Gal Pal Trip

Since all their husbands were out of town, "the girls" decided we'd take a trip 1 1/2 hours north of Rome to the Umbria region of Italy to a town called Deruta. Deruta is world known for its pottery called maiolica which is white tin glazing over red clay. Artists paint on the pottery like they would paint on a frescoe on a wall and then fire it in an wood oven and which seals the vibrant colors.

I had my eye on these two tables for the balcony. I keep thinking life is short and dining alfresco in the spring would certainly bring on the sweet life: "la dolce vita." But they were so pricey, 700 euro, that I decided I would just wish a little longer and continue to use my cardtable for the time being.

Mostly Blond and clearly dangerous (left to right): Raquel Loll FBI, Maria Taddeo FBI, Jennifer Freeman DAO, Carinna Gardner Secret Service-- all had their handbags out and were ready to shop. Maria's Pathfinder quickly filled with hand painted maiolica mirrors, plaques, bowls, platters, and all manner of dishware. These ladies, diplomat's wives, put on lots of dinner parties and they can set impresive tables.

Afterwards we were invited to pranzo (lunch) at the home of one of the most famous shopkeepers in Deruta named Lucca. He is an incredible cook and nearly did us in with 7 plates of food. He made antipasti which were panini of prosciutto and cheese and pizza bianca with sage. Then he served pasta bolognese, followed up with egg noodles and olive oil and grated tartufo, (mushroom) on top, followed by roast cooked in a salt bath, followed by grilled lamb, chicken and sausage, followed by spinach and other vegetables (I hate cooked spinach but this was superb and made a believer out of me), And the zipper buster, dessert, was zuppa inglese which is basically a trifle.

I have never been so FULL in my whole life. I kept saying "piccolo" and "no grazie" but Lucca didn't listen and kept piling food on everyones plate. He really thought I was bizzare as I didn't drink the wine. It's so unItalian not to drink vino everyday.

This is the "after" shot. We are smiling through the discomfort. It really was an INCREDIBLE meal tho. The whole conversation, 2 1/2 hours, around the table was in Italian. And surprisingly I could understand alot of the conversation (maybe Italians speak slower when they are eating?) Carrina, the gal in the zebra print kept asking me to translate. But she'd had 6 glasses of wine so anything I told her, correct or not, sounded like I knew what I was talking about....

"The Girls" wanted to stop at a well known vineyard called Chiorri 20 minutes from Deruta to buy some wine. The vines were just blooming in the spring weather and looked gorgeous (this photo doesn't do it justice). I bought a bottle of Merlot for cooking (Lucca made his Bolognese sauce with this red wine).

We made it back to Rome at 8:30. It was a fun and FULL day. The girls are already planning a trip to Lorenzo's olive vineyard next weekend.... as much as I ate, I won't have to eat until then.