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