Hi and welcome. This is my blog about Italian family food. I live in Umbria, Central Italy, high up on the hills near Assisi, a beautiful medieval town. My husband Ruurd and I run a B&B with cooking school, Alla Madonna del Piatto. We also produce olive oil.
We love good, simple food. Fresh, seasonal food that can be made in a short time at the end of a busy day.
Here I want to explain some of my views about the culture and philosophy of Italian home food. In fact I want to explain how simple is it. All this would be much less fun without Ruurd’s wonderful pictures. And the opportunity to share this great food with my family and friends.
Benvenuti.
Letizia
PS. I’d love to read your comments and questions about my recipes and stories directly in the comment section of the relevant blog post.
If you wish to stay at our lovely agriturismo or attend one of our delicious cooking classes please consult our website or write at madonnadp[at]gmail.com . Thank you!
Google
PPS. In the video below by A Road Retraveled you can visit my home and kitchen!
I love this blog! Don’t change a thing about it! I’ve printed out the recipes already. I’m fowarding this to Jessica.
Ciao,
Joanne
LikeLike
Hi Joanne,
How nice to see you here! More recipes will be coming after Christmas holidays. Hugs
L.
LikeLike
Hi Letizia
I love your blog…thanks so much for the email informing me of it. It’s been three years since my friend Karen and I visited you, but we remember it like yesterday. Our visit with you and taking your cooking class was the highlight of our trip. Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipes.
June
LikeLike
Hi June, thank you so much, hopefully this will be useful for lots of happy cooking!
LikeLike
Hi Letizia,
Greetings from Nashville! My husband, Joe, and I stayed at your lovely B&B in April, 2005. We are friends with Willi Honnegger, who told us about your place and recently emailed your blog. It’s nice to be able to get in touch. I’m happy to know that things are going well for you.
Cindy
LikeLike
Hi Cindy and Joe, wonderful to hear from you after such a long time!
LikeLike
great blog🙂
I love it.
LikeLike
thank you Lola!
LikeLike
Hieee Letizia
Being a big time foodie and travel buff myself, imagine my thrill & utter delight at finding your blog. LOVE it. You will see regular comments from me starting – now!🙂
http://coloredgrains.wordpress.com; http://mellowsun.wordpress.com
PS – I added you to my blogroll. Cheers!
LikeLike
i just discovered your blog and i am very excited about it..i am an expat american in piemonte italy! a fellow blogger! love your photos and basic reminders about pasta cooking!
LikeLike
Ciao, Letizia e auguri!
Our friends from Salem, Jim & Judy Kearney told me about you and I’m so glad to hear about your new cooking school. I will be leaving soon with some friends for a trip to Abruzzo and Le Marche, ending up in Verona and we were thinking about a side trip to Assisi from Sant Angelo in Vado. Perhaps we can come and see you! A presto — Linda
LikeLike
I’m subscribing. Yummy.
LikeLike
You’ve been awarded The Liebster Award. I enjoy following your blog about food, culture and Italy. Click the following link to learn more. http://wp.me/p1cAAw-nV
LikeLike
My husband and daughter made the pasta this past weekend and I added the Limone sauce with smoked salmon …it was a huge hit.
We have fond memories of our visit and the cooking school.My husband loves to make the pasta ..it is his thing to do with our granddaughter and family! So Thank you from Canada!
LikeLike
Thank you Sharon, it’s lovely to know that somewhat my home and your home have something in common. Good, homemade food, and family sharing it.
LikeLike
It’ll be almost like being there, I can tell – hours of wonderful reading ahead of me when I delve into your fabulous blog.
LikeLike
thank you so much, you also have a wonderful blog!
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Hi Letizia, Just found your blog through barogue sicily blog. Beautiful blog and recipes I am going to link you as my Italian blog this week will send you the link.
I love your dress in this picture so gorgeous!
Carla
LikeLike
thank you Carla, you have an impressive blog!
LikeLike
Just a quick note to tell u how much I enjoyed the tasting and cooking class. Loved being st ur home. Meeting ur daughter ,google, checking out ur inn an ur land. What a lovely place u have. And u are top notch! Thank you for ur kindness. I’ve been back a week and made panna cotta last night. Yum! R u still banging ur head on the pomagrant or has it fallen!? Hope ur fall is going well! Fondly mary
LikeLike
Hi Marybeth
thank you so much it’s been wonderful to have you here! I have cut the pommgranate and made a table decoration with it, it was driving me crazy. All fine for the rest, we’re having wonderful wetaher and lovely guests. enjoy the fall and happy cooking. Ciao, Letizia
LikeLike
Hello Letizia – in 2010 you posted information about Franco and Rita Mari. I have visited them several times in Deruta and own a number of their pieces. When I go online now, however, I do not find their website or any info about their shop. I know they closed down the shop by the highway and moved it to their home – we visited them I think in 2010 there. Are they still making their ceramics? I used to have Rita’s email address but can’t seem to find it now. Any help would be appreciated – thanks – Brian in Eugene Oregon
LikeLike
Hi Brian, yes Rita and Franco are still making ceramics as far as I know. You can find Rita Mari on Facebook. If you don’t manage to contact her via FB, please let me know and I will ask her if she has another email. Thank you for supporting their wonderful work!
LikeLike
Thanks for your help – my initial search for Rita on FB was not successful – but I will keep working on it…..
LikeLike
Wow – looking closer at your site I see some wonderful recipes. I am part Italian (Chiavenna) and cook Italian frequently – but of course am limited to West Coast American fresh ingredients. One of my favorite desserts is Panna Cotta but it’s been hard to recreate that here – the cream, milk and gelatin is different. I’ve never made it successfully – the gelatin in particular is way different here. Did you post a Panna Cotta recipe that’s doable with American ingredients? Looking at your summertime salmon pasta – looks yummy. My fav is fresh tomatoes and basil and olive oil – so simple – and so delicious if the tomatoes are from the garden. I will try yours.
LikeLike
Hi Brian, I have sent yu a PM with Rita’s Fb link. She is also in my FB friends list, my profile is public.
As for the pannacotta, please try my recipe I know it works as many of the people who come to my cooking classes make it at home. If you have problems, please write a comment below teh recip and I will try to help!
LikeLike
Hi Letzia:
I want to be sure and get a couple bottles of your olive oil when it’s mfg in November. Is there a waiting list I can get on?
Thanks,
Paula Mowles
( took your cooking class in April this year)
LikeLike
Hi Paula! please send me an email at madonnadp at gmail dot com and I will add you to the list. I will write after after harvest in October to all those interested and then you can decide to buy! Thanks for asking about the olive oil!
LikeLike
Dear Letizia and Rurrd! We have been closely following the terrible news about the earthquakes in your region and are very much hoping all is well with you and yours. Sending best regards from the Tirol! – Andy
LikeLike
Ciao Andy
thank you for your thoughts! all fine here, no serious damage in Umbria except a few stones falling down in Norcia and a couple of old but not ancient buildings in Castelluccio. The damage in Amatrice, 2 and 1/2 hours from here – in Northern Lazio – is indeed heartbreaking especially for the loss of lives.
Thanks for thinking of us, we re perfectly fine but sad for what has happened.
All the very best from us all
Letizia
LikeLike