine, vin santo (“holy wine”). They’ll be pressed right after Christmas, a holy time and the wine will be aged at least a couple of years before sipping.