Scandura, "Bixby," Booze, and More

Today, I wanted to go to Scandura. The service is "ottimo," the caffè and pasticcini are excellent, the restaurant and pizzeria are top-notch, the setting is adorable, and they make their own chocolate. Is it perhaps heaven? For me, yes.

I destroyed the fanciful heart design they made on my cappuccino before I took a picture of it.

The pastry and tavola calda station, behind the high top with cute stools.

On the way there, as always these days, I'm on the lookout for houses for sale. There are two ways to reach Scandura; we took the slightly longer way there, up via Cristoforo Colombo, far past the serial killer property we saw with the realtor. I noticed some changes since the spring, most notably the changed property that was once weeds and garbage.

The weedy plot is now a track and field area for, I'm assuming, the school next door.

The scent of these fills the air.

I described this pretty, rocky edifice in an earlier post. Too bad the best views of it is from an industrial area.

Joe channeled his brother-in-law who, on our trip to Italy together in 2014, always sped ahead of the group. We didn't know why, since he had to stop and wait for us anyway! So we started teasing him, saying, "You win!" 

Maybe it's a guy thing. My brother-in-law has also been known to do this.

Playing the game "Hunt for the Husband".

Perhaps he's 'round the bend.

Scandura, where the two routes meet. 

Ok; I'm teasing. I know I can be slow. I like to savor the sights and enjoy the journey. And I understand it can be a real pain to put up with me doing that.

I stop frequently, to take pictures. This home, with its terrace we've admired over the years, is for sale. I stopped to photograph it to look up online later. I mean; we're here on a house-hunting mission, so... this is what 

I'll be doing.

When I had broadened my search a couple of days ago, I shared some finds with my sister. Her first question: Is it close to conveniences? Groceries, gas station, post office, shopping, airport, etc?

Great question. When folks dream of spending forever in Italy, they think of their vacations. As expats here reiterate over and over, visiting Italy is not at all like living in Italy, whether part-time or full-time. There are, in fact, a ton of memes about just that. As a tourist, you don't have to know all the nuances. Anyway, there is a lot to measure, to say the least. It can be overwhelming if I allow it. Which I won't. 

After our late-morning Scandura visit, we continued down via Vittorio Emanuele to "the booze shop". There is a new-ish quality wine and liquor store, where Joe wanted to buy the fixings for a proper Negroni. The owner recognized us (!) and remembered I love their torroncini candy, offering us a couple of them before we left.

One listing proved true, showing a prime location next to Maria Teresa's church.

I can't resist a photo of a cute old man.

I hadn't noticed this before today. It was installed a year after we first arrived.

NOOOOO!!! It can't be! No bottle line up? Did something happen to my mystery drunkard?

I need more fresh ricotta, but neither of the two places had it when we stopped in. "Tomorrow," said Maria from behind the deli counter at Crai.

Elena called, shortly after we got home, saying she has for me "the Bixby". Ummm. Ok. The what? Bixby. Do you want me to come down? I asked, still trying to politely decipher. Sure. Ahhh; now I get it! She made chick peas for us. Elena was on a work call when I arrived. Mariella was ladling some into a bowl for me, but stopped when I came in. "Baciami," she ordered, so I kiss-kissed her. She handed me the bowl, suggesting I add pasta if I want; that's how she's preparing it for Nonno.

A quite perfect moka caffè after lunch.

I started mopping the floor after we ate our lunch, including the balcony where Joe scrubbed the grill clean, and that's the moment Ettore walked in and trampled the wet outdoor floor in his (briefly) white socks. I later apologized to Elena for their chiaroscuro.

We all had four hours of fun; some of it exhausting, but I'll take time with this kid any way I can get it. We laugh together a lot, and I confess having an addiction to the love I see in his eyes. I need that fix every so often. And it gives Joe and I a chance at something otherwise impossible; growing a family together. None of this takes away from the loves we each have and have raised, but we missed out on the experience of raising either of them together. This gives us our own chance to fill in the blanks as a couple. As I've often said, "It's not pie." More is more, not a subtraction from what's already there. What am I explaining... anyone with a loving, open heart gets this.

Joe pretends not to notice his ciabatte being stolen (house slippers)

Elena came to get Ettore quite a bit later, asking if I was crazy having him here for so many hours. Next time, just throw him down the stairs, she said. "Or take him to Mommy's," she reconsidered. She had been working, and assumed he was with Mariella all this time. She apologized. I told her to quit being crazy. I love spending time with him.

During our play time, Joe had ducked out to buy pork chops from the macelleria. We bought corna di bue peppers at the market yesterday, which prompted a menu that included pork chops; a perfect pairing. These peppers, grilled with just a swath of olive oil, turn out like caramel candy. Melt in your mouth sweet. And these are real pork chops-- a delicious rim of fat, and full of flavor.

A nice accompaniment.

Also for dinner, I made bietola, a chard, with zucchine bionde, a pale zucchine, and white wine, onion, garlic, and chili pepper flakes. I happen to love this bitter leafy green, so I ate most of it. The vitamin content is a bomb of health and goodness. This bitter leaf really cures everything when regularly consumed, including osteoarthritis. The hearty sesame bread from A Maidda sopped up the flavorful brodo.

I ate a ton of everything, and I am stuffed. 

As we were finishing dinner, we called to check in on Joe's sister, Ginny. She had a knee replacement before we left, and we wanted to make sure her recovery was still going in the right direction. It sounds as if all is well, as she's already fantasizing about a round of golf on Halloween.

And speaking of sisters, I got a lovely voicemail from mine, saying, in an Italian accent, simply, "Kah-ren, I meese you..."

Gosh; I miss her too..!!!!

And now, at nearly 11:00 pm, we still hear the neighbor kids playing outside, and I need to wash up and get into my PJs. 

It's been another warm, sunny, nice day, and I am eternally grateful for this life I've been offered. But the morning comes early.

Buonanotte.

************

Pasta e Ceci recipe:

2 swirls olive oil

1  small onion, peeled, chopped

1  stick celery, chopped (include leaves)

1  garlic clove, minced

2  sprigs fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped

2 cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed

3  (+/-) cups  chicken stock

1/2 box  ditalini

Fresh parsley, chopped

Heat a large soup pan, medium-low heat, and add olive oil. Saute the onion, celery, and garlic, covered, until soft and translucent, about 15 minutes.

Add rosemary, chickpeas and stock, bring to a low boil. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes until the chickpeas are soft. Remove half the chickpeas with a slotted spoon, and purée the remaining soup in a blender or with an immersion blender. Return the purée and reserved chickpeas to the pot, then add in the pasta.

Cook until the pasta is tender, adding boiling water if necessary to loosen. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve with fresh parsley or basil leaves on top, and a drizzle of olive oil.