Vaga-Blog - Volume I - Gaiole in Chianti (June 5)

FOUR COURSES AND A WEDDING

Today we drove into Gaiole to have lunch at the beautiful Badia a Coltibuono, one of the region’s best restaurants. Most of our guests opt for the four-course tasting menu which is paired with the restaurant’s own wines. They enjoy pepper jelly with goat cheese, fici (a long, thick pasta) with pork ragout, stuffed duck and a dessert of their choice. I opted instead for the venison special, topped with an espresso chocolate sauce. I had a buzz after about four bites.

As we’re leaving, a few of us stroll into the lovely little chapel on the property. We realize they are setting up a wedding, so curiosity gets the best of us and we stick around to watch. We stay just long enough to see the flower girls lining up as the bride arrives in the back seat of a small black limousine. We hear the church bells ringing as we pull away.

When we get back to the villa, a few people take advantage of the sunshine and lay by the pool while others nap in preparation of our next meal.

For dinner, we made a hearty ragout which we served over polenta. Denise made the polenta from scratch, which she said she’d never made but was curiously adept at.

Days without internet access: 2
People who specifically commented on how full they were, yet managed to throw back dinner: 3
Shopping days left until my birthday: 6