Travel Convention to Promote Puglia..

Each week we have been viewing Sunday in Italy with Yle, in Lecce, Italy.  
This week Yle is returning from a large travel convention in Milan.   Even after a busy week out of town, Yle found time to tell us how she spent Sunday!

Let's step into the local shops in Lecce, Yle's favorite places to buy the freshest items for Sunday lunch with mamma Anne and her family.     I can almost smell the wonderful  aromas coming  from the stove, see the table spread with all my new "Italian favorites".  So let's hurry with our shoping so we can get to mamma Anne's........

Next week Yle, can you take us to the bar for una cafe?  All the many choices, so little time.....

SUNDAY:  among fascinating places and a magical atmosphere

By Ylenia Sambati

It has been a very busy week..oh mamma mia..  1. Spring tour to finalise for a group of women who contacted me for a tailored travel experience:   a 50^th birthday to celebrate on a vespa scooter and fiat 500 car, amidst olive trees, white-washed walls and amazing country houses to explore 

2.   an international tourism fair (BIT) I attended in Milan for the announcement of an educational workshop tour for travel agents and tour operators interested in the Puglia Salento area.    “Buy Salento”,  will take place in September,  to discover the area and meet professional local tour agents.   

Our Puglia stand was literary overwhelmed by visitors from all over the world so curious to know .  more about this appealing destination in Italy.     In addition to the beautiful videos and images displayed all around them,  there was a gorgeous team of Puglia chefs and sommeliers cooking during the fair  and introducing our great wines.

Most of all, what impressed me most were the warm smiles of the local folks presenting their gems with such  enthusiasm and a joy that it was really a pleasure meeting them and to learn more about their stories.

BACK IN LECCE;

As soon as I arrived to Lecce in the morning (it was cold and foggy in Milan..sunny so sunny in Lecce), where my brother collected me at the railway station,.  We went to a central bar – which opens very early even on Sunday morning - to have breakfast (fare colazione) together.  We will meet each other later on at mum’s house for the Sunday lunch.  

A quick shower and off to say hello to my horse and breath some stunning fresh air, surrounded by the beautiful colors of the nature that is very much similar to a blooming spring than  mid February weather. The scenery was unbelievable around my horse and me and the sun was shining giving some of the most beautiful panoramas. It was calm, it was rustic and it was very sweet. I could smell the aromas of the countryside.

Today I wanted to shop for fresh cheese and joined my friend and cheese maker Maria who makes a wonderful fresh cheese called ricotta and “primo sale”. I was very lucky because she was there, so that I could say hello to her and have a fun talk on my travel to Milan.

Before heading to my mum’s house I had an “apperitivo” with a couple of friends in the main Piazza of my town and took the chance to sit in the sun and enjoy some delicious appetizers with them. We needed to meet and update on so many things!

Lunch was amazing as always......everybody was excited to tast the fresh cheese I bought and I immediately put it on a beautiful big dish.  Presentation is very important on our tables.   We like decorating cheese with arugula or fresh salad leaves and little round shining red tomatoes.  There was  also an inviting traditional dish called “” (White Broad Beans and Chicory) on the table..and for those who would like it to make our way, here is the recipe:

300 gr white broad beans (dried and shelled), extra virgin olive oil, 300 gr of wild chicory, a medium onion salt. The broad beans have been soaked in salted water overnight. Then you should drain and put the beans with some slices onion in a glazed clay pot covered with water. While cooking it, remember to often stir with a wood spoon until it becomes a puree. Meanwhile, cook the chicory in abundant salted water. Serve them together and season with olive oil.

Coffee was served with some chocolates my mum’s received from a nephew who had visited her during the week..but my sister in law had also made a delicious cake with yogurt and blueberries. She pretended it was light…and that was a big excuse for all of us to have a big slice!

After Lunch:
I received a phone call from a friend of mine inviting me to join him for a photo tour among Lecce old palaces on board  his fantastic classic car “Isetta”.
As a matter of fact taking pictures early in the afternoon in the historical centre with the stunning light of the leccese golden stone (pietra leccese) allows you to make really beautiful pictures imbued with a soft and warm atmosphere.

Much to our pleasure we met some other friends and decided to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate in a book store where they serve a big variety of afternoon biscuits and where you can also listen to some lovely music.

For dinner I am going to make a focacia. The dough is rising and I will season it with tomatoes, extra virgin oil, basil and a pinch of salt with some great complimentary local wines.






After such a busy week, this Sunday was simply beautiful. I could not have asked more. 

See you next Sunday (domenica prossima) for another beautiful day to spend together.
Baci!      
                       Yle

Sunday with Yle in Lecce, Puglia: the Chocolate Festival!

This Sunday we find Yle at the chocolate festival in Lecce!   Almost everyone loves chocolate and now you can experience the trill through Yle's description.
You can almost smell and taste the wonderful treasures she finds at the festival....

Our guide, Yle

What would life look like without chocolate?

By Ylenia Sambati
 
This will be a very special Sunday! Since my awaking I knew that tons of chocolate were right calling me in the main “Piazza” (Square) of Lecce, my beautiful baroque city. An event totally devoted to chocolate in any possible shape and made by artisans from all around Italy. I was excited like a little girl..chocolate is a very important part of my daily food program..every night after dinner – Love it! – I have a little “quadratino” of dark chocolate so as you can imagine this event in my town meant a lot of joy and caloric photos to me              

                                                                                                           Before heading  to the

Piazza, I went to the Sunday farmer market to shop for some fresh vegetables (and balance a good salad with a big chocolate dessert). There are several Sunday farmer markets actually, it’s always up to you were to shop: a couple are in town and some others by the ocean. This time I decided to visit the one in town because I did not want to waste time and go to the choco market as soon as possible.

On my way to the Piazza, I enjoyed another delicious break with a cappuccino and a “cornetto”, just like the typical Italian breakfast usually is. It is always difficult to choose a bar for breakfast in Italy because most of the time they display irresistible things!

Because spring is not that far – despite the snow in Italy – my attention was captured by some lovely bikes on sale. We have wonderful itineraries in the countryside or by the ocean – although a bike ride amidst the Leccese baroque stone is a must - and a bike ride is always a good idea to stay fit, breath some uncontaminated air and take the chance to stop in little coloured villages. I will probably contact the number on the sign and ask the price of this old bike.

I walked to the Piazza and what my eyes saw was unbelievable: any shape and kind of chocolate with plenty of artisans asking all the same question:
          “would you like to taste?"    

My first (of many) stops was in front of a giant Rocher, something the kind boy cut like parmesan although it was chocolate.
Probably my enthusiasm was contagious on that shape because several people stopped and even without tasting it they just bought!
Next to me there were some Chinese tourists that I supposed were going to take hundreds of pictures, but I can honestly promise, they were more interested in tasting than anything else (so did I).

Romantic chocolate is another good excuse to eat it and choco hearts were actually all around me.  Legend has that Valentine’s Day is for lovers and I always suggest to my friends to offer chocolate rather than flowers.

There was also the Romeo and Juliet’s balcony in chocolate version. Very cute..and many more chocolate hearths that I personally bought to offer to friends.     

Much to my pleasure I found an artisan from Sicily selling cannoli, cassatine and arancini and it was here that I spent quite a lot of time. I love Sicilian accent which is actually very similar to our Salento accent (we stress a lot on vowels and are very passionate when we talk) and I really wanted to know more about cannoli. I was told that the only true unique cannoli are from Sicily – and I agreed of course – and that the ricotta cream inside should be only sheep ricotta and not any other kind. I did not know that and found it very interesting.

Of course while talking I was distracted by all these incredible cannoli, cassatine and arancini all tempting me and could only think of buying them. I was also told that arancini (round ball of rice filled with peas and meat) can also be vegetarian – which made me very happy – filled with spinach and mozzarella. I phoned my mom in a break and told her I was in front of cannoli and more delicious things and she immediately asked me to shop and bring them home! I bought a good number of them for my mum and auntie (because I know she adores them), then a couple of cassatine, and three arancini in all (one of them vegetarian of course).

Candy Pops!

Just time to turn my back and another choco artisan was looking in my direction with a big smile on his face that could only be an invitation..how many stops already? Three lovely ladies were selecting their chocolates with some shoppers with their hands full of bread and mandarins. The artisan told me: "you want to taste dark or milk chocolate signorina…and please have a look at our cremini, delicious”.  

It was just a little slice of heaven. The choco scenery around me was unbelievable. It was simply beautiful.  While continuing shopping for chocolate I met two lovely friends who had had the same idea and we shared suggestions on what to taste and buy – awesome Sunday choco talk – they were more focused on milk chocolate with nuts and praline

 It was a fun experience. I actually got in a long walk through the beautiful narrow streets of the historical centre and head to a book shop (felt keen on buying a nice book) and drink a cup of coffee with my friends. I love book shops especially when they are cozy places where you can look for your book in tranquility and selects among hundreds of titles. I found many books in English on Puglia cooking, most of them written by American foodies, but also some very interesting ones written by local chefs. It was very sweet. Puglia cooking, most of them written by American foodies, but also some very interesting ones written by local chefs. It was very sweet.

My lovely Sunday ended up in a wine bar next to the book shop, a really nice place to meet friends and relax.

Gotta love waking up in Puglia.                                                     Ciao Ciao see you next Sunday!

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More pics of this choco market experience on our facebook page:   http://www.facebook.com/yltour

Yltour Slow Life and Culinary Paradise in Puglia

www.yltourcongressi.com

 

 

                                        

                                              

  

A new series on life in Puglia, Italy

Buono Cibo, amici e Famiglia, in Puglia with Yle


Good food, Friends and family in Puglia Italy wit Yle, a personal travel consultant who can make YOUR dream trip to Italy a reality.....http://www.yltourcongressi.it 

Sunday at mama Anna's house. Yle's sister (right)

Each Sunday we will try to share an Italian experience with Yle, visiting family, eating Sunday dinner exactly at 1:30 at her mama Anna's table so not to miss wonderful food, visiting with family and enjoying life minute by minute.   Step inside an Italian home and sit at the table.  Become one of the family and enjoy the beautiful life.......

Are there any other Italian Americans who remember Sunday's in the USA?    Did you visit your grandparents or did Nonna and Zia or Zio come to your house?   I always thought it was "normal" to have a large meal on Sunday.    We were at home that day, not going to the movies or a ball game.   This was the one day my dad did not work all day.   We would often go to the bakery for Italian bread and buns but nothing as wonderful as Yle will show in the following.     And I remember Nonna watching Lawrence Welk before she went back to her house!

Future topics will include wine, outdoor markets, homemade bread and pasta, Italian festivals,  how to spend an Italian weekend.....    and much more.  
What would you like Yle to tell us about?     



Following is Yle's description of Sunday Feb 5, 2012 in Lecce, Italy.

Life seems to be so sweet here in Salento Puglia

A winter Sunday spent with the family, lived in harmony with the people I love most. Our trip exploring  Puglia with me (Yle) starts here .. in a very special and cozy place .. the kitchen of my Mum Anne and a stroll by the ocean .. simply beautiful.   ..

I was at home after having my breakfast Italian style (usually capuccino or espresso and something sweet), when my sister Azzurra called me and invited me for a ride to the beach, for local bread shopping at a small farm in the countryside and lunch together cooking with mom. I accepted right away ..I just needed this comfortable family relaxation.

                                                                                            Our tour began with a visit to our quarter horse (we bring him fresh chicories every Sunday and he loves our delicious visit) a quick coffee at the barand away towards the sea. Our first stop was in a small bakery in the countryside (not far from the ocean) where you can buy bread and pucce (our typical bread) of any kind. My sister could not resist the awesome smell of the bread we bought and she started eating it as soon as we left the bakery.


   Usually on Sundays I make the bread for the family, but this time I decided to be "lazy" and go and buy it by the sea in good company. What fragrance in this bakery and how many people in line to buy it! For us Sunday is a very special day of slow down and family relaxation. We usually go to small lovely places by the ocean or in the countryside to shop fruit, vegetables, bread and cheese. During this lovely “strolls” we often buy vegetables in boxes directly from producers to consume during the week .

Soon after, we headed out to the seaside.  Nature already seems to call for the arrival of spring. Flowers are already blooming and light up the green mantle beneath the olive trees. With my sister we decided to stop for a funny photo  amidst the flowers in February (while in the rest of Europe, including Italy, it snows).

The bakery is not far from the sea, so we decided to take a walk on the beach .. fantastic. We heard the sound of the waves and the cold air all around us, but the desire to stay close to the sea was irresistible. Soon after we headed into town, the beautiful Lecce, just in time for cooking. 

On Sunday my mother wants the family to sit around the table on time. Her sentence is always "at the table at 1:30” and it was so. But this time we have prepared together our Sunday meal, my Mum, my sister and me. We call Azzurra by a nickname in my family....she’s Zuzzi for us.    Because my beautiful Mum knows I’m fond of vegetables she made me a surprise that I found in the pot: a traditional Salento recipe that is a mingle of seasonal vegetables: chicory, fennel, artichokes.

Today's menu pasta were the so called “Strascinati” from Brindisi, very similar to the most popular “orecchiette” but much more crushed, seasoned with tomato sauce and fresh ricotta cheese. Mum Anna made the tomato sauce in the “pignata” and grated fresh ricotta cheese.  Meanwhile Zuzzi and I were setting the table while the rest of the family arrived - all in time for lunch at 1:30.

The magic moment is usually when pasta is put into the bowl, thus giving rise to the official opening of the lunch. When it comes to fresh homemade pasta it takes a very short time to cook .. Zuzzi and I were in the kitchen with our mum to help her put the pasta on the plate, dress it with tomato sauce and fresh ricotta cheese and bring it to the table!
The lunch ended with homemade liquors (laurel today) and a good coffee in the moka.

Fresh pasta cooks very quickly.

Our family is very creative, we like all things artistic, imaginative..and so after lunch my sister and me enjoyed making some unique earrings with beautiful colored stones .. The Moka is the ubiquitous Italian coffee maker found in homes.

Later on - aftera short siesta - we will go out for a walk downtown and keep on enjoying this sweet Sunday Salento, Puglia style.

If you happen to visit me in Salento we could enjoy togetherthis beautiful stroll to the ocean, buy bread in the farmhouse and cook with my mother. Then everyone around the table with the family to meet friends and eat in good company.   

Whenever you like...there is always room for new friends at our table.

See you next Sunday with another glorious day to spend together.

Pizza school in Napoli?

Can anyone tell me how to find the Pizza School in Napoli?

While  in Sorrento, italy I visited Napoli for the San Genero Festival and street procession (I am Italian American but may have been the only non local there) I saw signs for a  Pizza School

taking the phone number was a waste of time since my language skill are that of a 3 year old and the school would not have thought I was trying to make a tomato delivery to the kitchen!

Back to Pizza. I want to learn to make Pizza in Napoli, where Pizza was born. Can someone tell me where to find this school? A helpful reader told me about the professional chefs school for pizza. 26 weeks would be great but of course not possible. Besides, when the head chef yells slice the mozzarella, i might be picking up a pepperoni!!!!

So my quest for the Napoli Pizza school continues.
http://www.hometoitaly.com/

Alberobello, Italy A world Heritage Site

Come visit for the fantasy, stay and enjoy the endless kindness of the people of Alberobello.

Yes I visited Alberobello to see the Trullia house I had heard so much about.  They are listed on the World Heritage list and although it is a life ambition to visit most of this list, I know it will not be possible.  But I shall visit as many sites in the countries I do visit in the next 10 years.
My Visit:
Being off season, I didn't expect many tourists and only found a few from the cruise ship, tour bus that stopped for a few hours.  The balance of the 1 day I could stay in Alberobello, the streets were amazingly quiet.   The staff at the "tourist shops"  were always outside, cheery and very welcoming.   They made you feel at home not as an inconvenience or a source of income as in so many other "tourist locations".
I chose to stay in one of the traditional homes for the "experience" but what I did NOT expect was how kind everyone was:  from the staff at the rental office and the stores to locals I met at the deli and other non tourist locations.

I had trouble finding anything open after the usual lunch hour and was amazed at the willingness of the young woman I met at the oil/cheese/local products store to make me a few brucetti to tide me over.
Later that night on the way back to my little house, a torrential down pour started.   I had left my umbrella in the apt and was waiting in a doorway for the rain to let up.  Being on a hilly location, the flooding water in the cobbled street became a river!
But this did not stop the very kind man who is a skilled wood carver, to walk across this river and give me his umbrella!
wow!.    I was a stranger but he went out of his way to help me...
The next day we had a great chat when I returned his umbrella.  Look for his video soon.

I had a personal tour of all the products offered in Alberobello.   With so few tourists I felt like I was the only person in town!     I am sure I talked too much and took up too much of their time, but everyone was very kind.

products available in Alberobello

Two of the women I met in one of the shops were kind enough to show me how their "doll" worked.  I am sure they had to do this hundreds of times a day..............http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IskPaoH10Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkhRGPnS0bU

Can you not smile when you view such animated and kind faces?   The entire visit was filled with welcoming people, even afte 8 or 10 hours of work.....Amazing.

Sorrento wedding

Pasta Lesson in Puglia

What do you do when you no longer have a grandmother who can teach you all the great secrets of great Italian food?

What a wonderful day in Lecce, Italy.   This 85 year old Italian grandmother shared her years of experience making fresh pasta with an Italian American who speaks very little Italian.      But that did not matter, this group of Italians shared their time and knowledge freely.   

There is a BIG difference between dry and fresh pasta!  I never knew how the different shapes were created and have even found the ribbed wooden block so I can make the rolled pasta seen in the video.

Yle made all the arrangements for me to find an Italian grandmother (Nonna) who could show me how to make pasta.  I plan to return and learn how to make dolce and biscotti (cake/cookies).

A special thank you to Debora for translating throughout the day.    Watch for our next adventure via Skype!  Martha Stewart I am not, but sono una Itlaiana1

Sailing from Venice to NYC

Are you "invisible" when you travel? Or do you make a "statement"

Have you seen the shows where someone is selected off the street for a  "make over" ?
How bad do you have to look to be selected from a crowd in a city of millions?

My 2012 adventure home to Italy this November had a stop in Great Britain.  The Queen Mary took me from NYC to Southampton, so I planned 2 days in London.  The city is always changing but it has been many years since I visited.

While watching a street performer yell at a tourist about not saying thank you a young man approached me.
One, I am always invisible when I travel.    I travel with a low profile but it sometimes amazes me that I can go unnoticed most times.   The only time this is annoying is when you want to order a meal or pay for something in a shop or an outdoor market.  But it all works.

So when I was asked if I would like a "free" hair cut make over I was surprised I was noticed by the employee assigned to go out into the street and find someone  AND then I was a little annoyed that I must have looked so bad I looked like I needed a make over!

I shared this with my hair stylist as soon as I returned.   She now has the mission to fix me so that I am invisible again.

My adventure in Puglia, Italy

After many trips to Italy I decided to explore some of the "secret" areas of Italy that I know nothing about.

Sicily and the area north of Venice have been on my list for a long time but then I met Yle.

I believe I "stumbled" on Ylena on Face Book, or she found me at HometoItaly.com  but it was a fortunate encounter!   info@yltourcongressi.com 

Yle encouraged me to come and visit Puglia.  I had a last minute opportunity to sale on the Queen Mary II in October.  With a connecting flight to Firenze (and a number of adventures in London) I was on a train to Bologna and then along the eastern coast of Italy on my way to Puglia.  This is the south eastern part of Italy, most noted for the connections by ferry to Greece.  But what a surprise.

It is not Tuscany, does not look like Umbria and does not have cities as large as Rome or Florence.  But I did find some hidden treasures that proved a week was NOT long enough to explore the small towns, the coastal routes and the slow wonderful way of life.

From Bologna I stopped at  Barletta, about a 6 hr train ride.  Some of the ride was actually along the coast and it was a very stormy day so you could see the waves crashing on the shore.  I chose Barletta for several reasons.  I needed a town with a connection to my next stop, Bari and being off season I needed a hotel with a restaurant.  Why?  Traveling solo it is always a challenge to find a place to eat that is comfortable for a solo.   This was a Sunday which means some of the restaurants would be closed.  Finally Foggia (the biggest town on my route) had no hotels (in my 100E a day budget) so I selected Barletta and a hotel on the beach.   That is another story.  How kind the staff was from picking me up at the train station in the middle of the storm to saving me some lunch when I arrived after the restaurant closed.    This was a life saver because there was 4 or more inches of rain in the street and NOTHING OPEN.    So now I know to look for hotel restaurants when I travel.

After 3 days I arrived in Lecce and met Yle.   Let her tell you about her wonderful company that can help you design a vacation or adventure that is what you have dreamed of doing in Italy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y50e4I4aiMU


Email Yle at info@yltourcongressi.com  and tell her what you have always wanted to do in Itlay:
cooking classes, wine tasting, search for your family village, art, culture, history  the opportunities are endless.

No more luggage fees when I visit Florence Italy

Do you drag too much luggage with you on vacation or trips?   After you purchase all those wonderful treasures, do you find there is no space in your bag to bring them home?    And the fees to fly with an additonal bag can be very costly.  I was recently told if my bag was over the weight limit it was 100 euros to bring the second bag!

So, in addtion to traveling with throw away clothing (items I no longer need I leave in the charity boxes in Italy at the end of the trip)  I discovered the wonderful people at Mail Box Etc in Florence Italy.
The location I use is a few blocks from the train station on Via della Scala  13.   I can leave my bag there while I travel all over Italy,   I have had them ship my bag to my next city destination so that I could stop in small towns (that do not usually have luggage storage) and when I arrived at my hotel, my bag would be waiting for me!   And when i finish my trip in Florence I have MBetc mail my extra items to my home in the USA.
My package arrives the week I ask for and has never had any damage or loss.    A very easy way to avoid the excess baggage fees AND dragging that heavy bag through the airport.

Oh and they store your luggage while you travel around Italy or Europe.

Visit my friends at Mail Box etc  they will make traveling a breeze.

MBE 0212

0.86 km

Via della Scala 13 / R  Florence

Tel: 055/268173

E-mail:mbe212@mbe.it

http://youtu.be/UXv2qRk1g2Y