GMB isn't a name that gives me hope of finding delectable cakes, tarts and other good things. GMB to me sounds more like something participants in the annual Tour de France use to find some extra pedalpower, or it sounds like a builder of offroad motorbikes. However I...
Nose to tail the Italian way
As every year around this time the neighbours had their pig brought to their house to cut it up and transform it into salumi, sausages, capocollo, pancetta, ribs and chops. Not because they jumped on the nose-to-tail bandwagon but...
Cioccolataio
So we had peracottaio and today we give you cioccolataio. A cioccolataio is someone who makes and sells chocolate. 'Fare una figura da cioccolataio' means leaving a bad impression (fare brutta figura). There is a nice story attached to this. A cioccolataio had done...
Words… peracottaio
Didn't hear this one before but it already is a favourite. 'Pere cotte' are, well you guessed it, cooked pears, easy uh? Now how would you call someone who sells cooked pears? Yes a peracottaio! This leads to the proverb, "fare la figura del peracottaio", meaning...
Last supper
The wildboar hunting season has ended, so time for the annual final wildboar hunters dinner. The hunters' cabin is in an old bongo type building and can only be reached by driving quite some distance over an unaspahalted bendy road. The welcome was warm as ever. Funny...
Not so fast… courier services in Italy
Happy New year to all of you! I hope all the coureur service in Italy made a simple new years pledge, being: do what we are supposed to do. Why? Well some of you might know we have a somewhat different taste of wine. What that is? Well supermarket won't do. So what do...
Italian delicacy, capone.
I can have a good time by just reading the flyers from all the shops surrounding us. This caught my eyes for several reasons: First of all it was the frontpage. Yes it really was. Secondly the absurdly low price. Thirdly, how many countries do they still have capons...
The story of the fat Chianina
In the middle of Italy and especially the south of Tuscany and in Umbria you'll find a type of cow called Chianina. In the older days these impressive and good looking beasts served as draught animals pulling carts and plows over the hilly landscape. When the animals...
Breakfast tea in Foligno
Breakfast after lunch? This afternoon we visited Foligno with some friends. After having enjoyed a nice lunch, about which more later, we went to a bar to have a drink. Our friend ordered a 'te inglese', english tea. The waiter responded 'breakfast?' Rather...
What have you done for me lately honey?
Last week we took pointed our trusty Panda in the direction of Foligno to visit a honey market. It wasn't to crowed so we took the opportunity to chat with the stall holders. It is amazing how many different good quality...





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