Torcolo di San Costanzo

The 29th January is the feast day of San Costanzo, one of the Patron Saints of Perugia in Umbria, Italy.

Costanzo is believed to have been the first Bishop of Perugia and was martyred by decapitation in about 170 AD. He was only about 30 years old.

He appears in art wearing a mitre and carrying a crozier. Il Perugino included San Costanzo in his painting 'Virgin and Child with Saints'  - 1495. This painting is in the Vatican.

Every year the Feast of San Costanzo is celebrated with a festival and a traditional cake called a Torcolo di San Costanzo. This ring shaped sweet bread has citron, raisins, pine nuts and anise seeds in it. It is formed into a ring to represent a crown of jewels or garland of flowers - either representative of the beheading.

Five diagonal cuts in the surface represent the five gates of Perugia.

Having discovered this delicious bread in Tavernelle last August (yes, you can buy it all year round now!), I tried to make one myself, with not a lot of success. It tasted fine but looked awful!

So with a new recipe and a lot of Google researching, I have tried again to produce a good Torcolo di San Costanzo. This is a very lengthy process; it took about six hours to make, with three proving sessions.

There was kneading ...

and rising,

mixing and kneading, and kneading and kneading ...

and more rising.

Then there was rolling and shaping and more rising.

Then it was time to bake.

But the best part was in the eating.

Salute a San Costanzo!

Nomination charms ... ogni link una storia

My Nomination charm bracelet began as a wedding anniversary gift with charms to represent that occasion. A diamond studded K, a diamond pave, a heart and a green stone representing my birth stone.

Since then I have added to it on many occasions, following three themes. Nomination charm bracelets are made in Italy and I have bought charms in Australia and in Italy. My passion for all things Italian is the basis for my collection and so I have the Italian flag and Italian words Italia, Bella & Ciao.

I have a religious collection - a star, a cross, a chalice & host and a Madonna and child.

The biggest collection are things representative of wonderful experiences and fond recollections we have had during our many visits to Italy:a Vespa, red poppies, gelato, the Trevi Fountain, the Bridge of Sighs in Venice & the Piazza del Campo Siena. 
The hibiscus and the lemon are a reminder of the Amalfi Coast, the chilli and the cocktail (Aperol Spritz) remind us of Sicily. A cyclist for the Giro d'Italia, pears (that link with pecorino & honey), cherries in Umbria and a rose which brings back memories of wonderful gardens we have lived in (for a week or even nine!) throughout Italy.

Next on the wish list is a green heart, for the green heart of Italy - Umbria.

I love my Nomination charm bracelet and every link does indeed have a story.

Panicale 2015 complete - Panicale 2016 in the planning

Our 2015 Panicale experience will never be forgotten but the practicalities of the trip have been completed.

The photo enlargement of Villa Adriana has joined the other ville, case and podere that we have stayed in, on our family room wall.

Our two new Buon Ricordo plates have been hung with the others.

The journals have been completed and financial outlay calculated.

Despite having one camera out of action I still managed to take 1600 photos worth keeping. The best have been made into a Photo Journal of our nine weeks in Panicale.

With all that work completed there is only one thing left to do ... book seats for our 2016 visit to beautiful, friendly Panicale, in Umbria - the Green Heart of Italy.

Carlton Italian Festa 2015

Well over 20,000 people attended the Carlton Italian Festa in Piazza Italia, Lygon St, Melbourne yesterday, and none would have gone home disappointed. What a fabulous day of celebration of all things Italo-Australian.

We arrived quite early and the first thing we saw were the wonderful group from the Centre of Italian Studies. Their enthusiasm throughout the day was infectious as they provided activities for children, posted Instagram photos with dress ups and even had gondola races. Here is new teacher Erica with old pupils Eleonora and Rinaldo.

It seemed no area had been forgotten. The displays included the local football teams Carlton Australian Rules, Juventus and Melbourne Victory.

There were new cars, classic & collector cars and Vespas on display.

The best was an absolutely gorgeous 1929 FIAT, beautifully restored and one of only three left in the world. I got so involved that I forgot to take more photos.

Cooking demonstrations ran throughout the day and we learnt how to make Cavatelli with lamb ragu. Alessandro, the visiting chef who is in Australia for the Gusto Italiano Open Week, demonstrated how to make the pasta by machine or by hand, and later we were able to sample his delicious pasta with the lamb ragu.

There were food and drink stalls, entertainment for the children, historic photos, Italian clubs and support groups, language schools and music.

The sound shell entertainment ran from 11 am until 9 pm with a variety of music and comedy that entertained the huge crowd. When we arrived the Voce della Luna group were performing traditional Calabrese music.

Later in the day Tony Pantano sang. He was a big star in Australia in the 1970's and still performs and wins show biz awards. He has lost none of his voice or charm. 

Cosima de Vito rocked the stage in the lead up to Umberto Tozzi.

The crowd suddenly became denser as 6 pm neared and they erupted into cheers and applause as Umberto Tozzi came on stage. He pleased the crowd by singing his most famous songs 'Gloria' and 'Ti Amo' and showed that he still has the talent and charisma that has made him a star for nearly fifty years.

With all this excitement, what did we eat?
First we had some little arancini balls.

Then there was the cooking demonstration lamb ragu pasta

Later we had a Sicilian pastry - mine was full of chocolate custard and very delicious.

A gelato flavour that I didn't find in Italy - salted caramel.

Before we set off for the long trip home we had a pizza at Michelino's Trattoria. I think we have found a new favourite place to eat pizza!

As students of CIS we were rewarded with a sticker for visiting their stall. Thanks Erica for your confidence!!! But you will note that it says Bambino underneath.