Reunions and roses

It's been a hectic few days here, nothing new there but we have been thrilled to welcome back Simon & Kayleigh who were kind enough to involve us in their wedding two years ago.  The lovely couple had been here on holiday two years prior to their wedding and came back for a wedding rekkie a year later after they had become engaged and decided this was the place for them.  It was our biggest wedding to date with 54 guests for our 6 course banquet on the terrace with the Tuscan hills and a dramatic sunset for the perfect backdrop.  Weddings are always a hairy affair for us!  We stop sleeping about two weeks prior and start to panic that some unforseen event will ruin the bride and grooms most precious day......no pressure!  The larger the number, the hairier it becomes!  However, Kayleigh was a bride organised unlike any other and arranged the event with military precision.....oh if all brides and grooms had a Kayleigh!  It left very little for us to panic about and it was a huge success and lots of fun.  Spending an entire week with a couples friends and family makes us a part of the festivities and it is all very personal.  We have become friends with all of our brides and grooms and it is such a pleasure when they come back (apart from the hangovers!).  If you are looking to get married in Tuscany or at Patrignone have a look at our weddings section here http://www.patrignone.com/58/Patrignone_Weddings.html.
As a suitable send off for Simon and Kayels we had our weekly banquet last night as it was their last night with us.  Everyone staying came along and enjoyed the four course banquet and I made sure to do some of the dishes from the wedding including deep fried battered sage leaves with anchovy, crostini with gorgonzola dolce and caramelised pear and rosemary crusted chicken fillets with tomato, caper and olive salsa.  Dolce was dictated by the garden this week with pistacchio and rose cake.  We have three large pushes of these wonderful, dense pink roses that are very heavily perfumed.  Their flavour is heady enough to make a delicious licquor and the petals, when sugared are beautiful and yummy.

Local markets and good food

Tuesday is Poggibonsi market day.  Poggibonsi is our nearest large shopping town, about 20 minutes drive away.  There are a number of large supermarkets, a couple of big industrial estates and lots of ugly buildings.  Unfortunately Poggi, as it is called by us locals(!), was hit very badly in the Second World War and was not sympathetically restored.  It thrives as a community and holds, arguably, the best food market in Tuscany every Tuesday morning. Poggi market is the reason I tend to cook for our guests on a Wednesday.  I buy all of our Pecorino and parmesan from Andrea Frati who runs a small stall with his brother that they have taken over from their mother and grandfather.  They don't make the cheese but they do make their own salscicca (Italian sausages, 100% meat and delicious) and their own porchetta.  Porchetta is Tuscan barbeque!  Slow roasted over night with rosemary, sage and fennel, it is served in slices.  I find everyone elses very salty, too salty but Andrea's is delicately spiced and seasoned, the meat is tender and the crackling is delcious and crunchy.  In my opinion, this is the best porchetta in Tuscany!  I buy my fruit and veg from a lady and her daughter who grow their own produce and sell dried beans, homemade 6 year old Vin Santo (desert wine), homemade salsas and honey.  I know when I buy from them that the food is ripe and seasonal and therefore delicious and good for us.  When you come to Italy food is bound to be one of your reasons for coming so don't miss out on your nearest street market.  Don't be put off by the language, many market holders won't speak English but pointing is a universal language and they will automatically offer up cheeses and meats for you to try before you buy.  See our website for a list of markets closest to us (http://www.patrignone.com/57/markets.html)