Verdure al grigliate

Ciao!
We still have not figured out the picture thing so we will have to use several thousand words…

Just to recap a little…

We-Heli (Claire) and Torrey- are living in Italy for several months to work at a place that makes traditional balsamic vinegar. We are also trying to learn Italian!

We traveled to Modena-in northern Italy-via Roma, where we stayed for one night. It is a fascinating place and we plan to return sometime when our Italian is a bit better. From Roma to the train to Modena, where we were picked up by Erika, who owns the Acetaia where we are living. She is wonderful and we all get along really well!

Since we have been here we have spent time getting used to the time change, the language and the change in lifestyle. Jet lag is over now and we are very happy with our situation here. We have figured out our permesso di sojourno (we had to travel to three police stations and a city hall in order to do so…) and so now we can settle in to work.

One of our current projects is cleaning the acetaia (some good dusting and mopping action). We are working from top to bottom. It is fun to be up with all the barrels of vinegar. Some of the oldest barrels are ~157 years old!

This week is the end of the Italian holiday period and so next week everyone gets back to work. Work schedule is different here with a long lunch period which we enjoy a nice meal. We are definitely enjoying not rushing from job to job all over the place.

Today we learned how to grill Italian style! Eggplant, bell peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and several different types of cheese on the grill, fire roasted bruscetta with chopped tomatoes, fresh mozzerella, and truffle spread, and lots of different meats (which we did not eat…) marinated in rosemary and olive oil. We had good wine to drink and 6 flavors of fresh gelato for desert!

(Of course the cooking of the meat included flaming pans and charred wieners. Maybe more about that later…)

Every one has fruit and nut trees in their yards. Yesterday we went to a friend’s house where they had pear, peach, plum, fig, chestnut, hazelnut, medlar, persimmon, walnut, and some more that we can’t remember at this moment. But lots!

An Italian phrase for today is: Vito, il pavimento e pulito…Please enjoy figuring this one out. (Vito is a friend of ours that lives in the attic…)