Grande Finale with Tuscan Chefs

All of us at Villa Madellena love  Tuscan food.  Why not invite a local chef to come teach us how to cook for our last night together?  Five of us signed on to produce dinner for the entire group.  Eleanora and her assistant Consuella came to the villa at 4:30 and we were off and cooking.

• Panzanella
• Lemon ricotta tortelli with spinach and speck
• Pork tenderloin wrapped in bacon and puff pastry
• Marscapone mousse with homemade caramel sauce and hazelnuts

Margit, Bruce, Jamar and Sue getting ready to make tortelli (think large tortellini).

Our final feast at Villa Madellena.  This was the only dinner we ate indoors. I think we sat down around 8 pm.  Eleanora and Consuella served dinner and cleaned up.  Now that's the way to cook.

I was too busy to take photos of the food, but I thought it essential to take time to take pictures of the diners.  Most of us came to Villa Madellena as strangers, but I think we all agree that we left as friends.

Richard

Kevin

Richard and Kevin came to Montisi from Florida and they will be heading to London to binge watch plays when they leave the villa.

 

Sue and Larry come from Seattle. After leaving the villa, they are going on a Rick Steves tour of Greece.

Margit, from the Portland area, will be travelling with us to Florence and Venice.

Ted joined us at Montisi after cruising in the Mediterranean.  He lives in both Seattle and Palm Springs.

Laura heads back home to Seattle after leaving the villa.

You may have noticed that Taylor and I are missing from the photos.  This is because I was taking the photos and Taylor was upstairs in bed with the traveler's grippe.  He missed a fabulous dinner.

Finally, the master minds of our fabulous week:

John

Bruce

If John hadn't worked with Marcia, the owner of Chateau Madellena, years ago, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to come here.  Also, these two geniuses masterminded the selection of the group and most of our activities. Fortunately for them, they are heading off on a Rick Steves tour of Prague and Budapest when they are done with us. Thank you John and Bruce.