Rogaia Blog

“La Zappa” or: Tango is back to the "Decameron"

For 20 years these were the first Easter holidays in La Rogaia without Tango guests and without Milongas with our Tango friends from Perugia!

As Wolfgang is a passionate tango dancer, that really made his heart bleed.

But then he found a way to "dance" nevertheless:

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Recipes from the "Decameron": Pasta with Leek and Walnuts

Easter is just around the corner, but this time without the traditional feast with family, friends and guests of our agriturismo.
But there is a delicious and very simple pasta recipe from Amira`s vegetarian cuisine, of course inspired by Mamma Ornella.
These are the little joys that will keep us going for the next few weeks of curfew - in Italy until May 3rd!

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Happy return to "Decameron"

After an absence of several weeks, Wolfgang, the master of the house, has returned to La Rogaia. He got "stuck" in Germany but finally he could come home.

As of now he is not allowed to have any contact with the ladies of the house as he is in "quarantine". He lives isolated in one of our holiday apartments until April 13, 2020. But nevertheless our joy is overwhelming. We can wave and talk to each other from terrace to terrace.

Immediately after his arrival, Wolfgang planted an olive tree as a sign of hope!

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Recipes from the "Decameron": Radicchio-Risotto, Food for Body and Soul

We are starting our fourth week of quarantine today and we feel so priviledged to be healthy and to live in a remote place in the countryside.
But the continuing tragedies with losses in so many families in Italy and the whole world make it hard also for us to keep spirits up.

Therefore cooking and eating together is an important part of our everyday life in the "Decameron". We try to preserve this "momento conviviale" (the moment of being together) which is so wonderfully important in Italy.
It is helping us and hopefully many other families in our country in these difficult times.

Our chef is Amira, who also takes care of our vegetable garden. Today she presents a traditional risotto recipe - with radicchio.

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Snow is falling on our "Decameron"

This morning we woke up to our little world covered in snow, the first in this winter and a rare thing in Umbria anyway.

It feels even more quiet and isolated than before.

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Humor is when you laugh anyway

Two days ago my mom brought us some nice photos when she had to go to Passignano to the pharmacy.

This is the church tower of San Vito, which was already used as a lighthouse for boatmen on Lake Trasimeno before the christianization.

A lighthouse is always a sign of hope in the dark and in stormy times!

How do we get through? Read on!

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"Decamerone"  by J.W.Waterhouse
"Decamerone" by J.W.Waterhouse. wikipedia.org

Life as in the "Decamerone" by Boccaccio

For more than a week we are staying in our Umbrian country house in an almost idyllic "protected area".

It feels ghostly: the everyday life (or what is left of it), the fears and the sufferings of our fellow citizens in Italy lie behind the gently rolling hills, the bees are buzzing in the spring sun and hyacinths and lime bushes exude their sweet fragrance.

This reminded us of the book "Decamerone" by Boccaccio. It describes a group of young people who flee to a country house near Florence at the time of the plague in the 14th century. They pass their time with storytelling.

And so we came up with the idea of sending stories, pictures and experiences from our Umbrian hill over the next few days (and weeks?)

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A typical Umbrian Sunday Lunch: "Coniglio del Buon Ricordo"

Last Sunday we cooked a recipe from Ornella's cooking classes:

A "Rabbit to Be Well Remembered"


Admittedly, this is not for vegetarians or lovers of the soft, fluffy little animals with long ears ...
And for the preparation you need a bit of patience and "surgical" skills.
But the result is really worth it!
Read the recipe here

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Umbrian Winter Recipes - Chickpeas and Chard

One of the specialties of Umbria are legumes: lentils, chickpeas and a variety of beans. They are used for an almost endless number of healthy and protein-rich dishes, which are part of the basic diet in Umbria. At La Rogaia we have our own, especially delicious version of a chickpea and chard soup.

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Truffle hunting in Umbria
Truffle hunting in Umbria

It is truffle time in Umbria!

Autumn is the peak season for the precious truffles tubers. Umbria is the largest truffle producer in Italy and many allegedly Piedmontese truffles have been growing under Umbrian trees.
It is an unforgettable experience to accompany a truffle hunter and his dog in the search for the coveted tubers.

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