March 2020 Newsletter from Elizabeth Minchilli

Elizabeth Minchilli
EATING MY WAY THROUGH ITALY

March 2020 Newsletter

Just in case you were worried, I’m fine. We’re all fine. And by ‘we’ I of course am speaking for an entire country (can we just make me princess of Italy?) . It has been one of the oddest weeks ever, since I felt like I was Alice in Wonderland peering through some sort of warped looking glass and seeing something completely different than the rest of the world. In this case though the ‘looking glass’ was the media, and the image they painted of Italy sounded more like a scene from the Walking Dead than what was really happening here on the ground.

As you now probably know, there have been a cluster of cases of the virus in the north of Italy. Specifically in a handful of small towns north of Milan. The fact that these cases were caught and isolated is 100% due to the fact that Italy (showing a level of organization that surprised a lot of us) was actually on the ball and conducting tens of thousands of tests. The subsequent handling of that information (hourly updates on cases whether they were contagious or not, cancellation of major events and schools, etc) was less helpful. Most people think that the abundance of caution was overly alarmist and probably caused more harm than good.

How everyone chooses to go forward is a personal decision and I totally get that. Whether or not you believe travel restrictions are necessary and/or helpful has as much to do with your current family situation, health and location than any feasible plan to ‘close the door once the horse has left the barn’ (Yes. This situation has me talking like that.)

But I refuse to harp on this news because on the one hand there is not much to do about it, and on the other hand, I’d rather look at the good side of every situation. My favorite hashtag of the many that have been sprouting up is #theresnoplaceidratherbequarantinedthanitaly (I mean really. There are definitely worse places to be stranded.)

Another hashtag that’s been helping me to deal is #dolcefarniente . You probably have heard this before, but maybe aren’t quite sure what it means? It’s the particularly Italian way of looking at life. It’s a way of living in the moment, enjoying ordinary events whatever the circumstances. Literally translated it is The Sweetness of Doing Nothing. Also? It is the title of Sophie’s new book.

YES! Sophie wrote a book!! The Sweetness of Doing Nothing: Live Life the Italian Way with Dolce Far Niente is Sophie’s book that will help you incorporate this fine Italian skill into your everyday life. Whether it’s sitting in the sun at a cafe sipping a spritz, having lunch with your friends at the beach, or just taking the time to stop and hang out with a nonna on a bench, Sophie has explored the ways she, and most Italians, work this into their lives.

The book is already available for pre-order and is out in April. You can order it in the USA, England and Italy. Remember pre-sales help a lot, so order your copy now! And then order one for everyone else you know.

Make sure you’re following Sophie to get more updates about the book, as well as events she’ll be doing in Italy and eventually in the States. For now, here’s the cover which is gorgeous! While it’s not a vaccine against any known virus, it is sure to make you feel better about life in general.

What's New

I’m very happy to say that I haven’t had to cancel any of our tours for the spring to Sicily, Puglia, Umbria and Rome. Certainly a few people have had to bow out, but most of our intrepid travelers are looking forward to joining us. As I mentioned most of Italy, and especially the south, is perfectly normal. What this does mean is that I do have a handful of spaces that have opened up at the last minute. If you’d like to hear about them, send me an email. And I’m happy to offer a special 10% discount for last minute bookings if you mention this code: ITALYALIVEANDWELL (See, I have a sense of humor about it all! )

It’s been such fun working on all the details for the Pasta Grannies tour next November! Sophie and I are headed up in June to iron out the final details as well as check in with some grannies. I’ve got one spot left if you’d like to come along? We’re also thinking of doing some other pasta-oriented tours next year , in other regions, so stay tuned.

I’m really excited about our new week in Abruzzo. As soon as I’ve got the dates down I’ll post about it. It will probably be end of May/June 2021. If you want to be put at the top of the list send me an email.

Even though 2020 is almost full, we still have spots for 2021 to Puglia, Umbria and Sicily. People often ask me how far in advance you have to book. All I can say is the sooner the better, since they all end up filling up pretty far in advance. Let me know if you'd like to join us.

What I'm Reading

While I’m usually cooking in Italian, I can’t wait for Melissa Clark’s new book, so I can cook in French. Dinner in French is her newest . Did you know she spent a good part of her childhood in France? I definitely want to make that tart on the cover, but also the recipe for Campari Olive Oil Cake has my name on it. You can pre-order it here.

And speaking of France, the other book I can’t wait to land in my mail box is David Lebovitz’s newest : Drinking French. Of course I’m interested in the cocktail recipes and lore, but there are also recipes for some of my other favorite food groups, like coffee!

Also coming out of France (is this a theme?) my friend Lyndsey Tramuta has a new book out too! The New Parisienne focuses on one of Paris’s most dynamic features: its women. Over 40 women (activists, creators, visionaries etc) are profiled, and all of them share their favorite destinations. It’s a celebration of strong women, which I think we could all use right now.

I first met Susan Spungen when we both worked for magazines back in the olden days when magazines actually existed. While I was freelancing for just about everyone, Susan had the nifty job of running the test kitchen at Martha Stewart. We’ve remained friends, and meet up for meals whenever she is in Italy. My big wish though, is to be invited to her home in Long Island where she often hosts delicious looking gatherings. Her new book, Open Kitchen, is full of the elegant, yet easy, recipes that I’m always drooling over on her instagram. If you’re looking for maximum effect for minimal effort (and who doesn’t want to impress their guests?!) then this is the book.

This article will tell you absolutely everything you ever wanted to know about the darling Moka coffee pot.

I wish I could tell you I was reading some serious novel that some friend who works in a bookstore recommended. But what I’m currently catching up on (which I somehow never read) is the entire Harry Potter series. And it’s the escapist tome I need these days.

What I'm Watching

Did you say you wanted some mindless videos to make you feel good? I’ve got you covered:

Bounce for joy with David Byrne.

Not all pasta grannies are Italian.

One of the funniest videos I’ve seen recently takes place in the parking lot of Target.

Where I've been

Mostly I’ve just been in Rome this past month and joyfully the weather has been gorgeous. In keeping with my effort to walk as much as possible, Domenico and I took a hike through Villa Doria Pamphilli, which I encourage everyone to do when they visit Rome.

Another thing we've been doing is paying closer attention to the local chapter of FAI, the non profit that supports Italy's cultural heritage. For 30 Euros you can join, which helps support the great work they do. But it also gets you to the front of the line when they plan special visits to places that are usually closed to the public. Like the Palace of the Knights of Rhodes, whose terrace you see below and which we got to visit last weekend.

And finally.....

When I said above that there was not much to be done in the face of the virus, I would suggest that you consider booking a trip to Italy if you can. I’ll be ok business-wise, but I have many friends and colleagues who are hurting. Venice, for example, already suffering from the floods, is on its knees. Rome, at last count, has suffered from 75% cancellations this month. So if you love Italy, now is the time to book your trip. Even if you have had to cancel a trip this month (especially if you have had to cancel a trip this month!) you can help the country you love out, but booking a trip as soon as possible.

x,Elizabeth

Click the image to buy