Pool Day!

The weather has finally really broken and it’s sunny and hot all day. We have a lazy breakfast (have I said that before?) and venture out around late morning:30 for a walk in the vineyard. There are poppies blooming all over the place and what look like bluebells, there are little orange ciquefoils and several flowers we can’t identify.

There are tiny baby grapes just starting on the vines. The vineyard is of course on the side of the hill and those of us that weren’t complaining about the cool temperatures (that would just be me) are soon ready to head back to the shade of the patio and the pool and the deck chairs. The water? Too cold.

After really working up the appetite turning pages and taking pictures, Darryl and D. and I take off for Dudda to pick up some pizzas for lunch and come back with sandwiches and olives. “no pizza to take away”… ? (see video  “Returning with Sandwiches.”) 

After lunch, back to reading by the pool and wandering aimlessly around the garden.

I see a remarkable number of hummingbird moths. Like tiny hummingbirds they hover and dart over the blooms sipping as they go. I have seen only one of these little guys in the states and I’m quite surprised to see half a dozen of them at once.   (I tried to catch them on video… kinda did)

Dinner… Pretty much the point of this day. Catrina and Lorenzo tell us that their friend Massimo has a place in La Planca called Le Cernacchie and on Thursdays it’s fish day. Massimo is from Elba and really loves his sea food. Darryl is jonesing for some fish and it sounds good to the rest of us. Lorenzo calls ahead for us and when we drive up Massimo is in the street waiting for us. A good start.

The restaurant is remarkably upscale for a village with 5 buildings. Thursday is a set menu and a set price per person.

First we choose a wine which is a very nice Vermentino di Toscana from Castelina. This my new favorite white.

And so we begin.

White fish carpacio, (sliced raw white fish in oil, vinegar and seasonings.

Anchovies with red pepper sauce and muscles stuffed with bread and pancetta.  

Second course.

Ravioli stuffed with local goat cheese and fava beans covered in a seafood sauce.

Third coarse

Artichoke and green salad with fresh seared tuna. A drizzle of oil and balsamic.

Desert

Strawberries in Chantilly cream 

then grappa, lemoncello, espresso and cookies.

Probably one of the finest seafood meals I’ve ever had and on the top of a hill in the middle of Tuscany just to make it that much more unexpected.