Le gambe d'oro ancora funzionano

I go running basically everyday through the streets and vineyards of Soave...and of course this is seen as a very "American" thing to do, especially if I go quite early in the morning.

Going running or to the gym at 6am is pretty much unheard of in Soave, as opposed to in the states where gyms can have a line for the treadmill starting at 5:30am. Actually you would be hard pressed to find a gym in Soave or any of the surrounding towns that opens prior to 9am.

Very much wish I had a corresponding visual for this story. La prossima volta!

I was in the last stretch of my run the other day and passed by a group of roughly 12-15 men ranging in age from about 25-65. They were watching some fishermen transfer an enormous amount of live fresh fish from one large container to another. I can only assume they were prepping to make a delivery to some of the local restaurants.

As I passed by, all the men turned my way to say "Buon Giorno." And let's just say, they didn't immediately turn back to watch the action with the fish after wishing me a good day. There definitely was some lingering of the eyes going on...and there was nothing subtle about it.

So I am happy to report that my "gambe d'oro" still work...per fortuna!!

- Zucca

Bigoli! Bigoli! Bigoli!

The way I rave about bigoli one would think that after eating a plate of this pasta...no other type of pasta will do. And I would say this is a very accurate assumption, at least in my case. You could say that bigoli ruined me for other pastas.

Bigoli is a traditional pasta of the Veneto region and the name comes from the manual press, the Bigolaro, which is used to make this very long and thick spaghetti-like pasta. The Bigolaro was actually granted an Italian Royal Patent back in 1875. One day I may have to buy myself one of these fantastic bigoli-making contraptions.















I was introduced to this unique type of pasta during my first "soggiorno" (or stay) in Soave about 2-3 years ago. It was the bigoli con pomodorini e lardo di Soave at Enoteca Il Drago. After my first plate of bigoli con pomodorini, I was totally sold.

At Drago, Carlo Colla (the chef & owner of this wonderful wine bar & kitchen) prepares the fresh bigoli pasta with a very simple tomato sauce with lardo di Soave and topped with just a touch of chives and grated parmigiano.

For those who do not know what lardo is...it is pretty much exactly what it sounds like it would be: cured pig's fat. And dang is it tasty.

Bigoli alla carbonara is also an extremely popular dish with this type of pasta (also on the menu at Drago). I cooked this up for myself the other evening. Visual references provided.





















Shockingly enough, I treated myself to Carlo's bigoli con pomodorini last week...and couldn't have asked for a more appropriate and tasty dish for my first meal back in Soave.

- Zucca

Il Mio Ritorno A Soave

Yes. After spending roughly a year and an half in the states, I decided to move back to the medieval-walled town of Soave and revive "Soave con Zucca."

I just couldn’t stay away from this lovely little town where a glass of wine costs less than a glass of water - that is if you order a glass of Soave of course.


So I am back living among a group of wine producers who never get tired of talking about what can happen to garganega grapes with a bit of oak aging, the subtle difference between a Soave with a little Trebbiano di Soave or one with 100% garganega grapes...or how long they hang dry the grapes to give them just the right level of sweetness for their recioto.

Recioto di Soave is one of the few dessert wines that I have to control myself from having more than one glass...and I usually fail miserably.

Numerous wine journalists have recently written about the crisp clean white wines of Soave and their surprising discovery that they can indeed be…quite good. And even among some of the best white wines produced in Italy. I was let in on this fantastic little secret over 10 years ago when I unknowingly befriended a Soave wine producer, the infamous Chiara Coffele. Little did I know that our chance encounter in the small town of Murnau in Bavaria, where people still actually wore lederhosen, would lead to me living in a lovely studio apartment in the center of Soave over ten years later.
























(Just a reminder: in order to be considered a “Soave Classico,” a wine needs to have at least 70% garganega grapes, the remaining percentage can be any combination of Trebbiano di Soave, Chardonnay or Pinot Bianco).

But I could go on and on about my complete adoration for Soave wines...and am guaranteed to do so in future posts.

All I can say is that I am extremely happy to have returned to this spectacular town where I am known as “La Americana” by some and “Gambe di Oro” by others (golden legs).

And I promise that there will be no more extended periods of time between posts moving forward.

Chin Chin!

- Zucca

Zucca in Parigi...

This post is a little bit overdue considering that my Paris vacation took place almost a month ago.

But as most ladies over the age of let's say 20 know (and some 17 year old girls whose mom may just be running for vice president of the US find out the hard way)...better late than never!!!

Honestly, Paris is probably the most romantic city I have ever visited. There is just something about the city that gets you in the mood for some lovin the moment you see the skyline.

I stayed in Paris with the lovely Miss Tracey, a very good friend from NYU. Tracey has a thing for boys with an edge, definitely not easily impressed, has one of the best laughs around (truly) and the girl I want right by my side if I ever get in an actual physical fight. Yes. Chances of me getting in a physical fight are slim, but it never hurts to know who you want to have your back just in case.

The weather was spectacular the entire week I was in Paris...and basically I spent my money on food, wine, entry into museums and some obscenely expensive cocktails at a super trendy joint called Cafe Chic (i.e. 20 euros for 1 mojito...which converts to roughly $28 at the moment). Obscenely expensive may be an understatement.

Regarding Cafe Chic. Little advice. If you go there with a somewhat large party, it definitely makes sense to get a bottle of vodka, gin...whatever your poison.

But if your party consists of 3 girls who happened to drink 2 bottles of wine beforehand, buying a bottle just leads to a tab of 270 euros, some drunk texting, possibly stuffing roses down the front of your dress and a slight "mal di testa" (or headache) the next morning.

- Zucca

Karezza in estate...

Still waiting for the photos from all of the unofficial wedding photographers...so unfortunately my follow-up post with some more pics and details on Alberto and Giulia's wedding is kind of in a holding pattern.

Luckily I managed to swing in a quick 2-day excursion to Karezza in the meantime, took some photos...and discovered that Karezza is a pretty spectacular place in the summer, as well as the winter.




Smaller crew in comparison to New Years. Just Chiara, her mom Giovanna, Giorgio and I. But it was perfect.










Our 2 days basically involved...doing a little walking, playing cards, lunch at a random spot in the middle of a field where we were treated to a live accordion performance, an unsuccessful attempt at finding mushrooms (a first for me), eating lots of red meat (visual references provided) and drinking a decent amount of red wine.


















Ok. More accurately...I drank a decent amount of red wine and actually had to apologize for finishing off the bottle at dinner - what can I say? Giorgio was too busy talking to drink, Giovanna was in too much shock listening to the stories Giorgio was telling to drink, Chiara was laughing too much to drink, the bottle was placed strategically right next to me...and apparently I was the only multi-tasker at the table.

- Zucca

A Coffele Wedding...a little preview

Unfortunately all of the photos from the wedding of Alberto Coffele and Giulia Pastori have not been fully assembled from the 3-4 unofficial wedding photographers (all friends or relatives of the bride or the groom).

But here is a sneak peak...

Alberto & Chiara pre-wedding...and just a tad bit nervous.











Beppino Coffele (Chiara's Dad)...looking very wise and dashing, as always.














Me and Davide, Alberto's best man. The best man duties for an Italian boy basically include...well, showing up to the wedding and buying a slightly more expensive present for the newlyweds. Ta Da!












The view of Lake Orta (or Lago D'Orta) from the church. Lake Orta is a little bit north of Milan, absolutely spectacular and apparently quite a popular spot for weddings.










More photos to come...and the reasons why they also, shockingly enough, do weddings better in Italy!

- Zucca

A White Trash BBQ in Castelcerino...

Now this is what I call a bbq.

Shirtless men manning the largest grill I have ever seen...and cooking up an obscene amount of tasty pork products.

To be exact, enough of the following pork products to feed roughly 30 people:
- Costine di maiale (pork ribs)
- Salsicce (sausage)
- Bistecca di prosciutto (basically Italian ham steak)
- Pancetta (Italian bacon)

The bbq took place at the Coffele Agriturismo, or "bed and breakfast."

Well, more accurately...the Coffele "bed & breakfast to be served sometime in the near future."

The bbq was in celebration of my Dad and his lady's visit to Soave (the lovely Linda)...as well as the upcoming birthday of my Dad and that of Giovanna, Chiara's mom.



A friend from Boston, Paul Christophersen, was also in attendance..and I would be fooling myself to think that the driving force behind his postponing his flight to England to stay for the bbq was to spend more time with me and not the lure of the Fred Flintstone sized hunks of meat.

The menu also included guacamole, fresh tomatoes and basil and a cold rice dish.

And of course, Coffele wine was served in abundance.


Luckily the weather held up and we were able to end this fabulous day with an excursion through the Coffele vineyards to pick some fresh cherries...led by the fearless Giovanna (pictured with me below).


It was a real treat introducing my Dad and Linda to all of the wonderful people that I have met during my stay in Italy. All of whom have made my experience here truly unbelievable...and even better, more entertaining and definitely significantly crazier than I could have ever imagined.

All of whom have also contributed to the re-enforcing of my belief that they do everything just a little bit better in Italy.

- Zucca