Last week, a friend of mine, Jerri, came to visit us for a long weekend. She was doing business in Torino earlier that week and took the train down to Arezzo on Friday, where we picked her up at the station. This was Jerri’s first time to Italy. So I wanted to show her the “real” Tuscany.
After throwing her luggage in my car, we walked to a little restaurant for dinner. It was a small trattoria with only 6 or 7 tables and filled with locals. The best kind of place to eat. We were not disappointed. The little old lady running the front room ended up being Nonna Augusta and was just so lovely and personable. Her whole family runs the restaurant.
She brought us some fresh fava beans to munch on when she saw me admiring them at another table. She was oh-so patient with my Italian and was tickled when Dante and Augusto ordered for themselves in near-perfect Italian. She of course immediately started doting on the boys.
However, in true Nonna fashion, she chided Augusto for having eyes bigger than his stomach when he ordered a pasta and a tagliata of veal. Then she told him that he could not have dessert until he finished his meal! No matter, because she then brought her homemade (of course) Tiramisu anyway and stood there until Augusto finished it.
When she found out that Augusto had the same name as her (but masculine form), she nearly cried. She kept coming by to chat with us and she actually did tear up in the end when we were leaving. It was very touching. She was just so charming and made the meal special. She was warm and genuine as I have found most of the people here.
I suggest to anybody traveling to Italy, to seek out the smaller, less touristy trattorias and restaurants. Talk to the staff, try out your Italian, ask what they recommend, ask questions, and I guarantee you will have a memorable and truly wonderful experience.
Nonna made the evening. She showed us part of the “True Tuscany”. And before we left, Nonna Augusta of course wanted me to take a picture of her with the boys and Jerri. I’m kind of bummed I didn’t get my picture with Nonna.
Nonna Augusta with Jerri, Dante, and Augusto
And what a way that dinner experience was to a start of such a wonderful week-end! Once again, it was a terrific visit and feel fortunate to have seen the true Tuscany the way I did. Many thanks again for your hospitality and kindness.
I actually did get a picture with you & the boys outside the restaurant that night (sorry not with Nonna), though will email it to you, along with a few more.