TUSCANY ADVENTURES!

2024 marked Le Chat Gourmet’s 16th year
hosting our culinary vacation in Tuscany!!

“Time spent in Tuscany nourishes the body and soul, steeped in tradition, history, art, cuisine, wine, artisan craftsman, the Italian’s just do it better!

We explored Cortona and were transported back in time to the Etruscans, 2,000 B.C., via art at my friend Ivan’s galleria. We visited the Basilica of Santa Margherita and Le Celle founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1211.

In Castiglione del Lago, the town along Lake Trasimeno where the great battle of Hannibal took place in 217 B.C., we strolled along the streets full of charm and history, among the market stalls and artisan food shops.

A day out discovering the hilltop towns of Pienza and Montepulciano – both offering postcard worthy panorama views across the Val d’Orcia.

Pecorino is the local cheese, made from sheep’s milk, we visited an award-winning dairy for a tasting, then enjoyed a picnic lunch of local salami’s, artisan cheeses, fruit compotes, Tuscan bread and wine under a wisteria arbor as we gazed across the quilted landscape to Montepulciano.

And we cooked! Traditional Tuscan dishes using seasonal late summer ingredients – JUICY FIGS filled with gorgonzola dolce cheese, draped in salty prosciutto ham and drizzled with local honey and balsamic glaze, ZUCCHINI FLOWERS stuffed with ricotta cheese, dipped in a tempura batter and deep fried golden and crispy, TUSCAN AGLIONE GARLIC added to pasta e fagioli soup, TUSCAN BLACK TRUFFLES shaved over creamy risotto with honey glazed pears and taleggio cheese sauce.

As always, a few surprises were added to our agenda…a visit to the local Outlet Mall for a spot of designer Italian shopping, impromptu wine tasting, a surprise 30^th Anniversary celebration, cooking class with local chefs and friends stopped over for dinner.

Thank you to my two wonderful weeks of guests for joining me as we explored the quaint hill towns of Tuscany, visited artisans from winemakers, olive oil producers to heritage grain pasta makers, hosted dinner parties and bought too much Italian leather (wait, is that even possible?! ha ha). Tuscany, a place to slow down, enjoy adventures, delicious traditional cuisine and some of the world’s best wines with new friends who feel like family – Grazie Mille!

Enjoy your stroll through the photos below, as we share Le Chat Gourmet’s 2024 adventures in Tuscany!”

Chef Denene Vincent

FAVORITE GUEST QUOTE
“One more sleep!!!
Can’t wait it’s like Santa Claus is coming!!!!! – Doug

ITALY HERE WE COME!

Fields of blazing Sunflowers…welcome us to Tuscany!

The guests arrive…Saluti Tuscany!!

It’s All About Fun, Laughter, Food & Wine…

Making Pici Toscano Pasta!

Ciao from Cortona!

Renaisance crossbow archery competition in Cortona – surprise!
Le Celle founded in 1211 by St. Francis of Assisi – such a special place

FRATTORIA SANTA VITTORIA
Our private cellar tour and wine tasting at Frattoria Santa Vittoria,
established 1864…over 200 year old winery in the heart of Tuscany!

PUGNITELLO GRAPES
A recently discovered ancient and rare red grape variety native to Tuscany,
dating back B.C. to the Etruscans! Discovered in 1981 by the University
of Florence as they carried out a project to collect heritage Tuscan wine
varietals to safeguarding them against extinction. Leopoldo is my favorite
Frattoria Santa Vittoria red wine, made from 100% pugnitello grapes.

WHO’S UP FOR the CHALLENGE?!
This old cement storage tank holds over 5,000 gallons of wine.
To empty the tank, a person would need to drink 1½ bottles per day,
over 52 years! Lana made us proud and was up for the challenge!
VIN SANTO WINE
The name which means ‘holy wine’, is a sweet dessert wine that originated
in Tuscany and has been made since at least the Middle Ages.
Traditionally the harvested grapes were placed in the warmest, driest part
of the winery (known as vinsantaia), then left to dry over 3-6 months by
hanging the bunches from rafters. This process concentrates the grapes’
natural sugars (they usually lose around 60% of their original volume). After
the grapes have dried out, they are gently pressed and the resulting grape
must fermented. Once fermentation is over, the wine is aged in small
wooden barrels called caratelli that are completely sealed, the barrels
cannot be topped up to compensate for natural evaporation ‘the angels
share’, thus this inevitably results in slight oxidation which contributes to the
wine’s rich amber color. Ageing lasts a minimum of three years up to ten
years. Vin Santo wine offers aromas of apricots and orange blossom,
followed by a caramel, nut and raisin-rich palate with a hint of honey.
2024 Vintage Vin Santo Wine in the making…see you in 6-10 years!
A ROOM WITH A VIEW…BACK IN TIME
Beyond this window from the upper floor of the winery today lie fields of olive
trees and vineyards where the Battle of Scannagallo occurred on August 2, 1554
won by the Medici’s of Florence thus taking control of Sienna. The Scannagallo
battlefield was named Santa Vittoria (the holy victory) after the battle.

Sights from Pienza…

…and Montepulciano

Fashionistas!

Ancient Wine Cave

Now that’s a proper corkscrew!

Art imitating life or life imitating art?!

PIC-NIC at THE CHEESE FARM
…how’s that for a view across the Val d’Orcia to Montepulciano!

SCENES FROM AREZZO!
Sometimes the best made plans are made better when a curve ball arrives, like the day you have planned for your Tuscan cooking class and a flyer arrives in your mailbox announcing the electricity to your villa will be shut off from 9 AM – 4 PM. What to do…reschedule class for the following day, then head to Arezzo…catch the special late summer market, stroll along the avenue of specialty shops, visit the Grande Piazza, enjoy gelato and Aperol spritzes – just a day of pure discovery with every step along Arezzo’s ancient streets revealing another wonderous surprise!

PALAZZO della FRATERNITA dei LAICI
The façade is partly Gothic and Renaissance, surmounted by a
bell gable that houses one of the oldest and rarest astronomical
clocks in Europe, dating from 1552 – and it’s still working!

TALK THIRTY to ME!
I love surprises, when I learned of this very special occasion a celebration
was an absolute must, Happy 30th Anniversary Doug & Helen, cheers!

TASTING TUSCANY!
While in Tuscany I focus on cooking authentic Italian regional cuisine
with my personal spin, using fresh local ingredients from black truffles,
pecorino cheese, figs, heritage tomatoes, zucchini blossoms to Nutella.
Fennel Flower Encrusted Pork Loin, Creamy Polenta
and Caramelized Butternut Squash

Risotto, Taleggio Cheese Sauce, Honey Glazed Pears, Shaved Tuscan Truffles
A Tuscan Classic…Italian sausage stuffed baguette, wrapped in
pancetta bacon, oven roasted, served with cannellini beans,
baby arugula, garnished with crispy fresh sage – the result…
crispy exterior, soft interior made extra delicious from pork fat!
Mascarpone Goat Cheese Mousse with Chile Sauce
Tuscan Pappa al Pomodoro with Basil Pesto
Milk Braised Pork – true Tuscan comfort food, such a classic…slow braised
pork in whole milk, served with cauliflower puree, balsamic glazed carrots
Fried Zucchini Blossoms – so, so delicious!
Nutella Mousse, Rosemary Macerated Pineapple Batons, Blueberry Pearls