With the coronavirus lockdown, all over Italy, probably everyone’s eating better than ever: more time to cook… …although a buonissima pasta with broccoli takes little preparation time and requires just a few ingredients: broccoli, currants, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil. You may wish to try this dish of Pino’s mamma, Signora Vincenza, “i pasta…
These days, a few familiar hashtags are #Italianonsiferma – #DistantiMaUniti – #italystaystrong – #ItalyCoronavirus – and now of course, #italylockdown. Coronavirus lockdown was mandated here in Italy as of March 12th but outings for walk are permitted. Grocery stores, post offices, banks and pharmacies are among the few authorized destinations. On our way to Assisi…
In Assisi, too – as everywhere in Italy now – all hotels, cafes, restaurants and shops are closed. Only pharmacies, newsstands, tobacconists, post offices, alimentari (grocery stores), panifici (bakeries), and macellai (butchers) may stay open. The Saturday outdoor market will be canceled during this lockdown. One vegetable stand is still open in Assisi: Novella’s. Novella’s…
This is our second day today of coronavirus lockdown but it’s easy to fill the days – and many easy ways to ward off a CPA (Coronavirus Panic Attack). Here in Italy, cooking takes up some of the time….and is a pleasurable distraction for all. These days, where possible, work has been transferred home, although…
On the evening of March 9, 2020, Prime Minister Conte officially announced a coronovirus-protection lockdown throughout Italy, meaning – basically – “tutti a casa” (“everyone stay home”). …or as much at home as possible. I caffe will be open only until 6 p.m., hoping that an early closure will discourage evening social gatherings. Alimentari (grocery…
The mimosa bunches on our table remain, a memento of our March 8th Festa delle Donne lunch cooked by Pino for “le mie donne“: our Giulia and myself. Another memorable day here in Umbria with no place at all for a CPA (Coronavirus Panic Attack). At lunchtime, Guglielmo helped Pino serve up his pasta creation:…
In Italy, you can easily be distracted from a possible CPA (i.e., a Coronavirus Panic Attack) in the days preceding March 8th, la Festa delle Donne (literally, “the Feast of Women” i.e., – International Women’s Day). Just drop in on flower shops to see the butter-yellow mimosa bunches….. ….and small mimosa sprigs tied with bows ready for purchase as tribute…
Such simple pleasures surround us as ways to ward off a CPA ( ie, a Coronavirus Panic Attack). A stop to buy fresh pasta is one. On my own for lunch today, I’d decided to treat myself to fresh pasta and headed to Bastia, near Assisi, to a small shop, Voglia di Pasta (“Desire for…
These days, best to sidestep a CPA, “Coronavrus Panic Attack” (not to confuse this just-invented acronym with the one familiar to all Americans, i.e., “Certified Public Accountant”). If you’re near Assisi, a meal with Peppa is antidote to a CPA. If you’ve spent the morning wandering the wonders of Orvieto…… ……..there’s a perfect spot to…
….but a sure remedy for coronavirus ansia (anxiety) is to drop in for lunch at Peppa’s. She’ll greet you warmly with a beaming smile and probably an apology, “Scusa, ma non ho molto pronto per pranzo oggi” (“Sorry but I don’t have much for lunch today”). When we were there recently for lunch, that was her apology…