Carleen's travel blog: Giorno Dieci

Best. Day. Ever.
Started this morning with a long walk through the countryside with Lieu. Lunch at the hotel was panzinella salad, heaping platters of pizza (all different kinds) and tiramisu. The pizza was very close to what Dean makes. We then got on the bus and drove up 2500’ though hairpin turns to Pettino, a remote mountain village.founded in 1496 by 7 families that bought the land from the church. We were hosted by Francesca and her husband Mac - she a native of the village, he from New Zealand. Her brothers were there as well. After a welcome espresso, we hopped into their 4 wheel drive trucks and went truffle hunting with their dogs. Alessandro, who owns the dogs, breeds together English Setters and Springer Spaniels. He says the setters are fast and go a long way from him and the spaniels are slower and like to stay close. He trains them by throwing tennis balls for them to retrieve, then switches over to throwing truffles. Then they go out in the woods with the older dogs to learn how to sniff out truffles, dig them up and bring them back for treats. So off we went in some of the most beautiful country - similar to the High Divide in ONP. We (actually the dogs) found quite a few truffles. We then went over to where their sheep herd was and they brought out prosecco and home made pecorino cheese while they cooked up fresh scrambled eggs and shaved the fresh truffles over them. Did I mention it was a drop dead gorgeous day? No one could stop smiling. It was truly magical. We then went back to the house and into the cheese cellar where they served us their own prosciutto that was literally melt in your mouth, along with bread with truffle spread and wine. The wine was stored in 2 gallon plastic jugs under the table. Francesca then proceeded to make pasta for 18 people from scratch. Meanwhile the men were grilling pork chops over an open flame. Dinner was in the kitchen where Francesca prepared the pasta with a truffle sauce followed by a second course of the pork chops, chinghale stew (again) and mashed potatoes and broccoli (mixed together). Dessert was a type of brownie. It was the most warm and wonderful meal.
Their cats and dogs were everywhere (they have 22 dogs). There are large white dogs that are for guarding the sheep, similar to Pyrenees. Alessandro said they are completely untrainable. They never learn sit or stay, but boy can they guard sheep!
It was one of the best days of my life, to be with people who so love their work and the land they live on. Nothing weird today.