Sometimes inspiration for cooking contests means getting out of the kitchen, away from some things food for a while and indulging in new venues, sights, smells, places, and people. This is one of my nomadic adventures that has energized me and provided me with bountiful fodder for creative ideas and new thoughts about food!

Finding family you never knew you had is one of the interesting benefits of Facebook. In my first married life, which gave me four wonderful sons, I was a ‘D’Antoni’— a tight, loving, competitive, and exceptionally athletic family.  I ended up connecting on Facebook with Antonella D’Antoni but never did I think that a little over two years later we’d be visiting her, her husband Fabrizio, and their daughters, Carolina and Margherita in Poggio Mirteto, Italy!

From Cologne, Germany, we flew Air Berlin to Rome. We didn’t really know what to expect when we arrived. Waiting for us at the airport was Antonella with a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers in hand from her garden, along with Fabrizo and Maria. Maria is Antonella’s friend, and a shopkeeper in the village who speaks English fluently!

Emotions know no language other than love, hugs, smiles, and tears, and that’s what erupted as we all met in person for the first time!  Our first stop was a café for a deliciously rich and robust cup of Italian espresso, cappuccino, and just coffee!  We chatted incessantly over coffee and then on the nearly hour or so drive from Rome to Poggio Mirteto (with Maria translating). The twinkles in each other’s eyes made it evident that there was going to be great fun ahead, but never in my wildest imagination did I realize just how much!

We drove to their home in their compact European Fiat over the busy and congested strada from Rome. We eventually found ourselves on small roads, winding through the lush and green countryside speckled with homes, farms, sheep and rolling hills and villages. As we neared their spectacular villa, we were on a narrow winding road that meandered up the hillside and eventually led to the gates entering their villa.

Their home can only be described as pure grandeur. In my mind’s eye, this is what I imagined an Italian villa to be: terrra cotta tiles, high ceilings, antique patina wooden beams, comfortable and welcoming large white sofas, antiques that reflected rich family roots, photographs of generations of family together celebrating communions, confirmations, weddings, verandas with views of the entire countryside, olive trees everywhere, a lush green vineyard and of course, the cucina!  Oh, the cucina!  In the center was a Carrera marble top vintage table handed down from Fabrizio’s Mama. It was as if it was speaking of all the pasta, bread and sweets that had been made on it, and all the meals that had been eaten at it!

And then there was the large dining room. The walls were adorned with beautiful dishes, pottery, and Italian ceramic colorful plates. The décor was only second to the exquisite long antique table that comfortably seated 12-14 with mismatched chairs. I knew that many a ‘tango familia’ dinner had been celebrated there!  And here it was, in bursting regality– a fully set, in Boho fabulousness – a large, family dinner!  More family and friends would be coming for the multi-course dinner that Antonella had, no doubt, been preparing for days!  The dinner menu looked like this: Antipasti – Mix of Italian traditional salami, prosciutto, parmesan reggiano, olives and more; Primi – Lasagne al Ragu; Secondi – Spezzantino Di Vitella in Salmi; Contorni – Verdure Grigliate; Insalata; Dessert – Tiramisu; Vini – Della Casa.

We toasted, ate, laughed, toasted, ate and laughed. The constant chatter was erupted from everywhere at the table. In a seemingly effortless fashion, Antonella served and cleared dish after dish. As she sat at the table to enjoy her meal, I was fascinated by her ease, organization, and fabulous style and design of food, plating and presentation!  Yes, this was Antonella’s Kitchen, complete with delicious food, wine, and more. It was the creation of a Master Chef!

By midnight, maybe later, we were ready to call it a day – and what a day it’d been!  I think Ben and I both collapsed in the comfortable bed fresh with crisply ironed linen sheets. We kept the window open to the Tuscan-like panoramic view.  Around 4:30 a.m. I was awakened by a symphony of chattering birds and the distant sounds of roosters crowing—this concerto of magical sounds continued for the next couple of hours until the sun began to burn off the mist of the low lying clouds.  It was better than any concert of Boccelli, Josh Groban, or Pavaratti. I lay there in pure ecstasy knowing that this is what adventure is all about—finding freshness, finding the unexpected and finding dreams!

The next 24 hours, before we boarded our train to Florence, were full and packed. We leisurely strolled the colorful village square strewn with restaurants, bars, merchants, shops and stores of every kind. We strolled through the medieval part of Poggio Mirteto where there was an intact church, buildings and a monastery. We then took a relaxing two-hour lunch back at home in the kitchen with the table dressed in a bright red and white check and vibrant colors of arugula, parmesan reggiano, breads, vino, and more. We spent some special time with the accomplished and beautiful daughters, Carolina and Margherita, as well as Antonella and Fabrizo. We lounged in the open sun in the backyard, with honeysuckle and lavender wafting in the air over the cool breezes. Lastly, before dinner, we took an excursion to Rieti, only about 30 minutes from their home, to visit the medieval Santa Maria della Foresta monastery, convent and church—‘Buon giorno, buona gente’  ‘Good morning, good people’—the famous words San Francis saluted the Poggio Bustone inhabitants in 1208.  Since then, every year on October 4, the residents of this town salute each other with this phrase and hold a feast to celebrate the Saint.

Our second night’s dinner was spent dining out. This time the family grew! We met Francesco, Claudio, Marina, and Mama (Mia!), Franco, Maria, Lorenzo, Allegro, Barbara. We started about 8:30 p.m. and closed the restaurant around midnight. Francesco was professing his love for Claudio, ‘she makes my head crazy,’ he said, and and asked Ben to be in his wedding. Tsunamis of love crashed over all of us! No language barriers were stumbling blocks and food, vino, beer, and dolce la vita swept all of us into the marvelous world of family!

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