THE ITALIAN FOOD ISSUE

PASTA FRITTATA

Elizabeth and I were invited to a garden luncheon overlooking Lake Trasimeno in Casalini, a small borgo in the Commune of Panicale.

As people were arriving and Prosecco was being poured, a tray of antipasti was brought out, one of the items were thin slices of an omelette or frittata, neither hot nor cold, but just slightly warm. Inside the rich egg mixture was pasta. It was like it's own little egg sandwich.

LAST NIGHT'S CARBONARA

Elizabeth makes a fabulous pasta Carbonara and as usual there was a bit left over along with some asparagus. So, instead of standing in front of the open fridge pushing cold pasta in my mouth we decided to try a pasta frittata for lunch.

I beat four eggs with salt and pepper and a handful of grated parmesan cheese then tossed the pasta and asparagus in. I poured the mixture into a hot non-stick skillet and kept gently pushing the sides to cook the eggs.

Then, under the broiler  until it achieved that All -American Diner 

state of perfection called 'golden brown'.

Lunch!

Salute!

{week 42}

Copyright 2015 James Aponovich

DRAWN TO ITALY

LAGO TRASIMENO

Lake Trasimeno is the third ( or fourth?) largest lake in Italy and it dominates northern Umbria. It is only a drop of what it once was, it once stretched from Arezzo in the north to Spoleto in the south. Leonardo Da Vinci proposed linking the Tiber and the Arno to the Lake so there could be navigable commerce between Rome and Florence. He was full of big ideas, rarely realized. The Lake is quite shallow so the water is often  turquoise green. Unlike lakes in New England,no vacation house dot its shores, only fields and a few marshes.

The name is derived from the legend a failed (what else) love affair between the nymph Agilla, who was born in nearby Agello, and Trasimeno, son of the god Tyrraene. As their union was impossible, they threw themselves into the lake that now bears his name.

Isola Polvese from San Feliciano

James Aponovich

pencil on paper, 9" x 14"

The largest of the three islands that seem to float around on Lake Trasimeno is Polvese. It is largely uninhabited now but its history goes back to before the Etruscans. During the 13th Century, a fortessa (castle) was built on the south side of the island by the Knights Templar. Later, on the other side a monastery ( Orvieitan) was constructed and both ruins still stand. It once housed hundreds of people but malaria  drove them out. Napoleon wanted to drain it.

All I know is when you see the emerald Polvese sitting in the turquoise water....magic happens 

{ week 33}

Copyright2015 James Aponovich

AN ITALIAN NOCTURNE (week 7)

AN ITALIAN NOCTURNE 

Nasturtiums Over Trasimeno

James Aponovich

oil on canvas, 17" x 12"

Massimo said, " You know James, it takes about three weeks to get comfortable here in Italy." I blankly looked at him and nodded as I sat at Aldo's with a birra grande in front of me, trying to clear out the cobwebs after the transatlantic ride Elizabeth and I had just taken. With a hoarse laugh he continued,
 " And you must be here seven weeks before you are really here!" I looked down at my plate of affettati misti ( you never drink without food) and thought, what in the world does that mean, particularly if you only have ten days? What is this hidden Italy? I would eventually discover what Massimo meant.

LIVING IN ITALIAN TIME

Piazza Umberto I, Panicale

James Aponovich

Pencil on paper

In Italy, everything is closed on Monday. Even if that is not true, you must assume it. A restaurant, which is always open on Sunday is open on Monday, but closed on Tuesday, or is it Wednesday, I forget, no I think it's Thursday. You go to the bank at 1:00...closed, return at 3:00...closed. You go to the Forno a few minutes past noon to buy focaccia....closed.

There is a time for everything. 

SNOOZE YOU LOOSE

Aldo, Bar Gallo, Panicale

Aldo and Daniela's Bar Gallo never seems to be closed. Italy is a culture run on coffee. In Panicale, Bar Gallo is where you find yourself at least three or four times a day. It is where everybody comes for this or that depending on the time of day. Sometimes it is just to be around other people and feel the heartbeat of the town.

DAYBREAK

Aldo starts putting out tables at 7:00 or earlier, always fresh flowers. All the shop owners and merchants come in to stand ( in pieti) at the bar and savor that first cup of coffee. In Italy, particularly on weekdays, breakfast is minimal, conversation is not.

Me                    " Ciao Aldo!"  " Buongiorno Daniela!"

Daniela             " Buongiorno James, dimmi, dimmi ?"

Me                    " Due cappuccini, e un cornetto con marmalatta, per favore."

Daniela             "Certo James, dentro o fuori?"

Me                    "Fuori, fa bel tempo oggi, grazie."

Daniela             " Prego"

                                                                                                          * butchered Italian

It is called  friendly conversation and it occurs in every shop and store. Sleep in and you miss it a vital connection to Italian life.

study for: James at Bar Gallo
Elizabeth Johansson Aponovich
Pencil on paper


Now, about that cappuccino.

*

Me                        "Hi Aldo, Good Morning Daniela"

Daniela                  "Good morning James, tell me, tell me ( what you want)"

Me                        " Two Cappuccino and a croissant  with jam, please."

Daniela                 " Certainly James, inside or out  ( refers to, where are you sitting?) 

Me                        " Outside, it is nice weather today, thanks."

Daniela                 " Your welcome."