Life is a combination of magic and pasta. – Federico Fellini
There will surely be pasta. And lenticche soup. And a little meat, I suppose. Sausage, salumi, maybe a little lamb. I’ve heard rumors of a truffle sauce. I can’t wait to see what comes of it.
The “it” is so exciting: our friends Novelia and Peppe from Sulmona are coming to the States in March 2016, and our (mutual) friend Amalia, from Santo Stefano di Sessanio, is coming with them. They’re going to try to teach us how to cook a few Abruzzese masterpieces. They’ve got their chitarre already packed, I’m sure!
Amalia has never been to the States. Novelia was born in Pratola Peligna, next door to Sulmona, but spent much of her childhood in Ottawa and has not been back to North America for many, many years — and never to the U.S. This will be a wild experience for all of us, since they only know us as Americans in Abruzzo and now the tables will be turned. They’ll stay here in Salem and we’ll take them to Boston and then on to New York City.
By way of credentials . . . Novelia runs the palazzo-based La Casa del Cuore in
the historical center of Sulmona. Just read through her website and you’ll get a real sense of her personality and her willingness to make your stay unforgettable. Amalia, on the other hand, runs Le Case della Posta in Santo Stefano di Sessanio, about an hour’s drive from Sulmona. She has rooms all over this medieval city and her energy and enthusiasm are boundless. I’ve almost never seen her with both feet on the ground at the same time! Both Novelia and Amalia are great cooks and work hard to uphold the traditions of the cucina Abruzzese. Which is why we’re so excited to have them here.
Magic and pasta . . . and you can be part of it!
Please save some time in early March 2016. We will soon announce the dates of our three upcoming cooking classes, and hope you’ll be able to come. Trust me, your lives will never be the same – and neither will your dinners!
If you’re already interested, please send me a note in the “Contact Me” section here and I’ll be sure you’re on our mailing list.
Buon viaggio – e buon appetito!
Linda Dini Jenkins is a card-carrying Italophile, travel planner, freelance writer, and amateur photographer. Travel is her passion, so writing about her travels just comes naturally. She hopes all her travelers find a way to express their joys, surprises, and fears as they travel and gives every traveler a nifty journal to help smooth the way. Learn more…
