Near Assisi, a Pino Feast as a Coronavirus Antidote

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:…

Forget Coronavirus: Celebrate Women!

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…

No Coronavirus in Assisi….

….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…

Near Deruta, Umbria Rural Cuisine From the Heart

My Perugia/Deruta tour is a favorite among tour guests and not just for the many splendid treasures of Perugia but also for one near Deruta: her name is “Giuseppa.” Just ask Linda and her friends. After our morning guided tour in Perugia, we headed to the countryside near Deruta for lunch at the farm of…

Near Assisi, Ristorante Da Giovannino Celebrates 100 Years

As you head out of the coffee bar and into the dining room of Ristorante Da Giovannino, look up and and you’ll see the gold plaque from grateful clients celebrating Da Giovannino‘s one hundredth anniversary. The plaque was a mille grazie from a few of us “non-locals” (Jan and Caroline are Dutch) to Mauro (son…

Orvieto: Winter Jazz and Winter Good Eating

It’s become a tradition now for us every December 30th: our anniversary lunch (or dinner) is always enjoyed at Trattoria del Moro Aronne, tucked away in Orvieto’s medieval backstreets. We’re always in Orvieto for a few days at that time, taking in the joys of Umbria Jazz Winter. In colorful photos of jazz musicians on…