Slow Food Dallas Italy Trip

Dallas Tastes Tuscany: Summer of 2005! Timothy Mullner, Slow Food Dallas founder, spent a month in Italy this summer. His tour included doctoral studies and meeting Slow Food members in Tuscany. Here's a brief chronicle of the sites and tastes... "We lodged at a stellar agriturismo, La Colombaia (www.agriturismocolombaia.it) owned by Tuscan Slow Food members and winemakers, Daniele and Elena Ciofi. Surrounded by old vine sangiovese, we watched the daily working of the vines, tasted organic produce, and settled into the ancient schedule of a daily 'riposo' (a siesta, or nap). La Colombaia overlooked the old village of Cerretto Guido, once home to a Medici family summer villa. Located in the Chianti region between Florence and Pisa, our hosts pointed us to many wonderful day trips including Siena, San Miniato (can you say 'white truffle' boys and girls?), the Cinque Terre, and Cortona. I was struck by the sense of hospitality displayed to us, and the wonderful pride taken in living life close to terra madre (mother earth). NOTE: Members interested in a Texas Meets Tuscany Tour of Italy should contact Timothy Mullner: 972-562-9495. An amazing thing happened in Tuscany, I couldn't get online with my laptop and my cell didn't work...a true invitation to SLOW DOWN and practice what I preach. The pristine pool was hard to leave. Free range chickens, eggs, and an organic garden are all available to guests at La Colombaia, making al fresco dining the modus operandi for this trip. La Colombaia owner and winemaker, Daniele Ciofi hosted a Slow Food dinner for his guests, describing the typical Tuscan antipasti of bruschetta, ribolita (a thick, hearty soup), and pig's cheek foam (a delicacy made from a long and careful preparation of the pig's cheek or other lean parts, served as a savory cream paste: available from Macelleria Sergio Falaschi, a three generation butchershop, San Miniato). www.sergiofalaschi.it Yummy! Margo Mullner (lower left) enjoyed a SLOW Tuscan meal with agriturismo guests. A wise (and Slow) person once said, "Your view of life depends on where you sit!" (Cerretto Guidi in the distance). Free range rabbit is prepared in the simple Tuscan style, roasted over sangiovese wood with fresh sage. "If you serve it, they will come!" Carlo Gazzarini, the governor of Slow Food Tuscany prepares Tuscan sheep milk cheese for his guests. Slow Food dinner guests, Margo Mullner, San Miniato butcher, Andrea Falaschi, and Cerretto Guidi winemaker, Daniele Ciofi. We were grateful that Andrea and Daniele spoke perfect English, yet made sure we learned the local Italian phrases. "Would you like little wine with that cheese?" The local DOCG Chianti was bright, fruit forward, beautifully tart on the finish. La Colombaia winemaker, Daniele Ciofi makes wonderful IGT Sangiovese, DOCG San Liberata Chianti, and a lovely DOCG named, Cerretto. During dinner, Timothy produced a bottle of Benziger's Tribute, which is one of the less than 4% of wines in the US that is Demeter certified Biodynamic. Carlo rifled through his cellar to find an Italian blend (miscuglio) of the same year and blend ratio...a Slow Food tasting to die for! Tuscan artisanal cheeses rounded out our Slow evening. The I Puri Pecorini Senesi a Latte Crudo, from Guido Pinzani included peppercorn, saffron, and 100% raw milk cheeses. Andrea Falaschi, a 3rd generation butcher, greets Margo Mullner at his father's store in hillside town of San Miniato. Timothy jokes "Where's the beef" as he's surrounded by artisanally aged meats. Andrea Falaschi works beside his master butcher father, Sergio. In the spirit of Slow Food, time honored food traditions are passed from generation to generation. Andrea displays the pork preparation for prosciutto crudo...garlic, salt, and pepper take on new meaning in the hands of this master! Notice the view. Timothy enjoys a limoncello during an afernoon riposo...Italians do know how to LIVE life don't they? In closing, let us pause for a moment of silent gratitude. Thanks be to McDonalds (shown at Piazza de Spagna, Roma) for being the catalyst of a movement to slow down, taste our food, and get to know the people and regions where it is produced. Italia, Italia...non basta una vita! (One lifetime is not enough.) NOTE: Members interested in a Texas Meets Tuscany Tour of Italy should contact Timothy Mullner: 972-562-9495.