Happy Thanksgiving!

November 27, 2025

Of course I needed another trip for last-minute ingredients!

We first stopped to have a caffè at Bar Cristal, conversing with Piera, the owner, and talking about Thanksgiving Day. She looked off into space for a second. Oh! So it's on the 27th of November? We explained the last-Thursday-of-the-month thing, which seems to befuddle everyone, Piera included. Here, saints get their own day, as do public holidays. This floating date seems nebulous.

We walked past Aqua & Sapone, a store that has things Deco doesn't. I bought shoe deodorizer... we do a lot of walking. Those dogs are barking!

Coming back from, once again, Deco, we stopped at the Fratelli Stissi ortofrutta. I normally interact with Francesco, always buoyant and friendly. He was helping another customer, so his brother helped me. I may have explained in a previous post that one doesn't go in and grab their produce. The shop owner will select them for you.

I needed 4 potatoes and 2 zucchine, so, for instance, he asked what I'm making. What size potatoes? 4 small? Grande? Then he chose the best ones for me.

I spotted a leafy green in the corner, thinking it was chicory, but wasn't sure. I said, excuse my ignorance, but is that cicoria? I pronounced it like the '90s Electrik Band.

"Brava! Chee-COR-ee-ah," he subtly corrected. As we were talking, he graciously complimented my Italian speaking, asking if I'm Swiss.

"No! Lei è Francese," Francesco shouted from the other side of the room. Francesco (and his mom) always thinks I'm French, no matter how many times I correct him/them. These days, however, that's not a bad thing.

The rest of the day was spent cooking and baking, cooking and baking! Two epic failures due to unknown ingredient and oven temperature factors, but everything else turned out great!

Pumpkin pies, whipped cream, seasoned roasted acorn squash, green beans with lemon-almond-shallots, chocolate chip cookies.

I needed to sit for a second, around 6:30. My back hurts from standing all day.

The buzzer rang. Again. Persistently. The Leprechaun.

Joe wasn't so generous this time.

"I'm not answering it," he said.

We thought he was gone, but he must've circled back to buzz again. Rodi said she saw him. I said I wanted to go out, but didn't want to deal with "our new best friend" (to which she laughed).

"Dici che sei sparita e cammina un po'," she suggested. Tell him you're in a hurry then go walk a little.

We just ignored The buzzer. There's a lot yet to do.

Thanksgiving.

Starting around 8:30 pm, full on commotion! Just as Italian-Americans are wont to do, we gathered in the basement.

Schiacciata, rotolo di zucchine, pane fritta, polpette di patate, zucca, tacchino ("Turkey" of veal and herbs with a covering of turkey meat), fagiolini, and I can't remember what else. Then the desserts. "Boobs" which are similar to the Tetti di Sant'Agata, pumpkin pies, Piera Greco's even better torta di zucca, cookies, digestivi, etc. I'm going to burst.

John and Nikos called on their way to Lori's, which was the gift of the month for me, and I did a quick video call to the whole family later.

But at midnight, that's all she wrote. Early tomorrow, Luisa and Ciro arrive from Avellino, bringing mozzarella di bufala. More eating ahead.

Happy Thanksgiving!