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Tasty
Tuscany
by
Kelly Kent
We
quickly grabbed food from the continental breakfast while Mossimo waited for
us in the van. Mossimo assured us that we would arrive on time for the scheduled
Tuscan lunch since it was Sunday. Roman's are discouraged from driving on Sunday
because of air pollution and its religious significance. Tobacco, corn, and
sunflower fields were consistently seen during our two-hour drive north of Rome.
During the half-hour drive south of Florence, it was essential that Mossimo
ask as many Italians as possible for directions to the Tuscan Farm in the hinterland.
A couple of times, Mossimo left the van in park and acquired information from
cars behind us and joggers on the side of the road. We drove on one-way, dirt
roads through beautiful hills covered with vineyards before we reached Farmhouse
La Vacchio.
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Before I left home, Nicole made me promise to try a variety of food. Well, I
kept my promise and tried every course we were presented. For the next three
hours, we ate bits and pieces of our five course meal. We began the meal by
dipping wheat bread into olive oil. I felt deprived since none of the restaurants
we had been to, so far, had served butter with their bread! We were surprised
to find out that the farmhouse specialized in olive oil since their olive oil
was so bland, though not too terribly shocking because all of the European olive
oils taste the same. Everyone thought that all of the appetizer meats were disgusting,
except for me who ate every slice! As for the bruschetta with liver paste and
spinach paste, my revulsion for their appearance, let alone their taste, was
evident upon first sight. I lack the talent to dissimulate my feelings! The
bean soup tasted like bean soup, which means it did not leave an impression.
One course consisted of fried eggplant, zucchini, peppers, onions, and rabbit.
I reluctantly nibbled on the fried zucchini and eggplant while neglecting the
fried peppers and onions! I am already called ‘Smelly’ by many people,
hopefully only because it rhymes with ‘Kelly’, so I would not want
to add extra meaning to that nickname by eating malodorous food. Rabbit tasted
exactly like chicken! The main course was quite normal: spaghetti. Our menu
at La Vacchio was planned by the tour company to include wine. Seeing as none
of us drink alcohol, the restaurant happily gave us a second dessert! We had
heavenly lemon tiramisu for our first dessert and finished off with rich chocolate
cake topped with powdered sugar.
After testing grapes from the vineyard, we took a tour with the owner around
the property. Two married sisters ran the property-- the guide and her husband
ran the farm while her brother-in-law ran the restaurant. The possibly pregnant
guide wore paneled stretchy pants that are only worn by pregnant Americans,
but seemed fashionable for all women in Italy. During lunch, we guessed incorrectly
whether her child was a boy or girl. Luckily, Marcie was the one who said ‘your
little boy is so cute’ and not 
me.
Even now, I still think the kid was a boy! The kid had a boyish haircut and
wore boy clothes!! I couldn’t help but think of The Last Promise by
Richard Paul Evans, which was set in Tuscany, while she showed us the process
they go through to make olive oil on their property. We tried to keep a straight
face as she stood in front of a couple, who needed their own room, while explaining
how they produced their own flour, pasta, and bread. Luckily for us, we quickly
went inside the windmill and saw exactly how the windmill grinds the wheat.
Safely at our hotel in Florence, we made our final goodbyes to Mossimo or as
he said ‘Kiss Kiss’!
©K. Kent Last Updated: January 7, 2008 Email Kelly Kent
