One of the many amenities of our “authentic” Tuscany villa is a genuine wood burning pizza oven. Unfortunately for us, we don’t know how to make pizza or use an appliance that can’t be plugged in. Not to worry though, we hired an amazing local mother/daughter chef team to come and teach us.
Imagine a storybook Italian setting, delicious local farm grown food ingredients, copious amounts of alcohol, and 4 guests who can’t speak a word of Italian trying to learn how to make handmade pizzas.
Judging rightly that Brian and Roger should stay far away from any open flames, Jessica and Maria did all the actual cooking, as well as setting the table, making us desserts, and even providing homemade raspberry cordials for after dinner. We sat out under the pergola well into the night, long after the sun had set…
Our unforgettable pizza making experience.
This wine is made from the villa’s very own vineyard.
The very patient Jessica. Roger wanted to make a pizza entirely made of bacon fat. She persuaded him to add a few other ingredients.
Something about wood burning ovens make these pizzas incredible.
Brian trying his hand at pizza making. He jokingly asked for a Scotch pizza.
Roger corrupting my daughter. He is feeding her prosciutto fat. We had a hard time not eating all the ingredients out of hand.
Olivia was the only one working hard. The adults were too busy sampling the wines.
These tomatoes do not taste like any tomatoes in America. They were grown in Jessica’s garden and picked just that afternoon.
And the dishes just kept on coming. Dozens of pizzas later, we could hardly move.
We all agreed that the magnificent view made the food taste even better.
Our little mermaid.
The water is freezing, but it did not deter Olivia from diving in.
Even Olivia is transfixed by the view.
I hate sunshine, but I have to admit, I love dining alfresco in Tuscany.