Since moving to Certaldo, but working in Florence, it has not really seemed a home. Now that I am teaching cooking classes at Villa il Poggiolaia it has finally become home.
Having more time here has allowed us to finally plant an orto , our own vegetable garden. We ate our first peas last week and this week planted for summer crops, tomatoes, eggplant, chili peppers and watermelon.
The zucchini are now producing blossoms and tiny zucchini are also showing up. Now the decision- fry the flowers and eat the tiny zucchini or let them grow?
Since we are lucky enough to be able to buy or vegetables from local farmers too, no need to panic about fresh foods.
Certaldo has two markets, the larger one which is more like a moveable “shopping mall” is on Wednesdays when I offer my Market to Table classes and the smaller one in the parking lot is on Saturday mornings.
One of the most fun events in Certaldo is the Cena con Boccaccio which is held in June. The streets in the old city are set for about 350 people to dine outdoors with entertainment in the streets.
When you leave you take your tableware with you! Easy clean up!!!
Later in the year, in July, we have Mercantia, a medieval festival also help up in the old city.
The old city has been so well preserved and left to be fairly untouched it is a fotographers delight too.
Come and explore my new home!
The Val D’Elsa is a lovely valley between Florence and Siena- the “other” Chianti.
Rolling hills filled with vineyards and olive groves, it is a relaxing haven.
From here you can tour to Chianti Classico region, San Gimignano, Volterra and Colle Val D’Elsa where the wonderful lead crystal is made still using old traditions.
When we first bought the house, it needed intense restoration and in the process the work was stopped and it took 8 years of red tape to begin to finish the work.
#NOTFRANCESMAYES – was a t-shirt I wanted to make to let people know the pain, blood,sweat and tears that are involved in restoring a house where you really need to rebuild.
The laws have just changed, allowing me finally to close in my courtyard and make a large kitchen with huge door/windows onto the garden and create a guest bedroom from what is now a tiny galley style kitchen.
Miracles do happen! We are in the process now of getting new permits and new plans for the work which will probably start in September. Who knows when we will finish!
Bring on the Martini’s! I will surely need them.