Yes, it is time again for another sure-to-be-amazing dinner from my friends at Girasole in The Plains, VA. Two relatives of the owners, Lou and Lydia Patierno, are traveling here from Italy, to prepare a very special dinner for lucky us. The women, Paola and Morena Alessandroni, own Agriturismo Casa Martelletto in Marche, Italy. An agriturismo is a sort of bed and breakfast, where visitors usually can help tend to animals, pick fruit or perform other farming responsibilities, if desired.
Dining al fresco.
One of the bedrooms.
The green, rolling hills of Marche, Italy.
The Alessandronis are somewhat unique, in that nearly everything served in their restaurant comes from their farm, according to Chef Lou. And, from the website and the descriptions from Lou, the place looks and sounds devine, a heaven-on-earth experience where you can escape the realities of homelife stateside, if only for a while. If you’d like to encounter the Alessandroni’s cooking and hospitality before booking your trip, make a reservation at Girasole for Sunday, January 17th, at 6:30 p.m. The menu follows (without the more exotic Italian titles):
Assortment of cured meats and cheeses from the Marche
Salt cured cod with a caper herb sauce
Handmade pasta with pancetta, porcini and chestnuts
Traditional Adriatic seafood soup
Braised, stuffed rabbit
Assorted Marche pastries
Marche wines to be selected
All of this can be had for $85 per person, exclusive of taxes and gratuity. After attending Girasole’s truffle dinner several months ago, I can tell you that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you do not want to miss. And then you can book your tickets to Italy…
The proprietors, Paola and Morena Alessandroni.
