Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World
Let’s start with a look the Classic Italian Beauty. Now I’ve always loved Sofia Loren and she still scrubs up really well in her eighties. But now we have Monica Bellucci, absolutely stunning at fifty-three and likely to be just like Sofia; going on forever. Different features, style and character, but still stunningly beautiful with an envious record of filming with some of the most gorgeous male leads. This morning, reading the papers over coffee in our local village of Fiano, I found two whole pages dedicated to Monica. Of course, one of the most recent well publicised encounters, was with Daniel Craig in ‘Spectre;’ phew. Foto La Repubblica
Now back in the real world; I must take you on a trip into the Tuscan countryside and remind you that it’s the season for Funghi, Castagne and Tartufi, that is Mushrooms, Chestnuts and Truffles to you and me. My man and I are already indulging in the Tartufi and Porcini Mushrooms and shortly we will be able to stuff ourselves with some of the classic deserts made with chestnuts. Now I have to say, nothing goes to waste in the Tuscan countryside, dishes are all seasonal and this means we have so much to look forward to throughout the year. Pumpkin sauce and pasta is now on the menu at Ristorante C’era una Volta, topped off with smoked ricotta cheese. Mmmm, can’t wait to go out to lunch, perhaps we will see you there! Website
Of course, I am never far from the Fashion pages and I thought you might like these designer pics in this week’s papers. A little classic black number, but with that bit of extra something, having been designed and made in Italy, and the lovely wrap around Autumn Warmers in my favourite shades. Fotos La Repubblica
And yes, we are having to wrap up a little warmer; evidence of this is the morning mist filling the valleys below us, as we open the curtains and shutters. Well, we had a delivery of logs last week and the brick floors in our monastery farmhouse are now feeling cooler. However, I do like to curl up in front of the fire with my gorgeous man, so that’s more to look forward to! Foto J Finnigan
Well, I am off to England next weekend, so will have to miss one blog and catch up with you in two weeks time. I will be in the West Country, if you want to meet up for an aperitivo, email me at june.finnigan@virgin.net I will have a small amount of paperbacks with me if you would like a signed copy! Also, do visit my new official website at June’s website
Salute and Happy New Month.
June x
OK, let’s get Mick Jagger sorted, then we can return to what else is happening in Tuscany and further afield in Italy. Mick aged seventy-four, the Stones (or should we say the stoned) and entourage arrived at Pisa airport in their own fast jet, emblazoned with their red lipped logo. In Lucca, just north of Pisa, outside the ancient walls of the city, fifty-six thousand fans roared their approval, whilst clutching probably the most sought after concert tickets of 2017. It seems Mick also made a private visit to see the original statue of David at La Galleria dell’Accedemia prior to the concert and he ate a gelato on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, as did the other English visitor of note this week, Theresa May. Well, that was exciting! Foto La Nazione.
OK, enough of that, what you really want to read about is Italian Fashion, don’t you? Well, you could hardly ignore the fact that we have just had Milan Fashion Week. Now, I take a serious interest in Italian fashion, as you know, and I can honestly say that the most beautiful clothes will not be found there.
Reading the national and local papers every day, I come across many small fashion designers who produce the most gorgeous clothes that are actually wearable! The only well-known name I really like is Prada, particularly for handbags and shoes. So here are a couple of really nice outfits that I found this week. Don’t you just love these Autumn colours? Fotos La Repubblica.
And, as I mentioned Prada handbags, here is a seasonal one to fawn over! Foto La Repubblica.
Meanwhile, back in the glorious Tuscan countryside, we are enjoying a return to lush greenery after lots of rain, cooler weather and sunshine. What a relief. And it is that time of year when the enthusiasts head off on foot or bicycle, for a three-day wine and food Slow Travel Fest. I love this idea and if my little legs were stronger, I would be there with them. It started yesterday, the 22nd from San Gimignano, past Abbadia Isola and Monteriggioni and covers thirty kilometres with fabulous views all the way; you might like to look out for next year’s event! Foto copyright Easyvoyage.
But for me, the real event this week was my plate of pasta with freshly grated Tartufo Bianco (white truffle) over the top. This is food to die for. The pasta is lightly tossed in a little butter and nothing else but the Tartufo is needed. That was Friday evening and Paolo at Ristorante C’era una Volta wasn’t sure if he would have any more this weekend. Well, I think my man and I will pop over for lunch today, just in case! If not, there are plenty of Porcini mushrooms available. Yummy! Foto J Finnigan
Yes, the beautiful walled city of Lucca attracted over fifty-five thousand fans and the majority were young enough to be their grandchildren. Thankfully the Italians love aging rockers, so I’m still in with a chance! Foto La Repubblica
Meanwhile, down in our local town of Certaldo, glamour turned to traditional costumes, as the Calambur teams were fighting it out to win the coveted victor’s banner. The Calambur is a sort of ‘It’s a Knockout’ contest between the four sections of the Commune di Certaldo, running races, obstacle courses and solving intelligence tests! Our local village Fiano, is in the red and white team and we won last year. But sadly, this time the banner went to the green and blue team called ‘Canonica’ so we had to hand the banner over. There’s always next year….. Foto La Nazione
Well, we may not have won the banner, but we can celebrate the season for Porcini Mushrooms! I am already over indulging in wood-fire grilled giant Porcini at Ristorante C’era Una Volta in Lucardo. 
Elsewhere, and in the world of Politics, another aging star has raised his profile once again and is making inroads into getting back all his old followers and lots of new ones for his Forza Italia party. Silvio Berlusconi, despite having announced that he was going to concentrate more on his family having turned eighty last year, is very much back out there on the hustings and looking very serious too. Watch this space. Foto La Repubblica
And finally, back to glamour again and one of my most favourite subjects, Italian Fashion. I have already posted some Autumn Fashion, but I have to say that I have completely fallen in love with the brand Gaudi. And, the latest colours are right up my street, gorgeous browns and russets, oh and the handbags! I know, I know, I do go on a bit, but I must blame it on the Italians, their wonderful designs and the quality they produce. I’m really looking forward to seeing my man in his new bespoke Italian suit, which will be ready soon. Wonderful! Foto La Repubblica
We have just had heavy overnight rain. “So what?” I hear you say. The UK has virtually had no summer and we are excited about the arrival of rain! Yes, I know, large parts of the World have been deluged with terrible storms and our thoughts are with those people struggling with loss of life and property. But, here in Tuscany, it has been over three months without a drop of the refreshing stuff. Now the countryside smells wonderfully damp and the vines are sighing with relief. The crazy thing is, until today it has been too hot to work outside, now it is too wet! But lets move on…. Foto Storms clouds arriving, J Finnigan.
Last week I mentioned the Certaldo Red Onion and was disturbed to hear a tourist guide beside me telling a group of American tourists all about the onion, whilst standing next to baskets of red onions that were, in my opinion, the Statina variety and not the bright red Vernina as she was indicating. You really do need to know your onions in Certaldo and it’s important to ask the vendor if they are ‘The Certaldo Onion’ and which variety they are. Now I am not trying to be clever here , and I would be very happy to have one of you knowledgeable readers put me right, if you think I am wrong! See Foto. Also, you cooks out there could tell me, which are the best varieties for the various cooking methods. Grazie Mille! Foto J Finnigan.
It is also the season for Fichi (figs to you and me) and at Ristorante C’era Una Volta in Lucardo, they were on the menu last week. Paolo the owner, grows all his own fruit and veg and the freshly picked Fichi were not going to last long. So I had my fill on two separate days in the week! Yummy. Foto J Finnigan.
about food! Back in our local village of Fiano and over coffee, I read a fascinating article by Paolo Pejrone in La Repubblica, about ‘walking’ Olive Trees. Well, you only have to see the pictures to understand why, and amazing to look at they are too. As olive trees get older they can take on the most amazing shapes and characters! Fotos Alejandro Chasklelberg.
Meanwhile, the Regional Election in Sicily is hotting up and it seems that the Rock Star of Politics, Beppe Grillo’s Five Star party, is currently slashing its way through the front-line. I love this magazine cover that depicts his rivals as either blind or struggling to see. But I am glad to see Silvio on the hustings promoting his Forza Italia party, it certainly puts the colour back in. I’ll just go and check when the elections actually take place, so don’t go away, I’ll be back in a minute…. OK, that didn’t take long; the election is on 5th November and the winning party will be found using some kind of complicated ‘proportional representation’ system. Whoever wins, the current President Rosario Crocetta will go, as he has not been candidated by his own party due to lack of popularity! I won’t go any deeper than that! But I’ll keep you posted.
On a much lighter note, as you know the Italians love film and film stars. They also love Amore and I read in the paper that Robert Redford and Jane Fonda, who are in their eighties, have made a new romantic film. This then warranted a full-page dedicated to on-screen couples inamore. Then I saw splashed across another page, that Daniel Craig is definitely back and making one more Bond! Fantastico, we and the Italians are shouting, well in print anyway. So there was some good news last week, and having decided to remove the Telegraph from my cloud, I will no longer be reading any bad news or stuff about Brexit, unless I choose to. Foto La Repubblica.
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