Highlights of
'Il Gusto del Paese'
July 2009

Useful Websites
New! Tour the Umbrian countryside on a Vespa

A Taste of Umbria
Beautiful salt and pepper under helmets

Q & A
Gelato has less fat than low fat ice cream!

Upcoming Events
in Umbria

The Basic Art of Italian Cooking - Sismano - September 26 - October 3, 2009
more info
Join us at the villa for an all-inclusive week focused on food and wine with Maria Liberati, author of bestseller 'The Basic Art of Italian Cooking'. Cooking classes, day trips to wineries, linen factory, olive press and more! Check the below link for details or contact Susan directly for last minute deals. http://marialiberati.com/
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Ab Ovo Gallery presents Vetro e Legno - Todi - now through July 26, 2009
more info
Exquisite works in glass and wood on display by featured international artists, Gabriele Kustner and Ulrike Scriba
www.abovogallery.com

Todi Arte Festival - Todi - Last 10 days of August, 2009
more info
This ten day event of music, art and concerts also offers an opportunity to view historical venues in Todi rarely open to the public
www.todiartefestival.net

Sagrantino Wine and Film Festival - Montefalco/surrounding towns - September 17 - 20, 2009
Two festivals in one! A special opportunity to taste the best wines of Umbria and view classic Italian cinema in unique indoor and outdoor venues

iprimi d'italia, Pasta Festival - Foligno - September 24 - 27, 2009
more info
More than pasta this festival is about 'first courses', soups, rice, pasta etc. Cooking demonstrations and lots of sampling - this is a great festival in the historic streets of Foligno
www.iprimiditalia.it

Frantoi Aperti - locations throughout Umbria - October 31 - November 1, 2009
'Open Oil-Press' - view the entire process from the bins of fresh picked olives arriving at the press to the resulting 'liquid gold'. If you wish to experience the picking as well as the pressing, contact Susan at Il Gusto del Paese

Euro Chocolate - Perugia - October 16 - 25, 2009
This is a great week to spend in Umbria, of course for the exceptional variety of chocolate stands lining the streets of Perugia but also for the 'spin-off' festivals and events held in towns throughout the region!

Umbria Jazz Festival – Perugia - July 10 - 19, 2009
more info
Ten days of jazz throughout Perugia including James Taylor, Steely Dan, Simply Red, Burt Bacharach, Paolo Conte and George Benson. Check the website for the complete line up. Headline concerts should be pre-booked online.
The next Jazz Festival will be in Orvieto - December 30 - January 10
www.umbriajazz.com

Useful Websites

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. Daily and weekly rates available. www.lapalazzettadelvescovo.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. Quality equipment and guides. Contact Susan as site under construction
www.umbriainvespa.com

Online Event and Ticket Purchase - Italy
more info
View upcoming events and headline concerts throughout Italy to help schedule your trip. Purchase tickets in advance online
www.ticketone.it

Online Conversion
more info
A user friendly site for converting most measurements to metric; length, weight, temperature, volume etc. 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

vespa - wasp
giro - turn
sole - sun
girasole - sunflower
festa - party, feast
siesta - afternoon nap
FCO - Rome Fiumicino Airport

Photo Gallery

July 2009
Buongiorno!

This is the month of the sunflowers! Ubiquitous in Umbria, they add their brilliant yellow to the patchwork color of the hills.Here they're called 'girasole' - 'turn to the sun', because that's exactly what they do. The sunflowers rotate during the day depending on the position of the sun.When you view a photo of Umbria with the sunflowers in full bloom you can be certain it's July.

Another thing in full bloom here is my orto. Between friends and guests we just can't eat as many vegetables as keep popping up overnight. Zucchini the size of footballs - zucchini thrives here, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, summer squash, lettuce, and more - we're definitely 'eating our vegetables' this summer!

Of course, we also have the occasional pizza and gelato so, it all balances out.

saluti,

A Taste of Umbria

Today's featured recipe:

Perfect Spring Afternoon in Umbria

Ingredients:

• 17 Vespas
• 17 (Italian) men on Vespas
• A crowd cheering every participant
• Sunshine, with a sprinkling of clouds
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Mix the first 4 ingredients with good friends and top with a picture perfect setting, Piazza del Popolo in Todi.

*****

When Stefano Agostini invited us to watch his father compete in the Vespa race in Todi, I envisioned swarms of Vespas careening through the narrow streets of centro storico and unwitting pedestrians clinging to the walls of Corso Cavour! But, there were no road blocks, no barriers on the Corso - the race was held in the main square, Piazza del Popolo. An obstacle course of tight circles and challenging figure eights less than a meter wide, testing the skill and dexterity of the riders and the maneuverability of these Italian 'wasps'.

One at a time, competitors raced against the clock balancing precision with speed. The entire competition was over in less than 2 hours, the victory lunch celebration immediately after, lasted 4 - even the heartiest of appetites finally succumbed. With trophies in hand conversations turned from festa to siesta for most of us, while Stefano hit the autostrada to FCO with his own special precision and speed, the Todi - Rome guest pick-up service remains his circuit and his expertise…

Complimenti, Attilio! 'Presto e bene raro avviene!' Today you have shown us that, fast and also well done is possible!

Did you know...?

The Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi) marks the termination point of 'Acqua Vergine' a 22 km aqueduct (19 BC) that brought pure water to the center of Rome. Acqua Vergine was destroyed in the 6th century but was eventually reopened in 1453; a large but simple basin was built to greet the arrival of the water.

Though many attribute the Fontana di Trevi to Bernini, the final design was actually by Nicola Salvi as Bernini's commission was abandoned upon the death of Pope Urban VIII. In 1730, Pope Clemente XII awarded the commission to Salvi and upon Salvi's death the project was completed by Giuseppe Pannini. Bernini's influence and some of his specific designs were obviously incorporated by Salvi. The work, of more than 9 sculptors over 30 years, was completed in1762.

The best time to visit the Fontana di Trevi is at sunrise, natural lighting and tranquil streets. Be sure to throw a coin in the fountain!

Q&A

Question from Annie
Susan, I love gelato. Some say my favorite destination is Italy just so I can have my daily gelato! Now that is a stretch, I love Italy for more than the gelato - there's the food, the wine, the history, the gelato…sorry, just dreaming for a few minutes! My question: Is there a difference between gelato and ice cream?

Answer from Susan
Outside Italy, gelato is often referred to as 'Italian Ice Cream'. The adjective refers to 'frozen'; the modern noun is generally translated to 'ice cream'.

Gelato is often described as smoother, with more intense flavor than ice cream. So, is this because we are on vacation and our senses are more acute or is there in fact a difference?

No doubt both are true, everything sounds, smells, and tastes better when on vacation; we are more relaxed and more in tune with our senses. However, setting this aside there is in fact a difference between gelato and ice cream - in both the ingredients and the process.

Ingredients - ice cream typically contains 18 - 26% butterfat (even low fat ice cream contains a minimum 10%) whereas gelato has only 5 - 7% fat as less cream and more whole milk is used.

Process - gelato has a much higher density as it is churned at a slower speed than ice cream thus the whipped product contains very little air vs. ice cream which can be up to 50% air. Also, have you noticed there is no need to wet/warm the spoon in the gelateria? That's because, gelato is stored and served at a higher temperature than the frozen solid ice cream - gelato is only slightly frozen, you won't get an 'ice cream headache' with gelato.

These factors allow the intensity of your chosen flavor to stand out over the cream, even commercially 'manufactured' gelato offers richer flavors than ice cream. However, for the ultimate gelato I prefer it made on-site at the gelateria, using the freshest ingredients. My favorite gelato spot in Todi is Bar Pianegiani.

Ci vediamo,
Susan