In Orvieto, Simple Umbria Goodness at Pippo’s

When you’re near Orvieto’s splendid Duomo at lunchtime…

…… you might want to head to Da Pippo, just steps away, for a bite – or a sip of local vino.

We stopped in recently for a pre-lunch aperitivo….with perhaps just a few stuzzichini (“appetizers” but literally, ” little teasers”).

Just inside the entrance, Pippo was slicing porchetta (roast suckling pig) for panini….

….and pointing at the roast pork as he sliced, he asked if we’d like to try some.

Pippo is known for his porchetta as a blackboard message affirmed: “Porchetta e vino – questo posto e’ divino!!!” (“Porchetta and wine – this place is divine!!!”

We declined, thanking him and Pino asked if it was possible to order just “vino rosso, per favore, e qualche stucchino“?

“Certamente,” Pippo replied indicating a nearby table. And then he set to preparing us a plate of stuzzichini. A photo of Pippo in his chef outfit and another with his mamma when he was a child hung just above the machine where he sliced our prosciutto…..

…..and the capocollo:

Cheese varieties, too, joined sliced meats on our tagliera (wooden “cutting board” where antipasti are often served, “taglia” meaning”cut”):

Our tray of “little teasers” was more like a lunch –

……and in fact, all around us, families, couples and friends were ordering .tagliere as lunch.

The ambience was warm and friendly, as promised in one of the blackboard signs, “All’osteria si e’ sempre in compagnia e se c’e PIPPO, si e’ sempre in allegria!!” (“At the inn, there’s always company and if there’s Pippo, there’s gaiety”)

As we nibbled our stucchini…..

……. Pippo stopped at our table, chatting with Pino about times past in the Orvieto area….

…..and with passione, gesturing as he talked.

As we left, most of the tables were full and recent arrivals were ordering, knowing well that “Qui se magna e se bene” (in Umbrian dialect, “Here one eats, one drinks”):