A rural feast with Giuseppa in her farmhouse in the Deruta countryside is one of the highlights my Deruta tours. Simply ask George and Michelle.
And here’s Michelle’s comment on our Deruta full-day tour:
“….what an incredible day!
We thoroughly enjoyed Annie’s tour of Deruta, showcasing the process of producing maiolica pottery. Afterward Annie pointed out the trail of maiolica from shops to signs to shrines that make this lovely town unique.
Later in the countryside of Deruta, we visited a truly amazing church of maiolica folk art. The story goes that the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared here in an oak tree in the 17th century. Subsequently she granted miracles to the pilgrims who came to pray before the tree that is still prominent the apse of the church. In thanksgiving, the devotees left over eight hundred ceramic panels. Only Annie could share this out-of-the way place, allowing us time to explore the drawings and words that underscore the Deruta history of ceramics.
However, the best part of the day was lunch with Giuseppa at her farm. She invited us into her home as if we were family, even sharing the last tastes of her late husband’s Vin Santo. It was a sacred moment for all of us.
The entire menu was created from food grown on Giuseppa’s family’s land, a personal farm-to-table experience. Giuseppa also welcomed us into her kitchen devoid of our American islands and airfryers. Her techniques were generational and responsible for the best meal we had on our Italian trip. The friendship between Annie and Giuseppa radiates respect and reverence for every aspect of agricultural life in Umbria. Grazie tanto to both of them.”
Following an antipasto of the family’s prosciutto, our buonissima pasta sauce starred Giuseppa’s own tomato sauce, celery, onion and carrot from her garden…and the family’s veal and pork.
Giuseppa had been happy to have me take photos in her kitchen as she drained the pasta…
….and then folded in the sugo:
After the pasta, Giuseppa served up pork (theirs!) and roasted potatoes (also theirs):
Roasted eggplant followed – seasoned with garden parsley, diced garlic and drizzled with their olive oil
We were all happily satiated…and then…..Giuseppa brought out a gran finale: mostaccioli (cookies made with must or mosto, that first step in the making of wine – for this is the season of wine-making) and a tart made with her fig jam…
A precious aged family dessert wine accompanied our dessert:
Join us one day in Deruta to taste Giuseppa’s rural goodness – and to hear the story of that beloved family wine.
See this video of Giuseppa cooking up the goodness.
…and various others on my YouTube channel – simply SEARCH “Giuseppa” or “Deruta” here
Read about – and see! – feasting with Giuseppa
Read another Giuseppa note here.
Read about maiolica wonders in Deruta.
