Benvenuti and Welcome to all my Lovely Followers,
If you are new to this column I should tell you that each month I reflect back on the previous one, which in this case is September 2017. My aim is to bring you lots of fun things, and not too many serious ones.I cannot tell you in words what a relief it was to wake up on 1st September and be greeted by a drop in temperature and RAIN! We had not had a drop of the wet stuff for nearly three months and the countryside was suffering badly. Not only were the vines desperate, but September is historically the month for funghi porcini and hopefully tartufi bianchi (white truffles). These funghi are so dependent on both rain and sun, the damp woodlands produce the best crops. Well, I am very glad to say that within a few days I was enjoying wood fired grilled giant Porcini at our local restaurant, C’era una Volta, whilst my man was drooling over his pasta covered liberally with shavings of fresh Tartufi Bianchi.
Other wonderful mouth-watering yummies available in September included, the famous certaldo red onion, fresh figs and castagne (chestnuts) all of which turn up in the most imaginative savoury and sweet Italian recipes. Mmmmm.
Meanwhile, up north Milan Fashion week was in full swing. The national papers were full of it, so I spent more time that usual over my morning coffee having a good read at our local coffee bar, La Dispensa in Fiano. Now my blog followers will know that I do love Italian fashion, but I was disappointed with the Milan showing.
In Florence we have some wonderful designers of both men’s and women’s fashion, most of which never get to Milan. In particular, I want to mention Sartoria Vanni who are bespoke Men’s tailors in Florence. My man and I went to this beautiful city, which is just thirty-five minutes away, to buy a new city suit. I was very excited about this; we had never before gone to have my man measured for an Italian suit in Italy! And, we were not disappointed. We were greeted by Nicola Papa and Oliver Scavetta, lifetime friends and both, I have to say, absolutely gorgeous. Oh dear, now I’ve lost track! Oh yes, for the next hour Nicola was my man’s personal tailor and I was truly impressed with his attention to style and detail. My man looked pretty good when we arrived there, but in Nicola’s final mock-up suit he looked amazing! We had four weeks to wait for the final suit, so that would be another excuse to return to Florence. Yay! Quote Nicola Papa – ‘Self-empowerment and success can all start with your diligence to apparel. When you dress your best you’re empowered to become your best.’ Absolutely, I say! Visit the web page for full details of their traveling service.
Now, where were we? Oh yes, not to forget September’s music scene. It was impossible to ignore the arrival in Lucca, near Pisa, of The Rolling Stones! All Tuscan concert attendance records were broken when fifty-five thousand ticket holders massed in the stadium outside the city walls. Tickets were all sold out in the first few hours of the box office opening online. The actual attendance was in the region of eighty thousand due to the masses of people turning up to listen and try to get a glimpse from outside the barriers! Apparently Mick’s performance was amazing and at the age of seventy-three he just keeps rocking on! Brilliant, I say.
Well, I hope you will forgive me if I sign out now. I am recovering from an English virus picked up on a return flight to Pisa. Have a great month and see you next time.
Salute June x