Todi - Bellezza Antiqua e Nova guide book: a love story

More than one year has passed since I received a phone call from Luciano Vanni telling me that there could be an opportunity to produce a guide-book on Todi, my home-town.

Luciano Vanni is the mind and the heart of Il Turismo Culturale, an amazing Italian magazine on cultural destinations in Italy and abroad.

I've fallen in love with Luciano's works since the very first time I stumbled on a copy of the magazine during a fair in Milan. I think it was late 2007..
The subtitle of Il Turismo Culturale is "travelling broadens the mind" a sentence that not only is linked to the principles of slow travelling, but also to the guidelines of the so-called responsible tourism.

Il Turismo Culturale has already produced other four guide-books on very special and "off the beaten path" towns and destinations like: Amelia and Terni in Umbria, Carloforte, a small island close to Sardinia and Otranto, a town in Apulia.

The long "creation" of this work - in which I've had the honour to be involved since the very beginning - has taken more than one year, a sort of love-story with the typical "ups and downs"...

But. Above all, having the opportunity to meet and to offer some support to the staff @Il Turismo Culturale has been one of my best professional and enriching experience I've ever done.
Updating on the progresses during long phone calls with Arianna Guerin, walking with Elena Chiocchia in the narrow streets of Todi to take the pictures of the secret beauties of the town or having the chance to meet the food&wine journalist Massimo Roscia and talking on our rich culinary tradition has been an experience that has no price.

Grazie Luciano and all the people @Il Turismo Culturale for your efforts, passion&love for Todi! Grazie, davvero.


Video-intro by "Il Turismo Culturale" available also by QR Code technology


The guide-book "Todi - Bellezza Antiqua e Nova" will be officially released on the 2nd September 2011 and it will be also available through us.

"Edu-dinners" at Il Palazzo del Gusto - Orvieto

CANTINE & CHEF ALLA RIBALTA 2011
WINERIES & CHEFS IN THE LIMELIGHT 2011



Summer in Umbria also means "CANTINE & CHEF ALLA RIBALTA - WINERIES & CHEFS IN THE LIMELIGHT", food&wine event organized by “Itinera - Il Palazzo del Gusto” in Orvieto.

From the 5th August to the 2nd September the beautiful monastery of San Giovanni - headquarter of "Il Palazzo del Gusto" and "Città Slow" - is hosting a series of “educational” dinners to promote Umbrian wineries and local chefs.

The dinners are taking place @ the wonderful cloister of San Giovanni, in Orvieto historical centre.

The cloister

The rich programme includes tasting of wines from Orvieto - with its famous white “Orvieto Classico DOC” - and Amelia, Umbrian town close to Terni, renewed for its red wines.

Every wine is proposed in matching with specialities prepared by the best local restaurants.

"CANTINE E CHEF ALLA RIBALTA" is a great event to get to know more about Umbrian wine production and local cuisine.

To take part to the dinners, it is necessary to book in advance contacting our friends: Graziella or Lucia - email: itinera.orvieto@tiscalinet.it - ph. 0763.341818 – 0763.393529 @ IL PALAZZO DEL GUSTO - Convento S. Giovanni Via Ripa Serancia I, n° 16

1 dinner costs: € 30.00 p.p.
Slow Food associates and FISAR (Italian Federation of Sommeliers) members: € 28,00 p.p.


In addition at “Il Palazzo del Gusto”, until the 12th September there will be the possibility to taste the wines “in the limelight” not only on Friday evenings, but also during the week.


My friends and I during 2010 edition.


PROGRAMME:

AUGUST 5 h. 8.30PM – Dinner

Winery: CASTELLO DELLE REGINE – AMELIA (TR)

Restaurant: SAN MICHELE OSTARIA DI CAMPAGNA – ORVIETO (TR)
Chef: Daniele Nuti

MENU
Carpaccio di manzo al limone e menta con sfoglie di patate croccanti e pomodori essiccati
Wine matching: Vino Spumante Extra Dry

Crespellina ripiena di ricotta ed erbette con funghi misti
Wine matching: Bianco delle Regine 2010

Carrè di agnello in crosta di olive, tortino di formaggi teneri e vegetali di stagione
Wine matching: Merlot 2004

Semifreddo ai fichi con crema all’anice stellato e noci


AUGUST 12 8.30PM – Dinner

Winery: CANTINA NERI - ORVIETO (TR)

Restaurant: AL SALTAPICCHIO – ORVIETO (TR)
Chef: Valentina Santanicchio

MENU
Mousse di fegato di Chianina con composta di pere biologiche cipolle rosse caramellate e pane cotto al forno a legna
Wine matching: Ca Viti 2010

Millefoglie di pasta tirata a mano con il ragu’ della trebbiatura con l’oca biologica e la crema di pecorino al rosmarino
Wine matching: Bianco dei Neri 2010

Stracotto di “Chianina povera” al Bianco dei Neri marinato alle erbette profumate e cannella servito con pomodori alla brace e patatine al cartoccio cotte sotto la cenere
Wine matching: Rosso dei Neri 2010

Gelato di Muffa Nobile Poggio Forno servito con uvetta e pinoli tostati e colatura di “fondende piccantino”
Wine matching: Muffa Nobile Poggio Forno Cantina Neri


AUGUST 19 h. 8.30PM – Dinner

Winery: TENUTA DI MONTEGIOVE – MONTEGABBIONE (TR)

Restaurant: LA PENISOLA - BASCHI (TR)
Chef: Andrea Taddei

MENU

Primo sale di bufala su letto di gallinella con ventaglio di pesca noce ed emulsione di fichi
Wine matching: Gatto Gatto Orvietano Rosso DOC 2009

Rigatoncino trafilato al bronzo con ragout bianco di agnellino profumato al timo, servito in cialda di Brik
Wine matching: Mi.Mo.So. Umbria Rosso IGT 2009

Tournedos di filetto di lattonzolo in crosta di sfoglia con salsa marsalata con contorno di porri glassati
Wine matching: Elicius Umbria Rosso IGT 2008

Trancio di torta della Nonna con salsa vaniglia e arancia


AUGUST 26 8.30PM – Dinner

Winery: MADONNA DEL LATTE – ORVIETO (TR)

Restaurant: TRIPPINI - BASCHI (TR)
Chef: Paolo Trippini

MENU

Faraona farcita con patate mantecate insalatina aromatica e salsa di agrumi
Wine matching: Rosario Spumante Brut 2010

Risotto con trota marinata e pomodoro fresco
Wine matching: Viognier Igt Umbria 2010

Maialino da latte in due cotture con mela e senape
Wine matching: Sucano Igt Umbria 2008

Zuppa di ciliege con mousse di cioccolato bianco


SEPTEMBER 2 h. 8.30PM – Dinner

Winery: TENUTA LE VELETTE – ORVIETO (TR)

Restaurant: ANTICA CANTINA – Orvieto (TR)
Chef: Ludmila Ceban

MENU

Al contadino non far sapere…
Lasagna rustica alle verdure fresche di stagione

Tortellone al taleggio e patate su letto di radicchio e cipolla di Cannara caramellata
Wine matching: Lunato Orvieto DOC Classico Superiore 2010

Cappello del prete al Rosso di Spicca con contorno di patata in camicia al profumo di finocchio selvatico
Wine matching: Rosso di Spicca Rosso Orvietano DOC 2009

Quiche di ricotta di capra e gocce di cioccolato fondente
Wine matching: Raggio IGT Umbria 2007