October News from Elizabeth Minchilli

Elizabeth Minchilli
EATING MY WAY THOUGH ITALY

October 2019 Newsletter

Last month I was asked to speak at a conference in Montefalco, Umbria. I usually say no to these kinds of events, since I’m not super comfortable speaking Italian in public, so there’s that. Also, planning in Italy is a bit last minute and I’m usually busy by the time they get around to asking me. And in fact, I was asked just 10 days before the conference if I could join in. Since I was available and since it was nearby I said yes. But the main reason I agreed to speak is because the topic is one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. ‘Slow Tourism.’ And if you follow me on any sort of social media you know I’m always sharing articles and writing books about a type of tourism that is all about getting to know a place well and in depth, and get off the beaten track. The opposite of the kind of over tourism you find in places like Venice, Florence and Rome.

I was super excited to not only talk about this type of tourism, but also hear about what the other panelists had to say. And maybe even hear something from the audience? As it turns out, my fellow panelists, shall we say, didn’t give the topic as much thought as I had? When they heard the words ‘slow tourism’ they took it literally. Like VERY literally. As in ‘be a pilgrim and walk the route of St. Francis kind of tourism’. Or else, you know, take a bike instead of a car. They actually thought the way to improve tourism in Umbria (which could use a boost) was to make it MORE difficult and uncomfortable and be LESS hospitable. My reaction? The only way the people I bring on tours are going to walk 6 hours on a pilgrimage route is if you tell them there is a winery waiting for them at the other end.

Anyway, I do think people listened when I made the argument that appealing to the literal hunger of tourists for culinary traditions (rather than hair shirts and hostels) is perhaps the better way to get them off the beaten track of the bigger cities and into the countryside and small towns of Umbria. If I said ‘slowing down’ means walking over fields with a cute dog in search of truffles, you’d want to join me, right?

What's New

Has anyone else noticed the huge amount of attention Puglia is getting these days? I say, well done Puglia! (I also say, Umbria take note!). Puglia has managed the difficult balancing act of providing great places to stay and warm hospitality with a tremendous wealth of pristine landscape and a traditional way of life. Sophie and I are headed down on Sunday, for another Week in Puglia tour. (make sure you are following Sophie’s and my stories to see what we’re up to.) While I love October in Puglia I’m already looking forward to our time there in April, when the wild flowers are in bloom and the fields are almost neon green with new wheat. If you’d like to join us, we still have a few spaces left for the April 19-24, 2020 week (October 2020 is already sold out) Send me an email if you’d like to know the details.

Sophie and I are flying down to Sicily in November to put the final touches on the Sicily Tour. This is the funnest part, as we taste our way through all the various food activities and restaurants we have planned for our week in March. You know. Just to make double sure everything is well ‘researched.’ What I’m really looking forward to is eating at the famous Il Duomo in Ragusa! As I suspected, the tour is just about sold out. We have only have one room left! Let me know if you’d like to be the one (or 2) sleeping in it.

The Week in Umbria tour we just finished was amazing. We changed things around a bit, and included a tour to medieval workshops in Bevagna. This is a unique and totally wonderful museum that almost no one knows about but should. The paper making was fascinating and I’m still kicking myself for not having bought some of the hand dipped beeswax candles. The next day I did, however, make full use of the cashmere shops in Orvieto where our guests are set free to do a bit of shopping. I am now the proud owner of a deep blue cashmere poncho!! But the biggest revelation was the cooking class we did at our friend Doriana’s restaurant. We learned how to make Onion Parmigiana. How was this never in my life before?? If you want Onion Parmigiana to be a part of your life too, then join us for our next Week in Umbria in May. Send me an email if you’d like to join us

I was all set to post the tours for 2021 but….some of the hotels aren’t accepting reservations yet!! I can’t plan the entire year until I’ve got all the various pieces in place. So stay turned, and keep checking this page for updates.

What I'm Reading

I'm currently reading, and loving The Secrets We Kept by Lara Prescott. I have to say that Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club has become my new favorite source for books.

Did you know there was such a thing as the Accademia Italian della Cucina that judges the quality of Italian food around the world? Don’t worry, I didn’t either. No one does really, except the group itself.

This was one of the silliest things I’ve read in a while: Weeknight Dining Around the World. Although it’s more photographs with captions than a real article. If anyone can tell me the point of this feature I’m very curious.

This just in: Food 52 has just been sold for 83 Million Dollars!!! Way to go Amanda and Merrill!!

And speaking of money, just in case you thought any of us food writers were making money by writing cookbooks, this will set you straight.

Where I've Been

Back in Rome!! I’ve never been away from Rome this long and it’s good to be home. Also? Rome is looking awfully beautiful this season. (as evidenced by the photos in this newsletter). I’m trying my best to enjoy every minute before I leave for Puglia on Sunday. Negroni’s in front of the colosseum at our friends apartment was pretty lovely. (although the 3rd Negroni was definitely a mistake) (but I got too distracted by that view to keep count). Also, the first meal I ran towards when I got back to Rome after a the summer in Umbria was a big plate of Spaghetti alle Vongole at Giggetto. You can't get less Umbrian and more Roman than this.

What I'm Eating

I enjoyed a lovely end-of-summer lunch at my friend Laura’s where she served one of my favorite easy to make desserts: Sgroppino

I’m getting ready to shift into soup mode (if it ever cools down here in Rome) and have this Cabbage Farro Soup recipe from Smitten Kitchen at the top of my list.

I use canned foods and am proud of it. What’s in your pantry? Melissa Clark lists her favorites and what to do with them.

And finally.....

Sophie has been getting a lot of press all over the place! She was the subject of a 2 page spread in a southern Italian Newspaper and was interviewed here on a this great website. Both are in Italian, but take it from me, they would also make you proud.

And since we are on the subject of Sophie, you’ll be happy to know she is now officially a cat lady. If you follow me on Instagram then you know that Kitty showed up at our house in Umbria in July. We realized by the way she immediately made herself at home on our couch, that she was in no way a wild cat. She is now a happy resident of Monteverde in Rome.

x,Elizabeth