tiramisu: travelogue: florence, in the countryside

in just 40 minutes, we were deep in the chianti countryside, taking a cooking class with laura at her traditional farmhouse / winery, querceto di castellina.

we met in castellina, to pick up groceries. first at the local butcher to pick up meat of course. posted on the display case was the certificate of the cow, its history such as when it was born, the farm it came from, its age and pedigree too.

because it was october, there was no daily market and laura said we'd have to go to the coop. she felt badly but she needn't have, the fruit and vegetables were gorgeous, nothing like the vegetables at our coop in stockholm. stefan was salivating over the meat and cheese counters, so much fresh choice... he looked out of place,so tall among the gaggle of elderly nonnas! we couldn't believe we were in a coop. food is, of course, everything in Italy so shops take great pride in ensuring you take home the very best.

during the shopping, there was never any urgency to get things done. there was an air of patience and socializing; i loved it. laura is a warm, friendly and her enthusiasm for cooking is contagious. she had lots of tips that even stefan learned a thing or two.

at the winery, querceto di castellina, we unpacked the groceries, enthralled to find out what exactly we would be cooking. as we chopped, stirred, sampled, and savored the aromas, she explained what she was doing as she went along, stefan writing down notes. if you're lucky, you'll have a visit from the cat who meandered back and forth from the garden to the house.

when it was time for our leisurely lunch, we sat outside overlooking the winery, the sun shining, enjoying every bite with the wine pairing.

here is the delicious menu:

crostini with gorgonzola / mascarpone / walnuts

crostini with pecerino cheese and herbs

crostono with sausage & cheese

penne with mushrooms & black olives

shell pasta with meat ragu

osso bucco

caramelized peppers

ricotta with liqueur and chocolate

just for a day, it felt like we living like a local, grocery shopping, cooking and smiles on our faces that we found ourselves right in this spot.

we left the winery later than we expected but managed to make a quick stop in monteriggioni. it's a cute little walled village with one ring road, a church, a couple of restaurants and a few shops. it still holds the characteristics of the 13th century which contributes to its charm.