This year marked Le Chat Gourmet’s 14th Anniversary hosting guests in Tuscany!
It still amazes me that in 2009 when I launched our very first trip my hope was there’d be enough interest to offer it once every three years.
Oh how wrong I was and delighted to be so!
Le Chat had the pleasure to host three wonderful weeks of guests in 2022.
The September days were filled with blue skies, the scent of just picked grapes hung in the air, memories of a lifetime created and new found friendships made.
Enjoy your stroll through the photos below, as we share our days participating in the wine harvest, strolling along the ancient cobblestone streets of hilltop towns, to partaking of the food and wine of Tuscany.
Chef Denene Vincent
And the 2022 Le Chat Gourmet celebrations begin!
Saluti from Tuscany!!
‘Welcome to Italy’ antipasti platter!
In Cortona we celebrated at Ivan’s galleria, as we stepped
back in time via art to the Etruscan’s and Medici’s!
We walked in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi at Le Celle
And passed by a certain famous author’s home ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’!
We made pici pasta and celebrated the Etruscans
whom it originated in Tuscany over 2,000 B.C.!
And channeled our ‘inner Italian’ while cooking traditional Tuscan cuisine
While some preferred helping with the washing up!!!
We participated in the wine harvest…
…and enjoyed partaking of previous vintages!
Dined al fresco with spectacular sunsets
LE CHAT’S FARM-TO-TABLE GOURMET MENU
Sunset Aperitivo
Blood Orange Prosecco Spritzer
Late Summer Tomato Bruschetta
Fresh Pecorino Cheese with Honey
Antipasti
Finocchiona Salami Rollups
Pappa al Pomodoro Soup
Gorgonzola Panna Cotta with Fig Compote
Mortedella with Pistachio Crumbles
Radicchio Apple Bites with Bleu Cheese
Mascarpone & Fresh Goat Cheese Mousse
with Sweet Chile Sauce
Antipasti Trio
Fried Zucchini Blossom
Ricotta Thyme Nest with Ginger Yellow Tomatoes
Caramelized Onion Tart with Parmesan Cream
Primi
Fresh Pasta with Taleggio Truffle Cream Sauce,
Sautéed Pears and Walnuts
Palate Refresh
Lemon Sorbet with Prosecco Shot
Secondi
Porcini Encrusted Prime Rib
with Wild Fennel Flower Olive Oil
Fresh Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
Insalata
Radicchio & Matchstick Carrot Salad
with Fresh Peaches, Kiwi, Walnuts
and Balsamic Acacia Honey Dressing
Dolce Duo
Nutella Mousse with Hazelnuts
Pineapple Baton with Rosemary Syrup
Bevande
White Wine
Red Wine
Lemoncello
A special birthday was celebrated!
No trip to Italy would be complete without gelato!
Chef’s good friend Stefano and his son Lorenzo
treated us to a surprise lunch in Castiglione de Lago!
Spectacular views across the Val d’Orcia from our visit to Pienza
We stepped back in time as we walked the ancient cobblestone
streets on our visit to the hilltop towns of Pienza and Multipulciano
Sights from Pienza and Montipulciano
And lemoncello was discovered, and greatly enjoyed!
“Grazie Millie Italy!” – Chef Vincent
“I can honestly say this was one of the BEST trips we have been on!
Thanks so much for hosting!” Jan Pfeiffer 2022