From a storm to a celebration

Yesterday afternon just as I was deciding that I had earned a siesta we had one of the  massive thunderstorms that Italy does so well. One clap of thunder rattled the village and the rain was torrential. Kelly took these photos of the approaching storm and its arrival.

We had planned to go to Florence today but the thunderstorms and flash flooding were to continue so not the day for what we had planned. Remembering that it is a special birthday year and that our daughter Cate had gifted us money for dinner at a special restaurant in Panicale, we decided that was what we would do on this wet day.

Ristorante Masolino is a family run restaurant which serves typical Umbrian cuisine and never fails to please. We started with an especially good sparkling Scacciadiavoli Brut Metodo Classico from Montefalco while we perused the menu.

Kel started with crostini nero and I had taglietta with leek and truffles to begin our lunch. We were wished 'Buon pranzo.'

There is an extensive wine list at Masolino. We enjoyed an Adanti Montefalco Rosso 2013 from Bevagna.

My choice for the main dish is the speciality of the house for which the chef/matriarch won a European medal. It is a guinea fowl dish which I enjoy very much.

Kel chose the wild boar with torta al testo, and we had wilted chicory to accompany.

We finished off with a traditional tiramisù

Buon compleanno e auguri Eleonora e Kelly, grazie milla Caterina!

There was a glimmer of sunshine as we walked home and the village looked sparkling after the heavy rain.

After such a lovely lunch we didn't need an evening meal so a gelato in the piazza at 8 pm was perfect.