April Newsletter from Elizabeth Minchilli
Elizabeth Minchilli
EATING MY WAY THOUGH ITALY
April 2019 Newsletter
Do you have a hard time tuning out? I know everyone has that thing when you wake up at 3am and can’t stop thinking of something really stupid that jolts you awake. I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about normal chunks of the day, when you turn your mind away from whatever work it is you do, to let your it rest, so it doesn't get overheated. I usually have a few ways to do this. Podcasts while I’m walking let me passively absorb other people’s stories (The Moth is a favorite). Usually, if I’m at home during the day, I’ll tune in to a totally mindless tv show while I’m eating lunch (Madam Secretary is my current obsession). But the other day I went to a hammam with Sophie (it was my birthday present!) and really did try my best to turn off my brain while being scrubbed, rubbed, wrapped, steamed and soaked. I was partly successful. At one point I managed to even drift off into a half sleep (does that count?) Every time my mind tried to turn to something work-related (like organizing a book event or paying bills) I tried very hard to make my brain stop doing heavy lifting.
At this point I know a lot of people would count sheep. Want to know what I ended up mulling over as I steamed my stress away? All of the types of stuffed escarole and/or chicory I had encountered over the last few years.
What do you do to tune out? And does it involve counting seasonal greens as they jump through recipe hoops? Or is that just me?
Where I'm Going
This section of my newsletter is usually called “Where I’ve been.” And even though this past month I went to Florence and Umbria, I wanted to make sure that all of you know were I’m going next month. Because I really hope I get to see you.! I’ve packed A LOT into the all-too-short time I’ll be in the USA on my book tour for The Italian Table. Here is a list of the dates and places, with links. Since many of the events are limited in space, please make sure you sign up ahead of time. I really hope to see you!!! (PS The Consorzio di Parmigiano Reggiano is sponsoring some of my events. So there will be cheese!)
April 22, Chicago: Ceres Table, Dinner and book signing.
April 23, Milwaukee: The Italian Community Center / Bartolotta Restaurant Dinner
April 24, Washington, DC: The National Press Club Dinner
April 25, Washington DC: Smithsonian Associates, In Conversation with Domenica Marchetti.
April 26, Little Rock, AK: Meet and Greet at Arkansas Literary Festival.
April 27, LIttle Rock AK: 1pm: In Conversation with Dorie Greenspan (details coming here)
April 27, Little Rock AK: 4pm Eggshells Kitchen: Cooking Demo and Book Signing
April 30, St. Louis, MO, Left Bank Books, Book Signing
May 2, Los Angeles, Now Serving: In Conversation with Evan Kleiman & book signing
May 4, San Francisco, CUESA & BookPassage, Cooking Demo and Book Signing
May 4, Oakland, CA: Rockridge Market Hall, book signing
May 4, Danville, CA: Rakestraw Books Dinner & book signing
May 5, Larkspur, CA: Left Bank Brasserie - Book Passage Dinner & signing
May 6, San Francisco, CA: Omnivore Books: Presentation and Book Signing
May 7, San Francisco, CA: Commonwealth Club: Book Presentation & Signing
May 9, Seattle: Book Larder: Book Presentation and Signing
May 11, Boston: I Am Books: In conversation with Barbara Lynch, book signing.
May 13, New York: 92nd Street Y: In Conversation with Melissa Clark, book signing
May 23, Umbria, Civitella Ranieri : In Conversation with Evan Kleiman
June 6, Rome, 6-8 Marigold Restaurant: Cocktails and book signing (details coming)
June 6, Rome, 8:30 Marigold Restaurant: Dinner based on Rome chapter of The Italian Table. (details coming)
(I'll be adding more events on my website)
What's New
Sophie and I had an amazing time with Melissa Clark during our Week in Rome that focussed on nose to tail cooking. We realize it’s not for everyone, but our dedicated guests loved it! (as did we). The week included day trips to both Umbria and to Florence where we got to hang out with my friend Judy Witts Francini, who showed us around the market and took us to her favorite street food stands. (She does great tours!)
We also just finished another, regular, Week in Rome with the most amazing group of 10 women. We usually limit the groups to 8, and they are always mixed: some couples, singles and both male and female. But somehow this time around we decided to stretch the group to 10 (it’s hard to say no) and for whatever reason it ended up being just girls. We had a blast. I know a lot of people come on our tours since they don’t want to travel alone. Yet at the same time many are not used to being part of a ‘tour group.’ I totally get it! The great thing about our weeks is that you are with fellow travelers, but also have as much time alone as you’d like. When I first envisioned our tours, I thought that during the ‘down’ time, people would head off on their own. But usually what happens (as in this past week) our guests tend to stick together, and organize meals and outings with each other. Making lasting friendships along the way. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of.
As I write this Sophie and I are getting ready for our first Week in Puglia trip. We are SO excited. It seems like we’ve been planning this forever. It’s supposed to be gorgeous weather, and the wildflowers should be out, covering the fields. If you follow me on Instagram I’ll be reporting every little thing we eat, drink and do!
If you’d like to join us on one of our Week in Italy Trips, we still have a few spots left on for our fall tours to Rome, Umbria and Puglia. And as of this writing I have the last 2 spots left for the Creative Retreat with Elizabeth Gilbert in July.
And although it seems like a long way off, the tours for 2020 are already filling up. Send me an email if you’d like to hear the details about any of the Week in Italy Tours for 2019/2020.
And if you are planning on being in Rome for the day, make sure to contact Sophie for one of her market tours!
Are you already planning 2021? We are. And we’re thinking….Sicily. What do you think?
What I'm Reading
Getting ready for our July Creative Retreat with Elizabeth Gilbert by reading this.
Back in 2013, when the New York Times wrote a story on food tours, the paper wasn’t even sure food tours were a thing. This recent article shows how much things have changed.
Good news from the independent bookstores that sell cookbooks.
I loved this piece about the importance of context when writing recipes. My favorite line: “Recipes are stories and history too, and if you don’t know that, you should.”
A list of bacari in Venice including many of my favorites where I found inspiration for the recipes in the Venice chapter of The Italian Table. Also, almost all of them are in my app Eat Italy.
Frank Bruni's spot on piece about how our taste in restaurants changes as we age. Raise your hand if this sounds familiar.
And finally.....
Publisher’s Weekly included The Italian Table in their New Cooking Books roundup.
I chatted with Cookery by the Book about how Italians eat.
Lori Ness asked some great questions while interviewing me for Northwest Radio.
Thank you Epicurious for including The Italian Table in your list of 40 Books to Buy This Spring.
If you want to get a sneak peek at The Italian Table, head over to Eat Your Books for this cool digital preview.
A couple of very talented young film makers filmed Sophie walking around her home town, talking about the importance food has for her and how she tries to transmit that to her clients. Make sure you turn on the CC captions for English. Also? FYI: I cry every time I watch it.
x,Elizabeth
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