Finding Valentino by Angela Di Sciascio

Author:Angela Di Sciascio
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Melbourne University Publishing

10

Under the Tuscan clouds and finding George

It is May. I am almost halfway through my stay when my good friend Nat and her family arrive on holiday from Melbourne. We meet in Florence where we’re to share a sunny and spacious apartment near Saint Ambrogio market. It is central enough to be able to walk everywhere but still has a slightly local feel to it. My heart thrills when I hear the doorbell ring and look out the window to see Nat and her burgeoning belly, her husband Mike, and their children Scarlett and Ginger smiling up at me over loads of luggage. It occurs to me how relaxing it will be to have close friends staying, to not feel like a guest and be on constant best behaviour. Talking nonstop with cups of tea in hand, I sometimes forget we’re not in Melbourne.

But I am a proud host, showing off what language I have learnt and accompanying my friends on their walks through Florence. We go to the market most days and buy delectable goodies to cook at night. I set myself a challenge to cook a different pasta every day. We eat out too, especially pizza, and gelato, which the girls love.

* * *

Sagne pasta with asparagus

If you can’t find sagne, you could use fettucini snapped into 3–4 cm lengths.

sagne pasta

1 bunch asparagus

salt

butter

parmesan

pepper

lemon zest

Cook sagne pasta in well-salted water. Meanwhile, chop a bunch of asparagus stalks into small pieces, leaving the heads whole. Cook the asparagus stems in a pan with a little water and salt until tender, then add the heads and cook briefly. Drain the water and add butter, then toss through cooked pasta, adding some pasta water and parmesan as you toss. Serve with lots of pepper. Lemon zest makes a nice addition to this recipe.

* * *

After five nights in Florence we embark on a road trip to the Tuscan countryside. We are quite a sight: three adults, two children, luggage, prams, a portacot and toys all crammed into a tiny Lancia.

Despite having lost our directions we somehow find our way to the country residence we’ve booked and breathe a sigh of relief as we pull up to our villa and the pool that is there waiting for us. It is a warm, humid afternoon and the kids are jumping out of their skins to get into the water. The complex is ideal. There are several apartments, each with their own private garden, and a couple of houses scattered about on the one property. We all share the pool. Our apartment has a glorious view and I spend many an evening sitting on the terrace watching the sun go down.

The next morning we head for Siena. The main piazza here is vast and strangely circular. Gently sloping towards the centre, it is like a lake of red stone surrounded by beautiful buildings. When we arrive it is full of people sitting on the pavement chatting, people-watching and eating lunch. We try to imagine the

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