Christmas

In Italy everyone gets together on Christnas Eve for a family party. Nori and I were invited to Gino and Paula's family gathering. It was his family and hers sisters and kids and us. Try getting out of that. They know you work the next day and you were there till 5, so where else would be? We were told to arrive at 7:45 and not be late. We left the apt at 7:44 and were there on time. No one but Nonna was there at the restaurant. So we looked around and I took a picture of the table set for our dinner. It was beautiful. They put us with the kids, all ages 4-28. This was not as bad as I thought. The older boys spoke some English, and the 8 year old tried to use her English. She is learning it like our kids are learning Spanish. The oldest son Johnny is a lawyer and I am sure turns lots of heads. He really likes to practice his English, asking lots of questions about the US. He was an extremely good host. Made sure we had Spumante in our glasses and ytied to make us try everything. Our dinner started with cheese, mustardo pears (candied in a sweet mustard, great with cheeses), and apple pate. Then we sat down and the cured meats and bread, with butter or olive oil (this area uses alot of butter). Our primo was pumpkin ravioli with grana padana (very similar to parm cheese not quite as strong, made from this area), Snails in the shells served with olive oil, and eel that was salted and dried then boiled. Secondo was steamed Gamberi rossi( shrimp that are very red, very sweet), scampi (prawns), and smoked salmon. The dolce was Panettone (a bread served at Christmas time from Milan), nouget( a candy from Cremona), and cheese. All in all the evening was very nice. I expected it to be alittle weird but it was not. The snails were just ok, not good not bad. The ravioli was great, alittle sweet for a entire meal but really good. They feel strongly about using the products from Lombardy. But they love Parmigiano and feel it is one of the best cheese. It is just too strong for their Ravioli. The gamberi rosso were very tasty and different from our shrimp. The scampi was a cross betweer a lobster and a shrimp. The eel was YUK YUK YUK. I really don't understand salted, dried and then boiled to make soft. I understand why it started, to preserve food. We have freezers and refrigation now so we don't need to that anymore. These people love it. The texture is stringy and smells fishy almost bad. I ended the meal with coffee and a slice of Panettone ( raisan bread). At about 11 I made excuses about working and left.

This is a picture of all the single malt scotch they have. I took this for Steve. It looks very impressive at the bar.

This is my room . I rearranged it so my computer can be on that desk. If I move it an inch I lose reception. I am ok with that. I am just glad I found this spot. It looks more crouded but I am happy to have internet. It is my only entertainment beside the kindle. I used up all my books so I had to bye a few. Not much selection in English. I really like reading from the Kindle, much better than a book. The type is large, clearer, the page doesn't pull back, its lighter, and best of all I never lose my spot. I thank all of you everyday when I am reading.
This is my sorry excuse for a bed. They tell me the girl before complained about the bed and they did not understand why. I just look and smile. They don't understand anyway, so I am saved from saving IT'S NOT A BED IT IS A COT WITH A OLD COT MATTRESS. If you were my guest I would not let you sleep on this. All my joint pain from the snake bite is gone. My ankle is doing great. Now my back will be doing great in 4 weeks.

All in all my Christmas was not good and I was lonely BUT it was better than I thought and I got to have some conversation. On Christmas I was able to talk to Steve, Caitlin, and Frances. I saw what they got for Christmas and saw that my Mother- in- law did not put up a tree. Steve said no one noticed. Caitlin looked good, she never writes so it was nice to see her. She got stranded at the house on Sunday with all the snow. I talked to Lindsay she was going into work that afternoon. She was kinda sad not to be with Steve and Caitlin. She loves all the family stuff. Next year I will have my tree and all the trimmings for the holidays.
Getting ready for a New Year Yvonne

Merry Christmas

Well these are the people I work with. This first picture is Niri From Japan. He speaks pretty good Italian and not much English but he tries for me. He has the second bedroom in the apt. We share a bath and he is very nice and respectful of my space and cleaning after himself. I like him alot. He is very good in the kitchen. The young Valario, he is 17 years old and does pastry. I liked him until he started blaming all his mistakes on me. I just noticed that he is doing it. I must be getting better at understanding, because when it happened monday I understood what he was doing. I discussed this with the chef and he said ok. I am not sure he cared.
From left to right Nonnie (the grandmother) she is a worker and is very good. She likes me and I like her. Next is Andre he is the grandson, 24 years old and spoiled rotten. Then Paula the wife and daughter-in-law of nonnie. The women cook the risotto and pasta. The asparagus risotto is a secret recipe. They cook other things but they are the only ones cooking "The Secret". Then Gino the son, he is always nice and works the front. He also loves chopping up large pieces of meat or whole rabbits. He sings French songs, and speaks about 50 English words. Next is Georgio, such a nice guy. Right now he is the main chef the real top dog had a heart attack and has not been here since I got here. Everyone says he is also nice. Georgio does not speak English much but tries. He love saying DANGER DANGER WILL ROBINSON, everytime it is slippery out. Which has been everyday.
On the left is Marco he is a waiter and wine person. He is a super nice guy. Then there is Danielle He is very artistic and loves plating. He feels he is the best of them all but is not the top dog so he has to step back once in awhile. He speaks English but does not understand my accent so it makes him mad. He said I make him feel like he did not learn anything. So does not like talking to me.
This is Georgio again in the kitchen. That is his personality. He likes to keep things light. There is very little confusion or yelling in our kitchen. The only yelling comes from Gino and noone says anything whenhe yells. The waiters sometime yell at each other.

Well I don't have much to say, we have been working alot. We will work Christmas and Christmas Eve. I miss home and will be back soon.
Merry Christmas from Italy,
Yvonne

Great Food, and Looks good too

These are the seared scallops in a bowl of pumpkin (zucca ) puree. There zucca is more like our sweet potato. They do not add much to the zucca, just seasoning no sugar.
Baccala ( dried cod fish) is not one of my favorites but ordered alot. It is served on a bed od mashed potatoes, the baccala is steamed and dressed in parsley, salt, pepper, olive oil. The little cup is baccala mousse with black caviar on top. To each his own????????????????????????????
This is one of my favorites. Fesa, slow cooked pork loin in rosemary and lots of butter. It is sliced and put in vacuum bags and steamed at time of service. It sits on a bed of mashed potatoes,and porcini mushrooms on top with gravy. The potatoes are roasted with butter ans rosemary until browned. The tomato is slow roasted. This dish is a mans dream, potatoes 2 ways.
I have not tried this but it always looks good. Sturgeon, (not sure of spelling ) steamed with fresh tomato thinly sliced with olive oil truffles and basil. They tell me this is a very light dish but tasty. There is never any left over so I don't get to taste.

Well I had some time tuesday and decided to get on a train. The destination was Parma or Brescia. That is where our train goes. I decided on Brescia because it is closer, in my region for my report, and I have been to Parma several times. I was nervous to tackle a new train station but off I went. It was so very cold, (fredo, fredo everyone goes around saying, cold, cold). I looked in windows as I walked to city center. They were all fixed beautiful. The Italians really know how to package a product. People were everywhere. Carrying lots of bags. It was about 4pm and I could tell the streets were decorated but not turned on. In the center square they had a hugh tree and a log cabin with Santa. I hope it was heated it was 20 degrees outside. I found the duomo and a little round church attached to its side. I went in and wished I had brought my camera. I left it so I would not have to carry anything, ( big camera ). The duomo was very beautiful but did not feel very welcoming. I left and went to the little round church. When I walked in it was warm and the organ was playing. I am not sure who was playing it, there was no one around, a ghost of Christmas past. I sat on the back row and looked up at the cross with Jesus suspended in air, OH MY GOD, what can I say more. The warm, the music, and the setting were on of the nicest feeling, I just sat and enjoyed for about 15 minutes. Then some people came in and the magic was broken. I proceded back out in the cold and all the lights were lite. It was white and blue street lights everywhere. The tree in the center was lite in multicolors. I window shopped my way back to the train station and caught the 7:03 train. It was the next to the last train and I did not want to chance being stranded. I got off at Calvisano and walked my way to my room. It was bitter cold. I stopped and picked up a pizza to eat in my room. It was a very good day.

Another thing good was I found a spot in my room where my internet key workd. So I rearranged my room so I don't have to sit on my end table to get reception. The room does not look as good but the desk is where the end table was before. I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy. It is good to be able to read my emails again. Steve and I could not skype,
and for some reason he skyped me right after I fixed the problem. It was the best reception we have had the whole time. It was really nice to see him, I am ready to be home.
Have a great holiday, Yvonne

Pictures that did not post

This is the snow I walked a mile in tennis shoes and a sweater.
This is the tray all our customers get when seated
Front doors of restaraunt
The pastry tray

My New Home

I got back from the to US snow. It was beautiful. I had only a heavy sweather and tennis shoes. I collected my luggage got a ticket for the bus and everything was going great. The snow held up the bus and I missed the train I wanted to get so 2 1/2 wait for the next train. It was soooooo cold but the train was 30 minutes early and very warm. The next train was a 5 minute wait and off to Colorno I went. When I arrived in Colorno I was greeted with about, (well you see the picture), snow. I had to walk a mile in the snow without a good coat or good shoes. HA! Ha! Steve came up with that. I collected my luggage and called a cab to go back to the Colorno train station. Now I was dressed warmer and had on better shoes. I was nervous about navigating the train with my big suitcase. The cab was great he carried the suitcase up all of the steps ( about 24) for me, and would not except a tip. Never happen in the US. I waited about 15 minutes and the train was coming. I kept thinking this is going good. Well the train stopped but the doors never opened. I was banging on the door and the train took off. I waited about 2 hours for the next train to Calvisano. I had to call the restaraunt and let them know I would be late. When I got on the train it was dark and I was worried that I would not notice my stop. The train conductor was so nice he told me to sit and he would let me know. Well I have to tell you that conversation was not easy. I don't speak Italian and he spoke no English. When I arrived at Calvisano 2 guys were there to pick me up. I was hurried to dinner with the family and staff. I fely very $$^&**(($!^!!!!!!!!, know what I mean. Then showed to my room, about 7 x 8 feet, with a cot not a single bed. I am longing for my nice bed with my ever so understanding husband, but that is another story. There is another bedroom and a bathroom in the hall. A young manFrom Japan has that, his name is Niri. He speaks fairly good Italian but no English. He is very neat and respectful of the bathroom. We have a refrigerator in the hall and I bought a hot pot for coffee or tea. All the comforts of home, my home for the next 2 months. I work at 9am till 12 we eat together, (family and all) then back to the kitchen until after lunch service and clean up, about 3:00. Then we go home to rest till 6pm prep for dinner and eat at 7 with the family. We finish preping and are there most nights till 11 or 11:30pm. Let me tell you I am tired. My cot even feels good. The people are really nice, but it is hard not getting to speak all day. Sometimes I say something then it is a big deal for everyone to figure it out. One of my chefs speaks English but he can't understand my accent. The family eats with us all our meals except wednesday when we are closed. They have discussions good and bad as if we were part of the family. I would hate to live like that......
This is one of my jobs in the kitchen. When you come to eat and are seated everyone gets one of these plates. The little glass is potato puree with porchetta with olive oil on top (YUM YUM). The spoon is a muscle confit and also very good. The toast points are topped with duck speck (I have to slice it and often take a slice or two for myself). They encourage me to taste and try the food. Gino the owner is always telling me, " This is a quality ristorante". He knows about 50 English words. He seams more French than Italian, but he is 100 percent Italian.
Taken from inside the ristorante the doors and glasswear. It is very pretty and well done. The wine glasses are beautiful and a very fine crystle. They don't care if you get a 20 or more dollar bottle, you get served as if you were spending a 100.
This is another job of mine, the pastry tray. The waiters will say a cona for dua. I fix two cones They are about 2 1/2 inches tall with lemon mousse and a candied lemon piece on top. Then I fix this tray. A pistacchi crema burlee, in the jigger is almond cookie crumbles with rum on the bottom pear sauce in the middle and chocolate on top, The next tray is a pastry filled with pastry cream, and a fruit covered with chocolate. I don't know the name only that it is exotic. I take the outside and twist it to make a stem then dip and cool.

Enough for today. I will have to go outside to publish this blog. Every leg of this trip my internet has gotten worse. I bought a key for high speed but with no windows in the room, no reception. I was very excited about the key because I thought I will finally have good internet. Steve and I cannot even skype.
PS. I WILL NEVER OPEN A RESTARAUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yvonne