A FEW GOOD DAYS IN UMBRIA

mimiplumsa

September 10th 2015

Early in the morning, at Bordeaux (Mérignac) airport our one big group splits into two smaller ones. In my group I have four girls: Mia 12, Louise 7, Gaïa 4 and Audrey 1. Oddur has: Gunnhildur 19 and Hudson 9 + two dogs, Humfri and his 10-month old son Dick (for all humorous suggestions regarding that name please contact Yolanda Edwards at Condé Nast Publications – she will love it!) Oddur dubs his team, who are taking the Land Rover all the way to Rome, “the brave team”, and us, the high-flyers, “the primadonnas”. When Gaïa asks who will arrive there first I realize she hasn’t traveled much. Hudson, though, is optimistic and thinks they have a small chance of beating us. “Maybe there will be a delay” he says. “That would be some delay” I think to myself as I kiss them all goodbye.
It turns out there is no delay and “the primadonnas” arrive in Rome on schedule ready to face the eternal city. A big lunch is first on the menu. I stop at the first place I see that looks decent. Zucchini fritters, amatriciana pasta, lamb chops with chicory! None of the girls have been to Rome before so we make all the necessary stops, the Panthéon, the Spanish steps, the obligatory ice cream every 15 minutes. We walk so much that in the evening we are exhausted and just stay in our rooms that night, making an improvised dinner with Italian delicacies. News reaches us that the other, braver team is still in France but about to cross the border.

umbriansoup

fruitsandvegs

olivegrove

September 11th 2015

I wake up with a huge smile on my face, my bed filled with girls of all ages. Within minutes I am strolling the streets of Rome, 4 girls in tow, heading to one of my favorite places in the whole world – The Galleria Doria Pamphilj. This city agrees with me. Big time. On the way to Doria Pamphilj I have a Macchiato AND a Cappucino at Café Tassa d’Oro and then we spend a good 3 hours at the museum. By now I have been informed that the brave team arrived around 11 O’clock the night before at a rather funny hotel in a place in Liguria called St. Bartolomeo and checked into a hotel where, in the lobby, an aging DJ was entertaining the crowds who at some point got swept into a full-blown Conga. They had a very late lunch at one of about a million places in Italy called Da Luigi and though the atmosphere was wanting the food, apparently was close to great. They are now heading for Rome and should meet us for lunch at a family favorite, La Matricianella, near piazza San Lorenzo.
I am bad with directions and worse with names and though I am very late, having gotten carried away at Doria Pamphilj, I arrive proudly on time at the wrong place called Amatricianella, instead of the preferred Matricianella. When I finally land at the right restaurant my husband is already there and Hudson, shouts through the rain that is by now flooding Roman streets “We won, we won”. Louise, ever competitive, refuses to grant him the victory and gets stubbornly soaked as she won’t sit at the victor’s table on the terrace. We have a wonderful lunch, more pastas, lamb, chicory, pannacottas and a nice bottle of Rosso di Montalcino.
After wandering the wet streets of Rome we decide to have dinner at the conveniently located Dal Bolognese, just a few steps from our hotel, the Locarno. A restaurant more famous for flair than food, but an enjoyable spot nonetheless and somehow part of my regular Rome experience. When it comes to restaurant I often go for the old-fashioned rather than the latest and the greatest. Sitting on the terrace of Dal Bolognese, admiring the beauty of Piazza del Popolo, we spot a paparazzi (just one – usually there are more). Louise asks if he’s there for me. When I realize that she actually thinks that, I tell her that though my book has admittedly been translated into Italian, the chances of that are, well, slim. We soon find out who he’s targeting. At the next table are two lovely ladies who between them have graced the walls of more teenage rooms than probably any other in history. James Bond’s first lover Honey Rider (I’m talking of Ursula of course) and her friend, the original 10, Bo Derek. They pose patiently for a few “selfies” with fans and when they leave, Mia suddenly runs after them and chases them to their taxi. They are already in and she doesn’t get her shot. When she comes back she says in her thick French accent “It’s OK, I don’t even know who they are”. Then she shrugs her shoulders and finishes her dessert.

veal1

plums

mimikitchendogs

pizzaoven

September 12th 2015

Getting ready for our ride to Umbria we have one last lunch in Rome, again close to the hotel at a very good pizzeria called Pizza Ré. It’s exactly what we need before our trip, cold beer, delicious pizza, deep-fried mozzarella and crispy salads. Umbria, here we come.
This time the teams are different. I may be one of the original “primadonnas” but a couple of hours driving won’t kill me. We are still the “primadonnas” but Oddur joins our team (yes he joins my team, not the other way round) and Mia joins the “brave team” who will take the train to Terni, Umbria. We the “primadonnas” arrive safely at our destination, a lovely house, with an even lovelier pool, near Todi, Umbria. Later that night Oddur drives to Todi to pick up the others who are arriving there via train and two buses. He spends some time waiting at a very good wine bar, where he strikes up a friendship with the owner talking about wine, French and Italian. The other team is delayed so I use what is left to me by the gods of the house, garlic, onion, tomato passata and spaghetti to make a surprisingly satisfying dinner for me and the rest of the “primadonnas”.
Later that night Oddur cooks, what he confesses, is a below par meal of wild boar sausages, my leftover pasta and some other oddities. That night we all sleep well.

bolognese

antipasti

salumi

kids

September 13 – 18 2015

What follows that first night of lacklustre cooking is a week of spectacular food, at the house (or casa as we say in Italian) or in restaurants. Documenting every day, every meal, would be fun for me but perhaps tedious for you guys – think the uncle with the three-hour slide show – so let me just stick to the highlights.
Our first meal out is with Oddur’s new friends at a somewhat modern, yet traditional wine bar in Todi. Great wine and food! The showstopper: the outstanding cured ham and the aubergine gratin with tomatoes. In fact it’s so good that it inspires me to make it myself the next day when I prepare my 4 monthly recipes for Elle France – this time with an Italian twist. Between dips in the pool and cooking dinners and lunches I find time to gather my thoughts and announce the dates for my 2016 workshops. It’s a strategic move as I know that in the quiet of the Umbrian countryside I will have time to answer all the incoming inquires and requests, some of my answers are written poolside – they are probably the sunniest ones.
And taking a pause from this little diary I just want to say that it makes me incredibly happy and humbled how many emails I have received and how fast the classes are filling up. (We still have places though, especially in April and November but some availability here and there, even if some classes are completely full). Thank you all so much for your interest in our little adventure here in Médoc.
Talking of holiday highlights we seem to always gravitate back to the same places once found. If a restaurant is that good, why go anywhere else. This time it’s a little place in Todi, called “Pane e Vino” that gets our vote. The décor is nothing out of the ordinary, even a bit tired. Had I not read somewhere that it was worth going to I might not have. But here is where we had our best food moments. The fried wild boar mortadella with creamy balsamic vinegar, the pumpkin risotto, the ricotta with thick, dark chocolate. In my dreams since I’ve been back to France I go back there every night.
When our trip is winding down, after walks in olive groves and fancy piazzas, after one too many bumpy vertical drives in the Umbrian hills with the whole family hanging on for their life, we decide to make a blog post with Umbrian recipes – I am inspired. On our last days I get all the necessary ingredients, start chopping, soaking the beans, preheat the oven. Just before I’m about to get really started Oddur pops into the kitchen and says “let’s go to Orvieto, I heard about this great place there called La Palomba”. Moments later the apron is off, the cooking will have to wait. If food is to be discovered, new places are there to be found – I may be one of the “primadonnas” but I will never be the girl who missed out.
La Palomba turns out to be a delightful family trattoria where we have our last meal out in Italy this time around. It’s all more or less delicious, the truffle pasta, the pigeon but my favorite is the walnut cake and the owner’s sunny attitude. In the evening Augusta, the ever smiling, amazing housekeeper cooks up a big feast for us back at the casa, an Italian barbecue extravaganza with so much food she must have thought we had 20 children. We might have known because earlier in the week she gave us a pizza lesson that resulted in 4 large pizzas, also for 20 people. Our favorites were the potato, mozzarella and oregano pizza, and the one with the most flavorful, fresh, cherry tomatoes. She told us to have the leftovers for breakfast and we did.

inthecasa

pizzamaking

tomatopizza

ricottaandchocolate2

September 19 2015

The “Primadonnas” say goodbye to Oddur at the train station in Terni and we head to Rome where we will catch a direct flight to France. I am comfortably back in my own kitchen that same afternoon, cooking for 4 girls who are hungry from the trip. Well not so much cooking as sandwich making. The next two days are spent being entertained / frightened by reports from the “brave team”.
The brave team who are supposed to arrive in France that night get derailed looking for a tailor in Umbria, miss out on a luxury hotel in Provence and due to lack of hotel space end up sleeping in the car in Portofino. I suppose if you have to sleep in the car somewhere you might as well choose the poshest place you can possibly find. They have car trouble near Aix-en-Provence, end up sleeping in a very cool hotel in Arles and due to the delay Gunnhildur has to take a plane from Montpellier rather than Bordeaux to catch her connecting flight to Iceland. Oddur says their car trouble is nothing serious but later Mr. Souslikoff, our resident gentleman car mechanic, tells me that one of the front wheels nearly came off. I guess I have to admit that their travel story would probably be a better read than mine … but mine has better food.
Now, the recipes!

ps Some time after our return to France I got behind the stove and cooked up an Umbrian feast, the recipes I had meant to cook that day when our sense of adventure got the better of us and we went to Orvieto. It was a lovely lunch, and brought back memories of our holiday. Those are the photos you see accompanying the recipes.

For those who are interested, we stayed at a lovely villa near Todi in Umbria which we found through Tuscany Now. A special thanks to the wonderful team, especially Augusta, for the warm hospitality!

umbriansoup2

Imagine being by the fireplace on an Umbrian hill, sipping this comforting and delicious soup, dipping a grilled rustic slice of country bread drizzled with the best olive oil. I love farro and its surprising texture; this soup is a meal on its own. The chili flakes are optional, but with cold weather just around the corner, a little bit of extra heat is most welcome!

Farro Bean Soup

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

2 ounces finely sliced Prosciutto
1 onion finely diced
1 celery stalk, finely diced
2 small carrots, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 (14 Ounce) can chopped tomatoes
1 zucchini, diced
100 g/ 3/4 cup green lentils
150 g/ 1 cup farro
A good handful of freshly chopped fresh Basil
Red hot pepper flakes (optional)
Salt & Pepper
To Serve:
Extra Virgin Olive Oil or
Grated Parmesan, to garnish

Heat the olive oil in a large pot and cook the prosciutto for a few minutes. Add the carrot, celery and onion and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and zucchini, continue to cook for 2 minutes. Add the can of diced tomatoes. Season with salt & pepper, and half a teaspoon of chilli flakes (optional).
Add the equivalent of 3 to 4 cans of water. Bring to a simmer.
Add the farro and green lentils. Reduce the heat to low, cover and continue to cook for about 20 minutes, or until the vegetables, farro and lentils are tender. If the soup is too thick, add more water and season accordingly.
Serve with leaves of basil, grated parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

veal2

Scaloppine alla Perugina

Ingredients

Serves 4

450g/ 1 pound of thinly sliced veal fillet/scaloppine
55 g/ 2 ounces of prosciutto, diced finely
3 salted anchovies, bones removed
1 chicken liver, chopped as finely as possible
2 cloves of garlic, minced
8 sage leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon capers
The juice and zest of half a lemon
½ glass dry white wine
Plain flour, for dredging
A few sprigs of parsley leaves picked and chopped finely
A few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Chop the prosciutto, anchovies, chicken liver and sage leaves as finely as possible.
In a sauté pan, heat the olive oil and cook the anchovies, prosciutto, chicken liver and sage leaves for 3 minutes. Add the capers, lemon zest and lemon juice. Stir constantly until all the ingredients are combined and soft. Season with salt and pepper. Add the white wine and leave to reduce for a minute or two. Add a tablespoon of butter and mix well. Set aside and keep warm.

Dust the veal fillets with the flour. In a large pan, heat the olive oil and butter on a high heat. Cook the veal for a minute on each side. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a plate.
Serve the veal and pour the sauce on top. Scatter parsley leaves on top. Serve with rosemary potatoes.

ricottaandchocolate

This was my favorite dessert of all during my stay in Umbria, served at Pane e Vino in the village of Todi (Via Ciufelli 33, 06059 Todi). Amazing creamy ricotta served with warm chocolate sauce and chunks of orange. I improvised and made my own version, added cream to the ricotta to make it creamier, and added orange zest.

Vanilla ricotta cream with chocolate sauce and orange zest

Serves 4

2 pots ricotta, strained
1 cup heavy cream
1 vanilla pod, split lengthwise and seeds scraped
150 g black chocolate (70% cocoa)
Zest of orange

Strain the ricotta though a sieve. In a large bowl, whisk the ricotta, heavy cream and the vanilla beans until thick and creamy with soft peaks.

Melt the chocolate until thick and glossy au bain-marie/ in a bowl over simmering water.

Scrape the zest of the orange.

On a serving plate, place a little nest of cream. Drizzle with the chocolate sauce and sprinkle the orange zest.

126 thoughts on “A FEW GOOD DAYS IN UMBRIA

    1. Thanks Josephine! I am always so happy to share a new post. And regarding family/kids outings, I always encourage them! If I can do it with so many kids, so can you! 🙂 Mimi x

    1. And I have to say, you inspire me to take my 4 and 2yr old out more for some local culture at the museums. If you can do it with 4 kids then I should be able to manage two boys 🙂

  1. Oh Mimi, you weave a story so seemingly effortlessly and wonderfully together.I loved reading this! The photos are beautiful too of course. I’m looking forward to making the soup. Have a fab weekend x

    1. Bonsoir Mary! Thanks for the kind words. So happy to share our little adventure in Umbria, it was wonderful and so inspiring. I think Italy and I will have a long food love affair! 🙂 Enjoy the soup, I made it again for lunch today… perfect! Mimi x

  2. I love your stories (and the food, of course, and the beautiful photos), and I don’t usually comment but I wanted to say how much I love the photo of you with a huge smile on your face!

  3. Tutto delizioso. ..il racconto, le foto, tuo entusiasmo e grazia …ed, ovviamente, la cucina italiana. Complimenti Mimi !!!

    1. Grazie! I am so in love with Italy – the food, the culture. I would love to explore and spend more time in Italy, as a matter of fact, it’s part of my plan 🙂 Mimi x

  4. A lovely surprise just popped in my inbox in the form of one of your wonderful posts so… heading straight to bed with my ipad and a cup of tea to enjoy a little friday evening reading 😉
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    PS: Been thinking non stop about your cèpes carpaccio for two days, haha. Will make it before monday for sure! Thanks for reminding me the little joys of autumn.

    1. Hello Alina – great to hear from you! So happy to get news from everyone. What a lovely season to get inspired in the kitchen. Enjoy the recipes (and the cèpes carpaccio!). Mimi x

  5. Hello, Mimi….Italy is so wonderful. I had the best food in the humblest places while there! Your photos are so inviting. I’m wondering if the ricotta dessert should have a bit of sugar? If not, would the chocolate used contain sugar, or not? Looking forward to your next post!

    1. Bonjour Katya! Oh yes, Italy is my favorite holiday destination. Food is definitely high on my list, but I love the warmth, the humour, the beauty… I could go on forever! I got so inspired during my last trip, this is the beginning of a food love affair. 🙂 Regarding the ricotta, I don’t add sugar because the chocolate sauce is sweet enough. I melt 70% + black chocolate that is slightly sweet. The combination with the ricotta and orange is perfect, subtle yet all the flavours burst through. Enjoy! Mimi x

      1. Thank you, Mimi. I suspected that is what you meant when you described the chocolate. Adding orange always pumps up the exquisite factor!

  6. Living La Dolce Vita! How delightful! Italy is definitely wonderful. Always a pleasure reading your blog and especially when you travel with your family. I bet that itself is quite an adventure but somehow you make it effortless!

    1. Hello Mel! We had a wonderful time, and somehow our holidays or trips are always an adventure. Despite having such a large family, we like last-minute plans… they often lead to good time.! 🙂 Enjoy the recipes! Mimi x

  7. Greetings from Los Angeles! Always look forward to your posts….I daydreaming reading the updates. Have your first cookbook [beautiful] and now looking forward to the next book!

  8. Fabulous storyline Mimi. If ever there was any doubt, your self deprecating humour shines! Love the concept of teams and the ensuing relentless competition, yet the fun shone through and when the reality of ‘crisis’ needed to be modified to protect a mother’s worry, a cursory “nothing serious” was the statement!
    Italians provided significant labour forces in the post war migrations to Australia. We have as friends some wonderful times with them. Some of the families are now significant winemakers, having moved away from tobacco! Just last night we opened a Pizzini’ Sangiovese, but could only imagine what the Pizzini family were eating! I now have fresh recipes to try. Thanks Mimi for covering that base and also for ‘the wild ride’.

    1. Thank you Jude. Our holidays are always very comical, filled with surprises, but mostly good ones! 🙂 You can really feel the strong family spirit in Italian families, and that’s what love about Italians. It shines through the family table! I can’t wait to go back later this month, I am preparing lots of Italian goodies 🙂 Mimi x

  9. Bonsoir Mimi…… c’est un grand plaisir de regarder les photos et de lire sur votre voyage. Ça donne envie de partir immédiatement en Italie…et essayer les recettes..

    1. Bonjour Isolde! Comment vous dire, il faut partir en Italie! A chaque fois que je rencontre mes amis, je leur dis de partir en week-end, pour s’amuser, bien manger! Après chaque voyage je ramène de la farine, des moules à gâteaux, de la charcuterie, du fromage, du bon vin… C’est un vrai plaisir. Bon week-end! Mimix

  10. Mimi,
    Loved! Loved! Loved this post…! I don’t read many blogs…But what is so touching about Manger is watching a family experience (“Primadonnas” and “Brave Team”) the joy of being together whether in St. Yzans, Rome or Umbria…! The recipes…the photography…the adventure are truly “Memory Keepers…! Mimi, Thank You for sharing! ❤️

    1. Thank you Stephanie! We are like a travelling circus (with dogs!). This holiday was so much fun, we enjoyed every second of it. I loved cooking with Augusta, and discovered the most simple yet delicious oregano, mozzarella and potato pizza! Can’t wait to go back 🙂 Enjoy the recipes! Happy week-end, Mimi x

  11. The recipes look great, but post the one for the ham casserole, please. We have adjusted to being back home except for the flood in the basement. I got left in France when my daughter and the 16 year old flew to Rome. I am always happy to be left behind in the Medoc. I still dream of your meal at the pop up in your home.
    I hope you received the cook book from South Carolina I sent.

    1. Hello Carl! Ah-ha, mystery solved! When we came back from Italy, I saw a copy of ‘Heritage’ on the table (Allegra was house-sitting and opened the package) – I was so happy as I always wanted to get it, so I though Oddur ordered it. And when Oddur arrived the next day with the brave team, he thought I ordered it. As we were both confused I though my editor sent it to me, because she often sends me cookbooks… so now I now you sent it! Thank you so much Carl! And so sorry for not knowing it was you… I love the book. It was such a pleasure meeting you and and lovely wife, Gilles told me how he enjoyed seeing you at Ormes de Pez. Mimi x

  12. Bonjour Mimi! It sounds like you all had such a wonderful time! I always look forward to your stories! The food sounds so delicious! xo, Dana

      1. YES! We cannot wait to see you all again next year! We are so EXCITED!!! 🙂 And you definitely deserved a holiday!!! I’m glad you were able to get away and be inspired by Umbria! xo, Dana

  13. Thank you for sharing this adventure!

    I would love to make the whipped ricotta. Could you please tell me the volume of a “pot” of ricotta? In the US it’s sold in various size tubs.

  14. As always a marvellous read. You have the talent to make your readers feel as if they were actually participating 🙂

  15. Your photos and beautiful words are a work of art! Thank you for sharing and letting us into your magical world.

    1. Thank you Lisa! We had a lovely time, and just can’t get enough of Italy. Rome is a gem, there were so many places I did nt have a time to go, but do add Al Moro and Piperno on your list, they are some of my faves! Mimix

  16. Chère Mimi,

    Merci pour ce post plein de soleil et d’inspiration. Nous gardons un souvenir merveilleux de nos étés en Toscane… Quels beaux souvenu pour les enfants!
    Merci pour les recettes et félicitations à ton mari pour les magnifiques photos qui leur donnent vie. Je retournerai peut être en Gironde en milieu de semaine prochaine. Qd viens tu à Paris ?
    Bonnes vacances aux enfants. Il fait un temps de rêve dans le Sud Ouest! Bises Cécile

    1. Bonjour Cécile, Oui, il fait un temps magnifique ici dans le Médoc, c’est un vrai plaisir! Retour au calme après un mois chargé, les enfants sont en vacances et ils sont ravis. Bonnes vacances à toi aussi! Mimi x ps: je pense venir plutôt le mois prochain, on verra le planning. x

  17. Dear Mimi,
    thank you for these wonderful impressions of your holiday! It really makes fun to read your article and look at your pictures of these wonderful places. I only have been in Rome before and in Tuscany, but Umbria is still missing on my travel list. It must be lovely there!
    Hugs, Nadine

    1. Bonsoir Nadine, Oh, Umbria is fantastic. I only discovered this region this year, and I am in love! They are famous for truffles, olive groves, amazing soups and stews, the most beautiful hills… 🙂 Bon week-end, Mimi x

  18. Querida Mimi, unos recuerdos familiares hermosos y divertidos. Italia es absolutamente bella ,tambiėn me siento totalmente enamorada de su comida ,su historia, sus monumentos, su gente…. Oh!,, Mimi, por fin recibī tu libro , es magnífico, tengo ganas de que nos comuniques cuando saldrá tu segundo libro. Todo lo que compartis ės tan bello, y tan inspirador. Un gran abrazo. Rosa.

  19. I have to say, italian food – of the rustic, homely kind – is my doom. I could sit down for a five course meal of italian cuisine filled with the scents of tomatoes and oregano and freshly made pasta and olives and… well, you get it. My inspiration for cooking comes very much from Italy, from my perhaps romanticized notion of italian homecooking, as well as my truly romaticized vision – as I have lived there – of brittish home cooking. But I kind of like these romanticized notions of mine, as they push me further and farther from my comfort zones and my ow roots. Still, I am lately thnking I should perhaps delve more into my own country’s cuisine, as it is so rich in flavours and ingredients…
    http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/

    1. Bonsoir Miranda, How can anyone resist Italian food? I love the variety of cuisine you get from region to region. Portugal has amazing food too, you should definitely dive deep into your roots! Happy cooking, Mimi x

  20. Hi Mimi,
    The sound of this trip seems beautiful and delicious. Always enjoying your adventures.
    I love the ingredients of the farro bean soup. I will try it but will keep it vegetarian for my princess.
    Best wishes xo

  21. The soup is amazing! I could eat the pot aaaall by myself! Thank you for always sharing recipes that drive me into the kitchen and stories that make me smile.

  22. I just wanted to say how much I enjoy reading your posts from here in Brunei . Your food looks so delicious and its presented beautifully … I love your kitchenware , so gorgeous and French. I am English and over here with my husband and two girls for a couple of years . I am going to try your chocolate meringues …. Hope the humidity here will be kind ! My sisters live in France , can’t wait to visit again ! All the best and Thankyou.x

    1. Bonjour Debbie, thanks for such a sweet message all the way from Brunei! I am so happy to hear you enjoy the blog, and hope you get inspiration to cook a lovely meal. Good luck with the meringues! Mimi x

  23. Mimi, I saw on Instagram a notice of your new blog post. I was away for the weekend when it came in and had to try reading this post in miniature on my phone. Oddur’s teeny weeny photos were still so alluring and I could hardly wait to read your stories of Italy, so the I tried enlarging the view. It was impossible to read that way. I’m home now and just finished a good read of your delightful post on a nice big screen! So wonderful, your words just about animate the characters in the photos. l would so love to see your stories brought to life on film some day. Thanks for more lovely, inspiring recipes. And thanks for lots of laughs too – starting with your routing comments about “Dick” to your friend, Yolanda 😄, and, as always, the funny antics of your family. Love your posts! xx Linny

    1. Bonjour chère Linny, lovely to hear from you! We had a fantastic time in Umbria, so many memories! I hope you’ll get to try these recipes, simple and delicious! Have a lovely week! Mimix

  24. What a grandiose adventure! I can almost taste the juicy tomatoes. Gaia ‘s little episode had me chuckling LOL! I love us girls. I grew up in a house full of them and I hope to have a daughter one day! I love that you family goes on such holidays! I believe that travel is just as important as school. It educates the soul. I love that you don’t make excuses and just go! No matter how little your little ones are. Now THATS real living! The recipes play starring roles in your adventure and act as beautiful bookmarks in an awesome story. Call me high maintenance but I would much rather be the primadonnas of this story LOL. It feels regal! Thank you for sharing the beauty of Italy, it’s delectable tastes, and your darling family with us. I was overjoyed to get a taste of Italy . I believe their art is as their food; rich, bright, soulful, and memorable. Your posts never cease to inspire me. As I am sure you can tell on Instagram 😜.

    One of your biggest fans,

    Tiffany 🌸

    1. Bonjour Tiffany! Comment ça va? A big thank you for all the lovely drawings on Instagram – the cèpes look divine, you are one talented lady, you know that?! What a gift you have, and thank you for always making my day! Have a lovely week, filled with adventure! Mimix

  25. Loved the escallops, but the faro bean soup is earthlier, closer to what we’d make here in a Fall/Winter day:)
    And as always, the post is BEAUTIFUL, full of amazing photos with a great storytelling. You know how to make us crave for more dear Mimi!:)
    Have a beautiful week ahead!
    xoxoxo

  26. What a nice post! Always beautiful to read about my beloved home town, Todi! Next time in Todi, contact me: it would be nice to know you and to show you the many jewels of my town 🙂

  27. Dear Mimi, I am your fan! So happy that you enjoyed my chosen town – Todi. I’m Brazilian and left my country after I felt in love with this medieval town.
    I’m trying to promote the city and just did a repost on my profile ( Locandadidoris) I have a small B&B in the countryside ( Cordigliano). I was in Brazil for my dad’s birhtday when you came. Best wishes
    Doris

  28. Dear Mimi,
    We just love Italy too, it was so fun to hear of your adventures there and see all of those beautiful photos! It makes me want to return……Peter and I loved being part of the early October workshop. Making the chou farci from your cookbook was a highlight. I’d like to make it in the states, but am not sure what kind of sausage to use. Did the sausage we used have any spices in it, or was it simply ground pork? I hope you’re enjoying fall in the Medoc, I’m sure it’s more beautiful than ever. All the best, Megan

    1. Hi Megan, lovely to hear from you! We had such a lovely time with you and Peter, and what a fun workshop it was! For the chou farci, I used sausages ‘Noir de Bigorre’, a Basque variety of black pig. If you can’t find something similar, I would go for good-quality sausages, and adjust the seasoning. Big hugs, Mimi x

  29. So, you’ve seen Rome without me ::)). Well… definetely without me. There are… let’s say better places than Dal Bolognese.
    Café Tassa d’Oro?? Incredible… It may be perhaps…. La Casa del Caffè Tazza d’ Oro in Via degli Orfani? Not far from Piazza Navona?
    Such a nice description.. I recognise your style even when you miss your “styling” elements. And you are absolutely charming! And yes… I did find your book! (It was by the end of August, and I was digging around a huge La Feltrinelli shop).

    Hope your next destination in Italy will be Tuscany… ) The places of my heart.
    I will be glad to guide your both teams.

    Happy new season, Luana.

    1. Ciao Luana, what a lovely time we had in Italy! Rome was fun, and yes, it’s the Tassa D’Oro by Piazza Navona. Alas, we didn’t have time to go to all my favorite places, like Piperno’s in the old quarter, Al Moro for the carbonara… I’ll have to go back soon, because we bought a beautiful bowl in an antique store and forgot to pick it up! 🙂 Thanks for having my book, so happy to hear! Mimi x

      1. Ciao! Do you really appreciate the Jewish cuisine?? in that case, I must prepare a dinner (or lunch) for you!
        I would not reccomend “Al Moro”.. but this is a long story. Just let me know when you come, I will be sincerly happy to meet and guide you & your family.

        PS: Your book was placed right near a Gordon Ramsay’s super elegant recipes book… I was really surprised and happy to find it!
        🙂

  30. Hi Mimi. I’m pleased to see that you managed to escape for a few days! Looks like you had fun. I love just escaping in the car with kids and dog, too, particularly when it’s spontaneous. I do like the Italian way with veg. Simple yet elegant cooking, yum!

  31. Salud, Mimi,

    J’adore Orvieto. J’en ai de beaux souvenirs gastronomiques — minestra orvietana (semblable a la ribollita toscane), ragout de marcassin. Vous savez peut-etre qu’il y a un joli petit vin rouge d’Orvieto.

    Merci de votre histoire de voyage et des recettes. Je vais essayer votre potage de farro.

    Meilleures voeux,

    Pat

  32. I’m LATE…….sono molto TARDE!I donot receive your POSTS anymore nor anyones for that matter!Have no idea what happened!So, will re-subscribe under my AOL address!
    Just have to say I loved this story……and will need to go back tomorrow morning and re-read it!From DICK to the PRIMADONNAS to the BOYS beating YOU to the table for lunch…………it makes me smile from ear to ear!XOOX

  33. Wow…this is so cool. You guys sure had loads of fun. What I am most interested in is – how did you manage to write such a long yet such an awesome post? This is at least a 3000 words piece and I can never gather so much patience.

  34. Any other restaurant recommendations in Rome? Will be there for the first time this Fall.
    On another note, I recently made your duck burgers – A-mazing!

  35. Yesterday I made your Farro & Bean soup Mimi and had my family over for dinner. It was wonderful and a huge hit. As we ate I kept hearing “unreal”, “outstanding”, “this is now my favorite soup” and on and on. I went to our Whole Foods store and bought several items that were imported from Italy. The Proscuitto which was freshly sliced, the farro, canned tomatoes and parmesan cheese. The lentils from France. I’m a firm believer in “the whole is equal to the sum of its parts” but all that aside, what a wonderful recipe Mimi. Thanks so much! I’ll be making this over and over again. I’ve had my Le Crueset pot for about 8 years now but only a year ago did I start keeping a list of all the soups I make in it. I have made 24 to date and 6 were your delicious soups. I still want to make your Parmesan Soup. I watch a PBS series called I’ll Have What Phil’s Having and he travels to major cities around the world going to lots of good restaurants. Two weeks ago he was in Paris and just happened to go to one of your favorite restaurants you told us about called L’ Ami Jean’. He didn’t make the parmesan soup but seeing the restaurant and watching him cook sure peaked my interest again to make the soup. Soon! I have also made a number of recipes both sweet and savory from your cookbook and your blog. I am a huge fan of yours! Your wonderful stories and food and Oddur’s beautiful photography! What a great team you are.

  36. Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us. We were in Rome this past week (my family’s first visit) and, like, you, traveling with our four children and needing to find decent food — fast.

    Our first meal was something I had never, ever heard about: Pinsa Romana. Basically, a fermented dough pizza that is a specialty of Rome. A mixture of soy, wheat, and rice flours, started with a ‘sourdough’, it was light and fluffy and delicious.

    I tried sweet-talking the chef into sharing the recipe, and finally offering to buy the dough uncooked (as a sourdough), but he kindly said ‘no, it’s not possible’.

    Have you had Pinsa Romana? If so, is there a chance you can share a basic recipe? My google searches are coming up empty so far….

    Warmest regards to you and your family.

  37. Living La Dolce Vita!
    This definitely beautiful life.
    I dream
    about traveling with my whole family but still not happen. Your story is my inspiration.

  38. Dear Mimi, I’m the lady living in Saudi Arabia who came over to see you with my son! I’ve been following your culunary adventures for months with passion and admiration. When my husband said to me “we need to go to Bordeaux for next holidays cause I have business to do around there” I said “Great Idea” and replyed “let’s find the finest accomodation in Medoc to have the chance to visit this amazing wine area”.
    Actually he didn’t know that I had an sharp idea in my mind. Then we spotted to Chateau Cordeillan-Bages and my heart bounced when I recognized the french three-color flag painted car in which oddur pictured you few months ago and posted in your blog ! How could I have resisted to come over to see you, just to say hello to your huge and cut family ? So thank you very much for your kind and simple greeting even if it was so short ! But I didn’t want to disturb you as my visit was unexpected. Never mind, I’m so happy to dare it. You made my day ! Thank you again Mimi and thank to your husband to be nice with me. If by any chance my vacations in France matched with your workshop session I would try to attend it. Xoxo Anna

  39. Quelle aventure! Les primadonnas sont vraiment fantastiques! J’adorée lire ton article Mimi, c’est vraiment très bien écrit. Pendant quelques minutes, moi aussi j’étais à Rome. J’aime tellement cette ville, j’hâte de retourner, je garde tout les adresses pour la prochaine fois.
    Les photos sont un régal comme d’habitude.
    Je profite aussi pour dire que ton livre de cuisine es merveilleux. J’ai réalisé le gratin de butternut et je me permis de mettre la recette dans mon blog. Je te souhaite une jolie mois de novembre. xoxo
    Ps: je suis impatiente de recevoir la “little box” de novembre!

  40. Votre blog est toujours aussi attractif et élégant. J’attends toujours avec impatience vos nouveaux articles. J’ai acheté votre livre qui est un vrai régal pour les yeux et les papilles. Ferez – vous une séance de dédicaces en France ?
    En tout cas, merci pour le bonheur de vous lire.

  41. Chère Mimi, Je vous ai contacte l’année dernière pour aller a votre chambre d’hôte, pas encore installe et on est allez a Ormes de Pez!:) merci….:). On habite a Paris et on descend tout les Noëls en voiture vers l’Espagne et on adore passer 2 jours au Médoc. Cette année on aimerai y retourner et on voudrait rester chez vous si c’est possible, le 18 et 19 décembre 2015, on est 2. Pouvez vous nous contacter?merci beaucoup!!!

  42. Quelle découverte ! Votre blog est splendide, les photos donnent un côté intimiste que j’adore, vraiment c’est l’idée parfaite du blogging ! Bravo 🙂
    J’aimerais beaucoup avoir votre avis sur le mien, je fais un peu de photographie et parfois culinaire, donc si jamais.. : http://yehohanaan.com

  43. Mimi! Your blog is beautiful. I notice you usually have a starter, plat, and dessert. I was wondering if you typically have a salad between plat and dessert in your home? I am told this is popular in France

  44. Wow… Your blog are absolutely stunning. Your photos are looking so gorgeous. I really hope I can try all these foods right now. Thanks for sharing your beautiful life of your family

  45. This wonderful post reminds me of Marlena de Blasi’s new book “The Umbrian Thursday Night Supper Club”. Looking forward to your next book as well! Best Wishes ~ Rhiannon

  46. Dear Mimi,
    I’ve been following your delightful blog and your photos on Instagram for a little while. I enjoy reading your stories as much as the recipes, and the photos are always so inspiring as well. I was so relieved when you posted on Instagram after the attacks on Paris that you and your family are all well.
    Love,
    Keri

  47. hi Mimi,

    your blog is so wonderful. thanks for all your stories and recipes. Could you update your recipe side so that we can find your delicious recipes more easily?

    thanks a lot and greetings from Vienna!

    Sophie.

  48. Mimi, I was wondering what FARRO is. I wanted to make your Farro soup but don’t know what Farro is. Could you tell me?
    Happy New Years Mimi and family!

Leave a Reply