Highlights in this Issue

Did you know...
Italy or USA - which country is older?

At Our Table
Bruschetta…pronounced 'brus-ketta'

Q & A
Where to buy 'green gold'

Upcoming Events
in Umbria

Changing Planet - Assisi, Perugia, Gubbio - through April 15, 2011
more info
Event sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History focusing on Climate Change, Water and Dinosaurs.
www.ilpianetachecambia.it

Il Mercato delle Gaite - Bevagna - June 2011
more info
Step back to medieval times in Bevagna! Ancient costumes, glass blowers, ironmongers, crafts and medieval dining outdoors - this is not a display it is a transformation of the town, not to be missed. www.ilmercatodellegaite.it

Festa del Tulipano - Castiglione del Lago - mid-April 2011
more info
This beautiful lakeside town celebrates spring dressing the streets with tulips. Events include the tulip parade, live music and local dishes.
www.bellaumbria.net

Coloring the Skies Kite Festival - Lago Trasimeno - end of April 2011
more info
Whether you choose to watch or participate this colorful event dedicated to peace and freedom is spectacular - bring your kite or buy one at the festival. www.bellaumbria.net

AbOvo Gallery - Todi - 2011

more info
A unique collection of fine jewelry, sculpture, ceramics - works of design and applied arts created by internationally acclaimed artists
www.abovogallery.com

Useful Websites

International Travel News - Italy's Umbria
more info
Discovering 'La Dolce Vita' in Italy's Umbria Region by Inga Aksamit Thank you Inga for documenting your experience for all to enjoy!

Art Itineraries - Audio Guides of major sites in Italy and beyond
more info
A selection of quality audio guides available in various downloadable formats
www.artineraries.com

Anglo Info - Umbria
more info
An English language site includes news local markets and events which can be searched by day.
http://umbria.angloinfo.com

Agostini Car Rental - Todi

more info
Full service car rental and airport pick up based in Todi. The Agostini family does everything to make your driving experience in Umbria worry free.
www.agostiniautonoleggio.com

Vespas in Umbria
more info
Vespa rentals and organized tours on Vespas. Quality equipment and guides.
www.umbriainvespa.com

La Palazzetta del Vescovo Relais - Todi

more info
Exquisitely restored country house with spectacular views over the Tiber Valley features 9 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, infinity pool. Gracious hosts, Paola and Stefano, welcome you.
www.lapalazzettadelvescovo.com

Online Conversion
more info
A user friendly site for converting most measurements to metric. Also volume to weight measurements for cooking.
www.onlineconversion.com

Umbria Online
more info
Great site, offering lots of information about Umbria - current events, regional attractions etc. www.umbriaonline.com

A Few Words in Italian

bruschette - plural of bruschetta
pomodoro - tomato
olio d'oliva - olive oil
il capo - boss, leader
autonoleggio - car rental

Photo Gallery

Bruschette by the grill

Sunset over Todi

'Celebrate With Us'

*maximum 6 gifts - in the case of duplicates the earliest submission receives our gift

Buongiorno!

We're having a little celebration in Umbria as today we are sending you the 20th edition of our 'Il Gusto del Paese' newsletter. As we pop the cork on our prosecco we invite you to 'Celebrate with Us', but first I wish to toast two people that have been key to the success of the newsletter and website. Anyone that has published knows that there are always the unsung heroes that made it all happen! It is a pleasure to work with both and I highly recommend them.

Julia Lauer for graphic design and distribution (visit her website at www.ambushgraphics.com)

Scott Whittaker web development and technical design (visit his website at www.sonoransites.com)

Now, here's how you can 'Celebrate with Us!'

Of course we hope you are enjoying a glass of bubbly prosecco but we also hope you will send us your questions or feedback.

Submit your 'Question to Susan' about Italy, Umbria, places, things to do, food, traditions, practical matters, curiosities, whatever you wish to know more about or feel would interest others.

In celebration of our anniversary any* submission received before February 28th that we incorporate in our 2011 publications will receive a special thank you gift, 3 - 500 ml. bottles of 2010 extra-virgin, cold-pressed olive oil.

Send your submission to susan@ilgustodelpaese.com, simple!

Buona fortuna,

A Taste of Umbria

Hmm…
campanilista - nf: person who shows extreme attachment to the customs and traditions of her town or region; person attached to their town bell tower

At the local Saturday market one of the vendors referred to me as la campanilista, and it's true.  Each year I find myself more and more attached to Umbria, the predictability of tradition with the occasional unpredictable variance and the consistent lack of publicity other than flyers distributed a few days before or sometimes after an event.

The local markets come to mind, a longstanding tradition dating to a time when the market still came to the people - the weekly markets for basic supplies of food and consumables, the monthly markets for major purchases and annual markets often combined with some traditional celebration.

One market I will never forget is the Todi market in celebration of San Martino when every street in centro storico is lined with vendors that somehow, year after year manage to secure their same location. Having lived in the area for many years I have yet to see any publicity for this November 11th annual event yet it attracts thousands of people!

Next time you come be sure to check out the local markets! Here's a few I frequent:

Weekly markets offer fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, flowers and limitless low quality clothes and paraphernalia as well as books and kitchen essentials. Open mornings only from 08h00 - 12h00
Todi: Saturday
Avigliano Umbro: Thursday
Massa Martana: Friday
Bastardo: Wednesday

Monthly markets:
Pissignano: 1st Sunday of each month - all day. Used and antique furniture, curios etc. Definitely an enjoyable day trip
Castiglione del Lago - 3rd Saturday of each month, April - September - all day. Ceramics, used and antique pieces set in the lovely town overlooking the lake.

Did you know...?

The year 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of a unified Italy. There will be celebrations throughout the country with the major celebrations in the north. The unification of Italy simply brought the 'peninsula' together under one governing system but it would not be until 1946 that Italy would become a democratic republic.

We think of Italy as an ancient country, an ancient civilization but in reality the country of Italy is quite young and certainly the democracy is recent. No doubt why most Italians continue to be campanilismo!

At Our Table

Bruschetta, a very common appetizer in central Italy dates back to the 15th century and like many traditional dishes it was a means of having nothing go to waste, even stale bread - simply flavor it with garlic and soften it with olive oil and for more elaborate versions add toppings. The most common topping of course, is chopped tomatoes, bruschetta pomodoro often seen on U.S. menus simply as 'bruschetta', however other popular choices include prosciutto, cheese, roasted peppers or olive paste, all of course prepared without tomatoes!During the olive harvest we gather near the grill, drizzling the peppery fresh-pressed oil over bread, the purists won't even add salt. In Umbria the bread is toasted over a wood burning fire, alternatively you could use your barbeque or oven broiler.

My favorite plate is a combination of bruschetta and bruschetta pomodoro so I've included both below.

Bruschetta

Serves 4 as starter

Ingredients:

• 8 slices Italian bread
• extra virgin olive oil
• 3 fresh garlic cloves
• salt

Directions:

• lightly toast both sides of bread on the grill, remove
• while still warm, rub the toasted bread with garlic cloves
• drizzle with olive oil and season with salt, if desired
• There you have it, bruschetta!

Bruschetta Pomodoro

Serves 4 as starter

Ingredients:

• 2 cups chopped tomatoes , cherry or roma are best
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tbsp. fresh chopped basil
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• bruschetta, see above recipe

Directions:

• chop garlic and add to tomatoes
• add basil and 1 tbsp. olive oil
• season with salt and pepper, set aside
• prepare the bruschetta as above and top with tomato mixture

Q&A

Question from Kathleen
Susan, I received your email address from friends that stayed at Fondo last year, they brought back some wonderful green olive oil they had purchased locally, I believe through you in Umbria.  Can I purchase this oil in the U.S.?

Answer from Susan
Kathleen, I often write about the olive oil in the newsletter, we are definitely spoiled with the high quality fresh, local oil. My olive trees are not mature enough to yield a full harvest but each year I join the Cushman's at Le Mandorelle for the raccolta. We hand pick the olives and take them to the local frantoio for pressing, each step carefully supervised by il capo, Robert Cushman! The 'green gold' is then manually bottled and labeled at villa Le Mandorelle. Some is put aside to welcome guests and the balance is available for sale.

Most visitors can't resist purchasing additional bottles for friends and family back home, packing what they can in their suitcase or having us arrange a separate shipment. A taste of Umbria that can be enjoyed all year!

We have a limited quantity of oil as we must keep enough on hand until next year's harvest, however if you wish to purchase please drop me an email at susan@ilgustodelpaese.com or contact Rob and Janina directly through their website www.lemandorelle.com.

A presto!
Susan