Travel, Florentine figs and “crema di mascarpone ai fichi”. And please consider that you can also vote for your favourite travel destination below.

Vanilla icecream, Vanilla Toffee Crunch and Chunky Monkey

Vanilla Bean, Strawberries & Cream, Double Chocolate, Mango & Passion Fruit Madness, Lemon Meringue, Cappuccino and Sticky Toffee Fudge

Mango & Banana Smoothie, Banana & Strawberry Smoothie, Frozen Yogurt, Cappuccino and Chocolate Icecream

31.10.09 An holiday offer from 48 rail stations to London, in the weekend, for three days and two nights… From £109, visiting museums and shopping and with Newmarket Holidays Supplier…

23.10.09 Where is Coronet Peak? In New Zealand… A lot of snow there? NZSki.com and Coronet Peak.

23.10.09 Have you ever been as a tourist in the States? From New Zealand and for three week? And do you like skiing, hiking and operas?

23.10.09 Have you ever travelled from the USA to France, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden? Which was your experience there as a tourist?

23.10.09 Would London be not so expensive for tourists? What?! And, then, what do you think? Ehm, frankly, I do not agree…

Anyway, do you know the Ole Time Fiddler’s and Bluegrass Festival in Union Grove, North Carolina, United States? And have you heard of Earl Scruggs, Tom Mindte, Harper Van Hoy, Doc Watson, J. P. Fraley, Byard Ray, Benton Flippen and L. W. Lambert? It seems the sound of Appalachian strings…

In Norway. Do you travel from the Norwegian national airport Gardermoen? And from Hamar or from…? Or do you travel by train from this town or from other cities and towns? I would also ask you what you think about lake Mjøsa, that should be Norway’s biggest lake… As for the venue Hamar Youth Hostel and double rooms, more information here. Any walking shoes?

- Your favourite travel destination (please vote)

- Which is your best song? (please vote)

Opera, an European browser, and Mozilla, Linux and Apple

Spreadthesign, the sign language dictionary. European Commission – Education & Training

Wednesday July 8, 2009

updated on Sunday November 29, 2009

calogeromira.wordpress.com – e-mail

Does this search engine save watts/hour?

Travelling around in Tuscany you meet with such different realities, from a natural point of view, as well as from historical, art, cultural and social point of views.  

Well, I was once driving up on the hills and mountains of Pistoia, and asked myself the origin of those special features of the territory, the reasons of the athmosphere you find there.

My first answer was: mountains. The second was: we are on the borderline with Emilia Romagna…..

Here a few notes on a very interesting project trying to make the boundaries area a tourist area of interest.  There is also a specific webisite where you can find info, gps maps for biking and trekking over there: http://aptpistoia.megamente.com/index_EN.cfm

The mountains, as natural obstacles, are often considered borders destined to separate opposing sides. However, border areas can not be thought of solely as dividing elements: they must be considered for their most important characteristics, and seen as “centres in evolution and expansion, small worlds with their own value and able to attract and bond closely men and places” (Febvre).

 Among the elements that distinguish border areas, especially in the mountain, were the roads that lead to the mountain passes, the shelters for travelers (churches, hospices and inns), the border stations or other military or commercial control structures.

 The mountain area was, not only in the past, marked by defined settlements (castles or villages), by extensive woodland, by pasture land, streams dotted with factories and thick network of footpaths. The mountain, which dominated and continues to dominate over all this, is a natural and breachable boundary – depending on the seasons.  

The evidence of the material culture, traditions and folk tales, and even the relations of governing officers, tell us of a difficult world with meagre resources.

The beautiful historical maps, almost like old “photographs” from the past, show us the mountain landscape as it was, until it’s transformations of the modern age.

Taking inspiration from this rich documentary asset, the project “The ancient boundaries of the Mountainof Pistoia” acts as a meeting point for historical research and the modern needs for tourism (culture and sport), as well as education, hoping to conserve the original characteristics of the territory and an awareness of ecology.

Very often one thinks of boundaries as a line that separates two realities, be it states, communities, or other. An imaginary line, sometimes linked to natural obstacles such as mountains or rivers, and often linked to political and human events. In reality, as many historians as Lucien Febvre have taught us, mountains, rivers and forests, although they are dividing points, they are also “centres in evolution and expansion, small worlds with their own value and able to attract and bond closely men and places” (L.Febvre, The Earth and Human Evolution, Turin 1980).

More notes on this project on future posts………meanwhile, I would like to hear about your world boundaries: are they physical, as mountains and rivers,   or lakes…or Oceans?

what do you think is the influence of physical boundaries on social life, therefore on your psycological, inner life?

2004 Pietroso Brunello di Montalcino

Just a simple dinner with a pasta and a salad. I grabbed a bottle of red from the wine fridge and woh, where did I buy this wine? It was a ripper of a red, ‘2004 Brunello di Montalcino’ by Pietroso (about 100 km south of Florence in Tuscany).

Aged for 36 months in oak barrels, this 100% Sangiovese wine is just a wonderful drop. Intense forest fruit flavours, great structure, good mid-palate weight and a long finish, round and silky. It took us by surprise.

A delicious pasta

We had just a simple pasta for an ordinary dinner during the week. When I went back to the supermarket the next day to look for this wine, I could not find it any more. I know why: it’s marvelous. Look out for this Brunello di Montalcino. It’s worth it. Azienda Agricola Pietroso produced 2004 about 13,000 bottles of this Brunello. I think it was one of the best wines we had had recently.

The one thing everyone looks forward to is their annual holiday. Normally, they plan a trip to the country side or the hills, for change in weather and to explore unknown territory. But the dream that most of us have is to visit Italy and Tuscany at least once in our lifetime. These places are known for their natural beauty and the lovely architecture that sets them apart from the rest of the world. The place where Pizza originated, designers create clothes that one would die for, these towns have carved a niche for themselves on the world map.

When you decide the dates for your trip and are looking forward to holidaying in Tuscany, you should also plan out other details related to the vacation. Accommodation being the key element, you need to figure out where you will be staying during your trip. There are several hotels and cottages available for the tourists to relax in. But the quaint villas are what make the town so special and surreal. Most of them are old barns converted to villas, fitted with all modern appliances and fittings. The outdoors is as much a part of the villa, which you feel as if you are one with nature. Home to many of the European cultures, in Tuscany and around it, you can witness culture from other parts of Europe. Since it is one of the twenty regions of Italy, you find a lot of similarities between the towns. You can also visit Florence, the capital city, where flowers, food and people will attract you.

If you would rather stay at a holiday home, why not choose from the wide range available. There are some for small families and others that are multi level, and ideal for families with children. Plenty of space to move around, a fully furnished home, the people who stay there can cook their meals and enjoy the comforts of being at home. In Tuscany countryside, there are luxurious farm houses and villas catering to the crowd who love to open doors to the mountains. Wake up and watch the sun rise behind the mountains, sip your coffee in the patio that has a country feel to it.

Villas situated a couple of kilometers from the Cathedral of Florence are quite popular and comfortable as well. So, if you would like to stay somewhere with little noise around, these Villa Florence are just what you need. They all have about 8-9 beds that you can reserve for your family, or share with other families as well. If you are going on a week long holiday, and look forward to exploring towns around Tuscany, you could park your bags here, and move around. It would work out cheaper that way, instead of staying at different hotels, and lugging your bags around. Some of these farmhouses even have swimming pool and a gym, which would come in handy if you are looking to unwind after a day of sight seeing or shopping.

Javier & Tuscany.

After traveling from Salzburg, Austria to Florence, Italy, we picked up a rental car and headed straight to the Tuscan countryside.  Any description you have ever heard of Tuscany is probably totally accurate. I don’t feel like I could possibly add anything original to the mix, but it is a glorious place with beautiful scenery, medieval relics, incomparable food and wine and a lot of pure olive oil. We researched a lot of villas before deciding upon Villa Marta, but it wasn’t a hard decision to make. The establishment has impressive user reviews and I could barely find anything negative to read, which is very rare when it comes to hotel reviews. We were 100% satisfied with our stay there and it was by far one of our favorite parts of the whole trip. The family that owns the villa is warm and friendly and accommodating and we really felt at home there. It was exactly the type of Tuscan experience we were hoping for. I would recommend Villa Marta to anyone looking for a relaxing and quiet getaway in the Tuscan hills. Only 1 hour outside of Florence, about 30 minutes from Pisa, and about 20 minutes from the center of town. We found that dividing our time between visiting the town, spending time on their property and exploring the area with bicycles was a great way to really experience that area of Tuscany. Plus, the villa’s restaurant, Boton D’Oro,  was so good that we ate there every night for dinner. It was wonderful not to have to drive through town each night trying to find a new place to try. I’m still dreaming of the perfectly manicured lawn, the hills in the distance and the smile on the owners face each morning when we arrived for breakfast. Buon Giorno!

Read the complete Villa Marta review on my TripAdvisor contribution.

The private chapel and olive grove

The view from the side patio

The outdoor pool

The unforgettable pork loin made in cooking class

© 2009 Massimo Pelagagge
Luci della sera in Toscana 5, inserito originariamente da Massimo Pelagagge.

© 2009 Massimo Pelagagge
Luci della sera in Toscana 4, inserito originariamente da Massimo Pelagagge.

One look at it and you feel like you are living a scene out of a fantasy tale. Tuscany charms you with everything, its architectural land, its aromatic vineyards and its striking smoothed hilltops. With moss covered ancient castles and sculpted landmarks, beautiful Tuscany with its snaking sandy roads is a fantastic vacation destination for all.

Siena

This attraction is a medieval town that offers sites like Piazza del Campo, tall bell tower, museums and cathedral and amazing narrow streets. When on a holiday in Tuscany, you can always enjoy a tour of Siena by walking and trailing through the streets of the town, as well as by climbing up till the top of the tower bell to cherish the magnificent view, the town offers.

Lucca

Lucca is a city with a history that dates back to around 180 BC. Situated at the top of a Roman colony, this town acts as a tourist attraction, drawing tourist and visitors towards its walled construction as Lucca is a city enclosed with walls constructed in 16th century. From well preserved walls to towers, the town has so much to offer to those looking forwards to a great holiday in Tuscany. A 1900 year old roman amphitheatre, piazzas, churches, medieval constructions and delicacy rich restaurant offering Italian flavor are some of the reasons to add this city in your trip to Tuscany.

Florence

This Italian city lies at a distance of few kilometers from Tuscany and is worth taking a trip to, when on a holiday in Tuscany. A lot of tourist and visitors on their trip to Tuscany prefer to visit Florence for its rich architectural sites, the Piazza, baptistery, Duomo and museums flaunting best of arts, artifacts and paintings from eminent artists. The Renaissance architect always draws a lot of people every year.

Taste wine in Chianti

Tuscany is well known for its wines and Chianti wine region is a major attraction for tourist and visitors, looking forward to some wine tasting. Located between Siena and Florence, Chianti is a perfect way of enjoying a great day with red wines, breathtaking countryside view, scenic villages and wineries. On a trip to Tuscany, you must not forget to cherish the pleasure of Tuscany wines and views.

Pisa

This world famous tourist attraction is located in the north of Tuscany and just 50 miles from Florence. Leaning tower of Pisa is a bell tower is known for its tilted construction, 300 steps of narrow stairs and a view worth taking the physical challenge. The tower also offers a medieval center, river, statues, parks and more for a great holiday.

San Gimignano

This tourist attraction is a city of towers situated on a hilltop and with a history that goes back to 10th century. The place used to pride 72 towers earlier, but today the town has 14 tower houses remaining and a best countryside view to offer.

Best time to visit or holiday in Tuscany

Best time to holiday in Tuscany is in the months of April to September.

If you are looking for something new to discover and you are looking for another great destination for your beach holiday, then Italy is the one place that you definitely need to consider. With 7,600 miles of shorelines you are sure to find a sweet spot to enjoy your vacation with family and friends and take advantage of the ideal temperatures for sunbathing, swimming and beach volleyball. Many look to Italy, especially Tuscany for the romantic rolling hills and the magnificent vineyards that seems to march in a neat line like soldiers as well as the lovely farm houses filled with ancient history and are not aware of the equally magnificent beaches that abounds the area.

As with everything in Italy, where laughter are more louder and the fun seems to never end and the people just don’t seem to get enough of good food, the beaches matches everything to a T. The water is crystal and the sand is fine and at par with the best and the finest in the rest of the world. Tuscany, Italy provides both the old and ancient feeling with the modern and the new advances in many of the hotel accommodations found in the area and all you need to do is just surf the Internet and you can come with a list of many websites offering beach holidays, seaside accommodations and more.

And since Italy’s beaches are part of the Mediterranean Sea, you can only expect the best for your enjoyment. The beaches of Italy has been awarded with a blue flag, an exclusive eco label that look after the cleanliness and the safety of beach water for swimming. This, together with the increasing number of tourists preferring to spend their holidays is a testament to the capturing beauty that can only be Italy. And because the place is famous for its romantic setting, you can find many lovers that strolls the beaches of Tuscany holding hands while the moon bathes them in the evening. Not to be missed are the glorious sunset as well as the sunrise that greets the people of the Italy to a new day and the smell of freshly baked breads and fresh salads and fruits can only make you more and more in love with the place.

In summer, the seaside is dotted with umbrellas and people are gathering in the beach for fun and activities. Women equal the beauty of the nature and the boisterous laughter of the men and the cooking of the women makes up the best recipe for a fun filled summer vacation that can only be experienced in the beaches of Italy. There are just too many things to do and explore and you cannot behold and truly capture the place in just one visit, you’ll need and you’ll love to go back for more and repeat the same glorious experience you have in your first visit. So the next you are looking for a place to discover, go to Tuscany Italy.

I love keeping myself and all of you updated on the growing seasons throughout the world.  It not only gives us a clue to the quality of the upcoming wine vintage, but also a window to the world of wine.  My latest report comes from the Gaja Family Wine Estates, and their three properties in Italy: one in Piedmont and two in Tuscany.

The Gaja Family is very optimistic about this vintage, and have rated the harvest as good to excellent.  Here is more info on the weather conditions and harvest dates:

• Piedmont: A very snowy winter kept the vines dormant, followed by rain in the spring and beginning of June.  This kept the soil moist, and helped it to recover it’s balance from the drought of the past few years.  Summer was hot and sunny, giving the grapes much needed warmth and light.  September experienced some rain, and the harvest was warm and sunny.  Harvest lasted from September 2, beginning with Sauvignon Blanc, and lasted until October 9, with Nebbiolo from the Sori Tildin and Sperss vineyards.
• Montalcino: Two phases of weather trends.  First, alot of rain in the spring with a cold May and June beginning.  Secondly, the temperatures rose, and additional rain in July swelled the Sangiovese grapes.  Dryness came and the heat continued.  The Sirocco wind rushed over the vineyard for about 10 days in August, keeping the grapes dry and cool.  Tramontana winds in September brought the grapes to a dry harvest, held from September 24 to October 10.
• Bolgheri: Very rainy winter and early spring led to a hot, dry summer.  Harvest began on September 3 with Merlot.  Both Merlot and Syrah were completely harvested by September 18.  Five days of rain began followed by a northern wind, which helped dry the grapes.  This occurrence restored balance to the grapes after the hot, dry summer.  Harvest resumed with Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, and concluded on October 7.

Here is a general assessment from Angelo and Gaia Gaja:

“The quality of the grapes this vintage has been optimal.  Even though it’s still too early to predict the quality of the wine they will produce, some are speculating that due to the top quality of the 2009 vintage in several European countries and in California, 2009 could be a repeat of the success of the 1990 vintage.”

This bolds well for the world of wine, especially Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, and Super Tuscans.  Now, while it will be over two years until we see most of these wines released, make sure to keep the 2009 vintage on your radar, as this is sure to offer some tasty wine.  I know I can’t wait!

The first time I tasted Sienese almond cookies was in Tuscany, in fact not too far from Siena. My husband Marc and I were vacationing at Borgo Pretale, an enchanting hotel tucked away in luscious green hills, surrounded by lavender, vineyards and sunflowers fields — the quintessential Tuscan destination!

We were relaxing on the terrace after a memorable meal when the staff brought us a glass of sinfully-delicious Vin Santo and Sienese almond cookies to nibble on. I still remember the first bite — an intense almond flavor exploded in my mouth. I swooned!

Needless to say, I brought several bags of those delicious treats home, but when they ran out I set about creating my own recipe. These dainty and flavorful cookies have since become a household favorite, especially around the holidays when we are more prone to indulge in a glass of dessert wine — and a cookie — while relaxing in front of a warm fire.

But that’s not the only occasion for which I make these Sienese cookies. Invariably I find myself baking batches of them to give as holiday gifts, along with gorgeous bottles of herb-infused honeys.

On a practical note, since I bake many desserts during the holidays (my pumpkin crème brûlée with ginger, for example), I end up with lots of leftover egg whites. Since I wouldn’t dream of throwing them away (or worse, making egg-white omelets!) I always save them to make these treasured cookies.

My hope is that they’ll make you swoon, too…

Viviane’s tip: The cookies will stay fresh only for up to two weeks so I recommend not making them too far ahead of time. Once the bag is open, though, you can be sure they’ll disappear in the blink of an eye!

Sienese Almonds Cookies

makes 2 dozen

1 3/4 cups almond meal/flour (I use Bob’s Red Mill finely ground almond meal/flour) – see cook’s note
2 tablespoons unbleached white flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar – sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
pinch sea salt
2 large egg whites
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1/3 cup powdered sugar – sifted, to roll dough
large jellyroll pan
parchment paper or Silpat

Preheat oven to 425ºF.
Step 1: Place the almond meal/flour, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Stir until well blended.
Step 2: Place the egg whites and almond extract in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whip at high speed until firm peaks form.
Step 3: Add the whipped egg whites to the almond mixture and stir with a silicone spatula until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix or the cookies will be heavy. The dough will be soft and a bit sticky.
Step 4: Sprinkle the powdered sugar on a work surface and on your fingers. Using a teaspoon grab a bit of the dough (about the size of a large olive). Drop the small mound of dough in the powdered sugar and roll it around until well covered with the powdered sugar. Shape into a 2” x 1/2” lozenge and gently flatten the top with the tips of your fingers. Place on a jellyroll pan lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. Repeat until you have shaped 24 lozenges. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until the cookies have risen and are pale-golden.
Step 5: Remove from oven and let cool for 2 or 3 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool until room temperature. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Cook’s note: I purchase the almond meal/flour from Bob’s Red Mill. However, you can make your own by finely grounding the almonds in a food processor. Use blanched almonds and a little bit of flour (1 tablespoon of flour for every cup of almonds: this will prevent the almonds from turning into almond butter!). Process until very finely ground. It is hard to get the almonds as finely ground as the commercial almond meal/flour but it will still be adequate for the recipe. If grounding your own almonds, omit the 2 tablespoons of flour called for in the recipe.

Place the almond meal/flour, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

Stir until well blended.

Place the egg whites and almond extract in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whip at high speed until firm peaks form.

Add the whipped egg whites to the almond mixture.

Stir with a silicone spatula until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix or the cookies will be heavy. The dough will be soft and a bit sticky.

Sprinkle the powdered sugar on a work surface and on your fingers (this will help with the sticky dough!). Using a teaspoon grab a bit of the dough, about the size of a large olive.

Drop the small mound of dough in the powdered sugar and roll it around until well covered with the powdered sugar.

Shape into a 2” x 1/2” lozenge and gently flatten the top with the tips of your fingers.

Place on a jellyroll pan lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. Repeat until you have shaped 24 lozenges.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes until the cookies have risen and are pale-golden. Remove from oven and let cool for 2 or 3 minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool until room temperature.

© 2009 viviane bauquet farre – food & style NY LLC

One of the great advantages of living in the Portland area is the availability of great wines.  Not only do we have a more wine-educated populace due in part because of the expanding local wine industry, but our population density is so massively lower than the East Coast or California that stocks of wines sell slower and are available long after the Metropolises sell out. 

One of those sell-out items is the Fontodi 2006 Flaccianello Tuscan Sangiovese.  This wine recently appeared as #8 on the Top 100 Wines of the World list in Wine Spectator for 2009, with the highest score of any wine appearing this year!  Of course, many retailers and areas instantly sold out.  But this wine is still available here in the Northwest at local retailers, and can be obtained by calling Salut!

This special bottling, a pinnacle of Tuscan production from one of Italy’s most respected producers, is available today for $129.99.  Call 360-635-3614 to obtain one of these soon-to-be-gone wonders, or shop online by clicking here.  Delivery will not be charged to Portland/Vancouver customers.

The Wine Spectator 2009 Top 100 – #8

Shows excellent color and richness for a Sangiovese, with aromas of sultana, coffee, toasty oak and vanilla bean. Full-bodied, with masses of fruit and chewy tannins. The concentration and depth of fruit and layers of tannins leave me speechless. A blockbuster. Best after 2014.—J.S. Score: 99. —James Suckling, October 31, 2009.

Wine Advocate

The 2006 Flaccianello della Pieve (Sangiovese) is just as extraordinary as it was when I tasted it from barrel. This spectacularly ripe and concentrated wine reveals masses of dark cherries, plums, licorice, smoke, violets, French oak and minerals that coat the palate with extraordinary richness. The wine possesses plenty of structure, but the sheer density of the fruit provides stunning balance. The 2006 Flaccianello is one of the more primary wines of the vintage, and it will require considerable patience. Flaccianello continues to prove that Panzano’s Conca d’Oro is one of the most privileged spots for Sangiovese in Tuscany. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. Score: 96. —Antonio Galloni, January 2009.

For more information

• Visit the Fontodi website
• Buy this wine online at www.salutwineoutlet.com
• Read more about Tuscan wines and foods
• Shop for other items at Salut! Wine Co.
• Call us at 360-635-3614

For the last week and a half we have been harvesting olives from the trees at Casa degli Ulivi, a Tuscany Umbria Farmhouse With Swimming Pool. We had already taken 100 kg of olives for pressing, this ended up being mixed with other people’s olives but we really wanted to try our own oil. Over the past week we have been picking olives as fast as possible to get enough to be pressed as a single batch. We filled ten crates which meant nearly 250 kg; today it was time to press our very own olive oil.

Freshly Pressed Olive Oil, Tuscany Umbria Border, Italy

I took the olives to a mill (frantoio) right below Cortona in Tuscany. The mill is located on the farm where Cortona’s famous Renaissance painter, Luca Signorelli lived.

Inside The Olive Mill, Cortona, Tuscany

I had been led to believe that the olives were still pressed in the traditional manner with giant stone wheels, however, the stone wheels are still in the frantoio, but modern machinery is now used to process the olives. The intense smell of freshly pressed olives filled the air, I started to dream of my new oil served on bruschetta!

Traditional Olive Press, Cortona Tuscany

The whole procedure was easier to follow than in the other mill in nearby Ossaia and I photographed each stage that the olives were put through.

Olives In A Giant Hopper, Cortona, Tuscany

The olives are tipped into a hopper and a conveyor belt takes them to a machine that blows away any leaves.

Olives On Conveyor Belt, Cortona Tuscany

Leaf Blower, Olive Mill, Cortona Tuscany

Next the olives are washed before going into the press.

Olive Washing, Cortona, Tuscany

I couldn’t see inside the press but hydraulic hammers smash the olives up.

The Smashed Olive Paste Is Fed Into A Centrifuge To Separate Oil & Water

The resulting paste is slowly fed through a large centrifuge and then into a smaller drum where the last of the water is separated.

The Centrifuge Separates The Olive Oil From The Water, Cortona, Tuscany

At the end you collect your olive oil, ours was bright green.

Our Umbrian Olive Oil At The Mill, Cortona Tuscany

On getting the oil home we immediately tried the fruits of our labours, we had it poured onto a slice of fresh crusty bread. The oil smelled beautiful, incredibly intense aromas (olives, linseed, tomato leaves and freshly cut grass) and in the mouth it had a lovely peppery kick at the finish, delicious!

Our Own Olive Oil From The Tuscany Umbria Border

We came away with a haul of 42 litres of super quality Extra Virgin Oil, almost enough to see us through until next year!

Holiday Villa, Farmhouse & Apartment Vacation Accommodation To Rent In Tuscany & Umbria

You can try some delicious local olive oils when you holiday in a villa, farmhouse or apartment on the beautiful Tuscany Umbria border in central Italy. Gorgacce Rentals tuscanyumbria.com specialise in vacation accommodation on the Tuscany Umbria border and have a superb choice of holiday villas, vacation farmhouses and rental apartments with swimming pools.

Ca' Di Bracco Swimming Pool, A Tuscany Umbria Farmhouse Available Through Gorgacce Rentals

Look at our website for a choice of Tuscany Umbria Apartments With Pool, a selection of larger Holiday Villas To Rent In Tuscany & Umbria and smaller properties suitable for Umbria and Tuscany Farmhouse Holidays.

Casa Degli Ulivi, Where Our Olives Came From!

Your budget might be limited, if so we have superb but Cheap Accommodation in Tuscany & Umbria or, if you can afford to splash out, have a look at one of our Tuscany Luxury Holiday Villas.

Tuscany Luxury Holiday Villa "I Bassi"

We also have a Holiday Apartment In Cortona, Tuscany and Holiday Apartments In Spello, Umbria.

Gorgacce Rentals:

Tuscany Apartments, Villas & Farmhouses With Swimming Pools

I’m building a new business, creating and hosting small vacation trips to luxury villas around the world.  Our first trip will be to Italy, to the city of Cortona in Tuscany (yes, this is the town that Frances Mayes wrote about in “Under the Tuscan Sun”).

After a year of loss and setbacks, I took stock of my life and my goals.  There are many things I love to do, and many things I have done to make a living.  But the two things I love the most are writing, and travel.  Cooking and socializing and art and gardening are all part of the mix, but if I have to work for a living (and currently, I do) then I’d like to do something that involves writing or traveling or both.

So. I’ve written a novel, and am seeking representation along with thousands and thousands of other writers who have found the current economy has allowed them more time to write in lieu of earning income.  I believe in my novel, and in my future as a writer of novels.  But my belief is not paying the bills.

And so I devised the idea for this business, ComeToTheVilla.com. 

I rent a large house or villa in a beautiful part of the world, and arrange intimate trips composed of 8 to 12 guests, for whom I and my (someday) staff will provide concierge service… picking them up from the train station, arranging day trips and providing two square a day… that is breakfast and lunch spreads, as well as some sort of wine/cheese/bread/olive thingee in late afternoon or evening.

The advantages of a trip like this are many… Let’s say you decided to come with us for a vacation in the villa (and you know I’m going to ask you to).  For less than you might pay in a hotel, you get the run of a large and luxurious house with a pool, sharing these amenities with a small handful of other guests.  These guests provide social opportunities many Americans do not experience when traveling to Europe.  So, you can keep your own schedule, going to restaurants of your choice and enjoying the privacy of your room, or you can socialize with other guests at communal meals and daily outings.  It’s up to you.  You’re an adult, and you have the choice have your vacation the way you want it to be.

So, with the aid of my brilliant cousin Matt, we’ve just launched a perfunctory website…  cometothevilla.com is live and ready for your booking!

Last weekend the elegant premisses of the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone were swarming with wine lovers from all over the world.
A young banker from South Korea indulging in the 20th glass of Bordeaux was not a rarity and a curious wine junkie from the Czech Republic (me) could not miss this magnificent event annually organised by the UK wine magazine Decanter.

From over 600 wines I managed to taste 40 and even left with three bottles as a gift from the lovely representatives of Chateau Peyrabon in Bordeaux. I tasted their wines right at the beginning of my long journey through wine regions of the world. Particularly Chateau Peyrabon 2003 resembling Chianti with its black currant and mature taste for such a young age surprised me.

There were many other Bordeaux such as Chateau Beychevelle, Faugéres, Chauvin or the star Chateau Palmer which reshaped my conviction, that Bordeaux younger than 10 years is almost undrinkable. Their 2003 and even 2005 releases were more than pleasant!

Another revelation was Napa Valley’s Heitz Cellars with stunning Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004 is perfect for your juicy steak. California really does not stay behind. You only need to search in the immense haystack of for me often boring wines and you discover such treasures like Seghesio’s Zinfandel from Home Ranch Alexander Valley which balanced body with light chocolate entangling your tongue was intriguing.

From the eight winemakers from South Africa I would elevate the Danie de Wet Cape Muscadet 2007 for its exotic li-chi and orange peel flavours are ideal to accompany a peach sorbet. The Decanter Gold medal winner Steytler Pinotage 2006 and Steytler Vision 2006 were fruity and quite sweet. Both are from the Kaapzicht Estate meaning “cap view” as it stems from the wonderful view over Cape Town and Table Mountain.

Finally a small revelation. Fashion designers have already made their steps into furniture, hotels, etc. But Roberto Cavalli triumphs over them all as he lets his brother Tommaso manage a vineyard on his Tuscan estate Tenuta degli Dei producing Igt wine since 2006. You could buy the classic bottle for £32 at the venue or get a special limited version bottle designed by Roberto himself.
This year’s Fine Wine Encounter was amusing and enriching for me as I have learned there a lot. Furthermore, I could not resist to the special subscription offer from the Decanter magazine and got one year for £29 with a gift in the form of an internationally praised wine guide the Wine Report 2009 by Tom Stevenson (£9.99 at www.dk.com ).

Throughout the event you could enter a draw and win a place at the WSET level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wines & Spirits worth £355 from the largest global provider of qualifications in wines & spirits the Wine & Education Trust. What more to wish for Christmas as with their 40 years experience in the wine education your knowledge of wines can move to higher spheres. And this is not all! You could win cases of award-winning wines from Decanter and even a two-night luxury break at one of 17 historic country houses from Handpicked Hotels.

To grasp all the great producers at the Landmark Hotel is impossible just here, therefore I recommend you visiting the upcoming Decanter events in 2010. The hotel will host The Great Bordeaux Fine Wine Encounter on 20 February and Great Italian Fine Wine Encounter on 15 May. For bookings call +44(0)20 31484513 or go to www. decanter.com/events

Christmas In Tuscany, an offer. For your best travel destination, please see below.

25.09.09 The Birds, the Eagles, Counting Crows and an “ad”…

25.09.09 The Fray will play on Friday, September 25, in Jonesboro, at the Arkansas State University. And on Saturday, September 26… Please read this text again in the afternoon of that day and I hope it will be updated.

Anyway, don’t you think the text of the group about swine flu is a bit exaggerated? Do you? In their blog… Too much Sun and too little reading of The Observer?!

Obama and Steely Dan?! What about Montreal?

17.09.2009 The Fray will be on Thursday, September 17, in Kenosha, at the Tarble Athletic Center at the Carthage College.

29.08.2009 The Fray will be on Saturday, August 29, in Syracuse at the New York State Fair…

15.07.2009 – Mia Martini. There would be a Mia Martini’s official fans club. Here there is its website in Italian. It could be useful for all of you from Finland, for example, who are looking for the Finnish versions of her songs… Please let me know…

- Your favourite travel destination (please vote)

- Which is your best song? (please vote)

Here there are the websites of The Fray and The Fleet Foxes. I don’t tell you how I get to know of them and when… Good music and good pop music…And what about Little Jackie’s music and “The World Should Revolve Around Me”?

Moreover, here there is a live song by Chris Rea, one of the most famous of his, and two songs I found in a page about Richard Page, who was the singer of Mr. Mister, the group who played “Broken Swings”. What a dog in a video…

Opera, an European browser, and Mozilla, Linux and Apple

Vanilla icecream, Vanilla Toffee Crunch and Chunky Monkey

Vanilla Bean, Strawberries & Cream, Double Chocolate, Mango & Passion Fruit Madness, Lemon Meringue, Cappuccino and Sticky Toffee Fudge

Mango & Banana Smoothie, Banana & Strawberry Smoothie, Frozen Yogurt, Cappuccino and Chocolate Icecream

Tuesday February 10, 2009

updated on Tuesday November 24, 2009

calogeromira.wordpress.com – e-mail

Does this search engine save watts/hour?

Yesterday turned out to be a deliciously wonderful rainy Sunday here in San Francisco.  The day started with brunch at Farmer Brown – soul food!  I can think of no other way to start the day than with Farmer Brown’s amazing brunch.  All you can eat scrumptious fried chicken, biscuits & gravy, perfectly cooked bacon, grits, amazing scrambled eggs and the urban decor…it’s a must try!  Needless to say after brunch all I wanted to do was to curl up on the sofa and watch some TV.

I found out that Ina Garten’s, The Barefoot Contessa, can be streamed right from the Food Network website.  I was so very excited!  In one of the shows she was making Pappa al Pomodoro, which is a classic tomato soup from the Tuscany region in Italy.   The soup is fairly simple to make and tastes out of this world.   This is my take on her recipe.

Pappa al Pomodoro

½ cup olive oil
3 carrots, peeled and diced
2 onions diced
4 cloves of garlic minced
1 28 ounce can of crush tomatoes
8 thick slices of bacon, chopped
1 bulb of fennel, diced
3 cups of ciabatta bread cut into 1 inch cubes
4 cups of chicken stock
½ cup red wine
1 cup of chopped basil
1 cup parmesan cheese
Salt & pepper

In a large casserole heat oil.  Add the carrots, fennel and onion and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for another 5 minutes.  While this is cooking brown the bacon in a separate skillet.  When the bacon is done add it to the casserole.  Add the ciabatta and cook for 5 minutes.  Now add the tomatoes, red wine, chicken stock, basil, 1 tablespoons of salt and 1 tablespoon of pepper.  Stir together and bring to boil.  Once boiling, reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for 20 minutes.  Add the parmesan cheese, stir and continue to simmer partially covered for another 25 minutes.

The soup is easy, delicious and satisfying.  It tastes even better the longer it sets.   Tonight I used the remaining ciabatta bread and made a grilled cheese with some really good cheddar cheese.  Perfection!

(full report pending)

The wines we tasted were:

2006 Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference, Amarone della Valpolicella (Sainsbury’s, £14.69)

2004 Massimo Romeo, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (Berry Bros. & Rudd, £15.70)

2006 Querciabella, Chianti Classico (Waitrose, £16.99)

2004 Argiano, Brunello di Montalcino (Negozio Classica, £38.99)

2004 Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Geremia’, Toscana IGT (Handford Wines, £31.95)

2006 Cantina del Pino, Barbaresco (Waitrose, £24.99)

2005 Paolo Conterno, Barolo (Negozio Classica, £39.99)

L’Italia spinge l’acceleratore per il ritorno al nucleare. L’attesa mappa dei siti, dove verranno realizzate le nuove centrali entro il 2020 (si parla di tre – quattro impianti), sarà pronta entro primavera.

Lo annuncia Claudio Scajola, ministro dello Sviluppo Economico, durante la trasmissione la Telefonata di Canale 5.

In campo per ora, c’è il progetto guidato da una joint venture tra Enel e il colosso francese Edf (Sviluppo Nucleare Italia), per costruire quattro centrali nucleari di terza generazione avanzata, in grado di soddisfare circa il 10% del fabbisogno nazionale. Anche il colosso tedesco E.On sarebbe interessato allo sviluppo del nucleare in Italia, magari in partnership (si è fatto spesso il nome del colosso francese Suez – Gaz de France e dell’utility lombarda A2A), qualora, però, si verificassero le opportune condizioni di stabilità politica.

Da Panorama.it la notizia qui…

Old world charm

Metal gate with lavender in a courtyard, near Anghiari, in the region of Tuscany, Italy.

© S. Creighton 2009