So today we leave the farm agrotourism heading to somewhere up above and in between Modena and Parma as we want to do the Parmesan and the Balsamic regions. Not sure where we will end up today as Internet access at the farm have been a challenge hmmmm Nhoooo existent.
Last night Sandy cooked a sate chicken with the best asparagus we found at the local markets. Again she adapted as there is no tamarind paste to be found in Italy ....I know hard to believe .... So for the souring agent she used lemon juice and red wine vinegar and the result was yum yum giving us again our little chilli hit. We parked ourselves under the pergola, well it was a covered outdoor space but he had spent a lot of dosh creating, a vast 100s/m with a roof some 2 stories high and out of stone to match in with the old buildings. But then the 10 year old interior decorator was allowed to get loose again and the plastic furniture and all in soft pink and mauve and just didn't suit the the rustic theme....
While car packing while we see Gustave in the field raking... It is about 4 acres of padlock he slashed to make hay but now he is raking by hand ....seems a little odd....he is 73 yrs old and it is hard yakka.
Well finally car packed and we head down to the family house to hand in our keys it is 11.30 and Gustave is back at the house. Through Bea his granddaughter it is explained that a family of wild boar got in to the hay and spread it so it needs to be re heaped before they can HAND roll it into bales..... They only have some machinery as they can afford and justify but this way they keep people working ...all be it hard work.
So all we need to do is give our keys in .....right....Noohoooo..not a chance we can escape before having lunch with him, Bea and Bea,s boyfriend who also works on the farm. He tells us that his is most grateful that we choose to spend 4 days at the farm agrotourism and cooking days, the family they were so grateful for what we did to help in the kitchen over and above what a paying guest would do. So before you know table set, words from him to Bead,s boyfriend to put on a table cloth!!! well from the hand gestures thats what it would seam, bottles of wine opened and pasta on the boil and bruschetta in the oven. It is so humbling being so welcome it was just so memorable. He has such a soft spot for Sandy every time I would turn around he would be at her side and asking question and getting one of the granddaughters to translate.
Lunch was great and we were treated like royalty in the kitchen around the big table where some of the classes were held.
It turns out that this house he and his wife run a restaurant from some 30 years ago and he misses hospitality so much and when the family all decide because of hard times to start the weekend restaurant he was back in his element as his wife was cook and he did front of house.
You don't alway have to speak another language to be able to understand, you just have to take your time to get to know someone with your same passions and just watch and use sign language it was another amazing experience
So again after a few attempts we finally leave to big sad eyes from granddad
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