As I set out today to walk up the main street in my neighbourhood to pick up some last minute groceries for the New Year's party, I couldn't help but take notice of all that was green and vibrant around me. I recalled how I had the same sentiment at this time last year ... and the year before. I am sure there is a blog about it if only I had the patience to look it up.
As a girl from the Midwest U.S. it amazes me that at the end of December, just at the tip of January, new life is springing anew. Perhaps it is a stark contrast since I just recently parted the greyness, where the ground is entering its deep freeze. Yet, as I swept the patio this morning I saw the Magnolia tree was budding and out front the bulbs are already peaking their noses out of the damp soil. As I briskly made my way, each of the luscious greens grabbed at my attention.
How slowly London shows its signs of Spring, as these buds will make their way in their own due time, but I couldn't help but be oh so happy that Fall quickly makes it way to Spring here and dream ever so briefly about the daffodils of March.
Not one blog yet in December??? Well, the holiday break will allow me to get caught up in preparation for the new year. This one will focus on a foodie delight trip, when over Thanksgiving I had a business trip to Milan I decided to take advantage of. There is so much to see and do (and eat) in Northern Italy. With its vineyards producing some of the best wine in the world and the land's endless supply of foodie delights, it is one of my favourite places on Earth.
I planned a series of train rides to visit the food focused towns to the East of Milan, first stopping in Parma (home to Parmesan cheese, as well as the notorious Prosciutto di Parma), then on to Modena (home of Balsamic Vinegar), and then finally to spend the weekend in Bologna (which amongst many other foodie boasts is the birthplace of Mortadella, Tortelloni, and Bolognese sauce). My dear friend Angela met me in Milan and away we went!
We got to Parma on the evening of Thanksgiving Thursday - we paid a tribute to the American holiday with a plateful of the local prosciutto and pumpkin stuffed tortelloni. As a starter the waiter wheeled over a cart with a giant wheel of Parmesan cheese from which he chipped us off a few chunks. I have arrived! Devine!
After a stroll around town in the morning admiring the local produce shops and boutiques we hopped the half hour train to Modena. Goal was simple - lunch and to secure a bottle of the local 12 year aged vinegar, the good stuff. Mission accomplished! Lunch of pasta with octopus and a glass of the local lambrusco wine was just as should be had in such a place. The shop where I purchased the vinegar was out of a dream ... the walls of the tiny shop were stacked with oils and panettone, the owners must have been there for decades, and they paper wrapped the bottles I purchased while I admired all the Italian pastries on offer. Smiles from ear to ear!
One more short train ride to Bologna - the foodie capital of Italy (and that is quite a title). Off the main square is a series of narrow cobblestone streets full of market shops overflowing with salamis, pasta, cheese, seafood, and vegetables. Ahhhh I was in heaven peaking around each and every corner!
Angela has a couple of cousins living in Bologna, so in turn they took us to delicious restaurants across the old town (known for all its porticos, or covered sidewalks). The first evening's dinner was a bowl of fresh pasta and Bolognese sauce - possibly the best pasta dish I have ever eaten.
After strolling the streets of town on Saturday we went a bit off the beaten path to a small osteria to have a full Italian meal - antipasta, primi (pasta), secondi (meat), and the dolce - and all with local ingredients from the Emilia Romagna region - cheese, vinegar, mortadella, fried torteloni.
Sunday AM we got an unexpected ride out of town to see a church towering over the region a top the rolling hills - San Luca. There is a portico covered walkway up the hill from the town that has 666 archways, saying that sinners will cleanse their sins as they make their way slowly to the top. After all the we had eatten the past few days we probably should have made the journey! Nah, we went on for one last Italian feast for lunch. What an amazing foodie adventure, made even better with the companionship of a great friend and her family.
How slowly London shows its signs of Spring, as these buds will make their way in their own due time, but I couldn't help but be oh so happy that Fall quickly makes it way to Spring here and dream ever so briefly about the daffodils of March.
