Charles and I finally got out of the house for a while this weekend... I know, we just don't get out much! We drove about 40 miles to find a wee Italian grocery shop we heard about ages ago. It's tucked behind a warehouse looking building off a major highway ... and isn't very large .. but what was so FUN, was the owner and her fantastic food! It was like a mini-vacation back to Italy!
We arrived after lunch -- hungry -- so you know what that means when you're shopping! The store was 3 small rooms -- but filled with all those imported Italian specialties -- ceramics, dolci, canned goods, olive oil, meats, cheeses, wines. The 4th room held her gorgeous kitchen, where she offers cooking classes each month (we're thinking of taking one just for fun)!
We filled our basket, and Charles was saying to me that we'd better head home since we neglected to bring a cooler and we had a ton of fresh and frozen foods -- the shop was over an hour's drive. The owner overhead us, and offered to cook one of the frozen pizzas we were purchasing ... so we agreed, and we ate it on her fabulous terrace! (A portion shown here -- sketched and painted at home.)
She hails from Capri and spoke with a strong Italian accent. Opera was playing in the background, and as we ate, the scent of gardenias surrounded us. We tasted her fabulous vegetable salad and her mozzarella salad on tremendously crusty bread ... and left there sated and excited.
We came home and fixed some of our own smoky mozarella, dried tomatoes, olive oil brushetta, cheese plates ... and when the grands came this weekend, I filled cannoli, lady fingers, and more for dolci. Did they love it as much as we did? YOU BET! (We start them early, don't we? LOL)
It was great fun ... and truly felt like a mini-vacation. We'll be back!
15 comments:
What a find! Sounds like a lovely place...I hope enough people manage to find it. Your sketch is lovely too.
How FUN Lin! I love this sketch, it has a great feeling to it!
Wow, how fun! It truly was a mini vacation for you both. I love the sketch, helps all of us enjoy it with you.
All this talking about Italian food has made me hungry. I'm going to get myself a pizza right now :)!
What a beautiful little sketch this is. This is truly what illustrated journalling is meant to be - a lovely recreation of a memorable event. So glad you shared it.
Lin, your blog is lovely. I enjoy feeling like I have a peek into your life via your charming sketches.
:-) What a great little outing it sounds like you had. Isn't it fun to find those perfect out of the way places? Love the sketch!
Oh wow, that sounds like so much fun! I love the painting you did. Very pretty. I wish we had places like that to go to around here. Neat! :)
so you were living La dolce vita' this weekend huh? I love your sketch and story: I could smell the gardenias and salivated at the mention of italian food. I can't wait to return to Italy this October!
What a wonderful experience you shared with us! And again, a beautiful drawing! DO join the cooking class, imagine how much fun that can be if your day out there was like this...
Ronell
Memories are made of this! What a fabulous experience - I feel hungry just reading about it and I've only just had breakfast!! Lovely sketch!
Lin,
I love your watercolors! This is one of my favorites!!!!!! Love it, I still say you need to print yourself some cards from your designs!!!!! Love them!
Hugs,
Patti
Beautiful! Love the composition and colors, and the tree to the left is perfect.
Now, for the food and the shopping: Y'all are having way too much fun! Thanks for telling us about your day.
What an absolutely perfect "date" with C!! Great little painting and I certainly agree with Patti--you really need to make some cards. I say go for the cooking class!!
Titina (my wife) wants me to thank you for your beautiful story of the event. It is so nice and delicate of you to have descibed your visit here in such a beutiful amd simple way, and the sketch is beautiful .
Titina and I hope to see you soon back at Cpriflavors.
Ciao
costanzo
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