Il Gusto del Paese Newsletter

April 2017

Spring is Cooking in Umbria! 

Spring has arrived and the daffodils, tulips and irises are blooming.  I love this time of year.  What a fun way to start off the villa rental season with a cooking classes for the guests.  We started off with the first guest at a cooking school in Todi. Thomas and Lisbeth operate a cooking class out of an old mill, just outside the walls of Todi.  Il Ghiottone Umbro.  It was a fun afternoon/evening and dinner for my friends from North America.  The menu focused on local ingredients and what is fresh and in season. 

Good fun was to learn about the local artichokes (Carciofi) and how the Italians/Romans prepare them.  We prepared two different kinds, Carciofi Judea, and Carciofi Romano.

Some of the guests focused on the home made ravioli with fresh ricotta and cabbage stuffing and the others on the main course of involtini of veal.  Rolled veal stuffed with mortadella and vegetables, braised in a fresh tomato sauce.

Let’s just say it was a wonderful afternoon lesson and exquisite dinner on an early spring day

Cooking at the Villa

Our next guests in early April opted for a cooking class at the villa with Umbria Cooks 4U.  Nonie and Tita, created a wonderful cooking experience as they have for many years at the villa in Sismano.  They prepared an Umbrian menu with a lot of hands on experience.  Starting with Torta al Testo, a flat bread of mixed antipasta and ending with Melted chocolate cake.

Hands on making of the Torta al Testo includes all the guests in the cooking experience.

Tita is explaining the secret ingredient for the roasted tomatoes for the pasta sauce.  An amazing afternoon and dinner

Website Update and New Additions for Properties in Umbria

We upgraded our website this year so it is working seamlessly on Tablets and mobiles as well as PC’s and Mac’s.  You’ll notice the new layout and some additions when you visit www.ilgustodelpaese.com 

We’ve added some new properties we work with, countryside apartments with shared pool and two lovely villas.  We’ll be featuring different villas on our Facebook page and Instagram in the coming weeks.  

Upcoming Spring events.  Flowers and Wine in Umbria.

Perugia Flower  – 12-14 May 
 
Todi Fiorita – 19-21 May

Cantine Aperto – Sunday 28th May 

Spello in fiorita – 17-18 May 

On your upcoming or next visit to Umbria, be sure to include a cooking class in Todi or at the Villa.

Ciao,

Susan