I am a Sojourner. To sojourn means to “live temporarily in a place”. When I travel it is very important to me and my husband Al that we experience the culture, vitality and passion of the place we are visiting. There is no better way to sojourn in Italia than to spend a few hours in a local home feasting at the table of the Cesarine.
I first learned of the Home Food organization from a travel show and was immediately convinced that on our upcoming trip we would have to experience one of these amazing gastronomic events. Andrea at Home Food was so helpful in assisting me in finding just the right experience for us; and we DID find the perfect experience for our travel party!
As our two week sojourn would take us to Ferrara, we selected an event in Emilia Romagna which is known the world over for its cuisine. Gian Paolo was to be our Cesarino. As we sped down the country road on a sunny Sunday afternoon in search of the “summer home of the Countess”, we screeched to a halt upon seeing Gian Paolo standing outside his home in full chef regalia!! We suspected we had found perfection. As we stepped through the door of his magnificent 1809 home, it was as if we had stepped onto a movie set; there is no other way to describe it. Paolo (as he is usually called) warmly greeted us along with Micaela who would be joining us for lunch and acting as translator. It was only our party of four for lunch that day so we had the house of the Countess and the Cesarino all to ourselves.
Over the next three plus hours the most amazing dining and cultural event unfolded before us . . . . we were a most enthusiastic and appreciative audience so Paolo spent a lot a time at the table with us detailing all the delicacies from his kitchen. He described how he made the ragu for the pumpkin cappellacci – it is a half day process; cooking once for two hours, cooling, skimming off any accumulated fats and slow cooking again for another two hours. The result is an amazingly tender, rich ragu with no greasy residue and a perfect counterbalance to the sweetness of the cappellacci. Then he treated us to some of the special broth the salama da sugo was cooked in – it was strong and bold and he assured us not for everyone’s taste. But we loved it all!
We were even more honored when after our many questions and compliments about his home, he took us on a personal tour. We began in the magical, mysterious kitchen and toured all through his private living quarters. Soon enough it was time for us to bid Arrivederci and Grazie Mille to our wonderful host and Cesarino. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip. I encourage everyone who sojourns in Italia to seek out a Cesarine journey and immerse yourself in the experience.
Diane and Al are both freelance magazine writers in the U.S.; Diane for travel and business, Al for outdoor sporting. When they are not working, they are either traveling or planning their next sojourn. As a savvy sojourner herself, Diane offers customized concierge services helping others experience the joys of travel through her knowledge and resources. You can learn more at www.italydreamtrips.com.
