Photo of the day: apricots!

Take 50 kg of apricots in our orchard, subtract 25 kg to make apricot juice, eat some, 8 kg for jam, 6 for yummy apricot liqueur, eat some more, you still have quite a few apricots, so I decided to try this recipe of "sweet and sour apricots": sugar, vinagre, salt, laurel and apricots.

It sounds interesting, will report as soon as it's ready for trying it.

Photo of the day: have you ever seen my mill?

Today I've been milling over 4 kg of wheat, the result: flour (type 1) to make bread, whole-grain coarse flour to make my zucchini bread and bisquits, semolina to dust & a lot of bran for the hens (they love it!).

This is my mill (and super tecnological sifter).

La via della Ceramica tra Umbria e Marche. Renaissance majolica exhibition in Gubbio

From today, until January 31st 2011 in Gubbio Ducal Palace: Renaissance majolica of Umbria and Le Marche from private collections.

Over 150 Renaissance majolica pieces coming from some of the most famous private collections in Italy. The exhibition, that includes some specimens that have rarely been displayed, connects towns renowned for their ceramic tradition during the Renaissance: Deruta, Gubbio, Castel Durante (nowadays called Urbania), Urbino and Pesaro.

Gubbio is the connection between these towns and the two regions (Umbria and the Marches) since it now belongs to Umbria but during the Renaissance it was part of the duchy of Urbino. From and artistic point of view it connects the Deruta tradition of the end of the XV century and the "metaurense" tradition (Urbania, Urbino and Pesaro).

Gubbio stands just 45 minutes drive away from the Locanda and it makes a perfect daytrip.
(images from The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Photo of the day: home made liqueurs anyone?

In the store-room trying to arrange all the home-made liqueurs.
Un assaggio?

Photo of the day: pecorino di fossa

Gorgeous organic formaggio di fossa d.o.p. by Luca Pala.
Pecorino di fossa is a sheep’s milk cheese from the area between Le Marche and Emilia Romagna. Wrapped in a cloth sack and buried in underground caves (fosse) to age for 3 months, Pecorino di Fossa is typically loaf-shaped and yellow in color with a rich, earthy and persistent flavor.Served with quince jam, onion jam, honey or salame di fichi (a specialty of Le Marche and Slowfood "presidio": a mixture of minced dried figs, almonds, walnuts, aniseed liqueur, wrapped in a fig leaf and shaped to resemble a salami), it's delicious!

Valle Nuova through your eyes: Silke vF

Here's another interesting point of view about Valle Nuova from a guest who just left and was kind enough to send very nice shots that she took during her stay here.
Photos by Silke vF, Bollschweil, Germany. Thank you very much!



Anyone who would like me to publish his/her photos, please drop me an e-mail!

Photo of the day: coppa or capocollo?

I call it "coppa", they call it "capocollo"... the only really interesting thing about it is that it's absolutely gorgeous!!
If you ever stay near Grottazzolina, look for our friend's Doriano Scibé's farm-shop and buy some!

Photo of the day: strawberries!

The first batch of strawberries from our organic kitchen garden has been collected today, it's about 3 kg and we will start making jam (one of my favourites along with gooseberry and raspberry) and a gorgeous syrup to serve with home-made gelato. ...when the second batch comes we'll have to think of new strawberry-goods, we're having a huge production this year!
... strawberry liqueur?

Some Summer 2010 events: music and more in Northern Le Marche

Just a few proposals of things to do in Northern Le Marche this summer.

Every Wednesday afternoon from June 2nd to September 29th you'll have the possibility of visiting Villa Imperiale, one of the finest Renaissance villas, situated on the hills near Pesaro. More information here.

From June 17th to June 20th, in Pennabilli, a nice village on the border between Le Marche and Emilia Romagna, will take place the XIV edition of Artisti in Piazza (Artists in the square) - International buskers festival. 

During the festival, all the streets of Pennabilli medieval center become stages for italian and international artists.

A handicraft market is also on during the festival, visit their web page for more information (also in English)

I've been trying to participate for some years now, but I never was able to do so... will I succeed this year? 

From June 12th to July 22nd: Ville e Castella. Fourteen different locations (including fascinating places off-the-beaten-track even for the locals, monasteries, churches, museums and natural settings) for over a month of music, conferences, dance and theatre. This year Moni Ovadia, Trio Khiyal, Enten Hitti Sleeping concert (until dawn), Maurizio Mastrini and many more.
Visit their complete program.


The 18th edition of Fano Jazz by the sea will be on from July 24th to 30th. Some of the artists this year will be Marcus Miller group, Gonzalo Rubalcaba trio and James Carter quintet. More information soon on their website.

From July 4th to August 13th in various locations around the province you'll be able to attend concerts of the Antique Music Festival: Musicae Amoeni Loci.

Rossini Opera Festival is on in Pesaro from August 9th to 22nd. The program is available here.

Read also my post about the Urbino Antique music festival 2010: July 19th to 28th.