American chef Marlena de Blasi and her Venetian husband, Fernando, married rather late in life. In search of the rhythms of country living, the couple moves to a barely renovated former stable in Tuscany with no phone, no central heating, and something resembling a playhouse kitchen. They dwell among two hundred villagers, ancient olive groves, and hot Etruscan springs. In this patch of earth where Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio collide, there is much to feed de Blasi's two passions--food and love. We accompany the couple as they harvest grapes, gather chestnuts, forage for wild mushrooms, and climb trees in the cold of December to pick olives, one by one. Their routines are not that different from those of villagers centuries earlier.They are befriended by the mesmeric Barlozzo, a self-styled village chieftain. His fascinating stories lead de Blasi more deeply inside the soul of Tuscany. Together they visit sacred festivals and taste just-pressed olive oil, drizzled over roasted country bread, and squash blossoms, battered and deep-fried and sprayed with sea-salted water. In a cauldron set over a wood fire, they braise beans in red wine, and a stew of wild boar simmers overnight in the ashes of their hearth. Barlozzo shares his knowledge of Italian farming traditions, ancient health potions, and artisanal food makers, but he has secrets he doesn't share, and one of them concerns the beautiful Floriana, whose illness teaches Marlena that happiness is truly a choice.
Like the pleasurable tastes and textures of a fine meal, A Thousand Days in Tuscany is as satisfying as it is enticing. The author's own recipes are included.
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Review:
I found this book utterly enchanting. Marlena de Blasi has a way of describing an ordinary day that transports it to anything but ordinary. She captures the beauty in everyday life, and of course her description of life in Tuscany are magical. Every time de Blasi described a meal, I felt I could taste all the flavors coming together; as a result I was often quite hungry while reading. I've used some of her recipes, and the food has been divine.
Having spent some time living in Italy myself, it was nice to be reminded of the slower way of life. Reading about days spent harvesting olives or baking bread; the daily rituals of breakfast at the bar, made me long to return. de Blasi has such a way with language. She paints such a vivid portrait of her life in Tuscany and the family she creates there.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in food or travel. I cannot wait to read the rest of her books.
