Have you ever wondered what the place you pass by smells like? Is it the pungent smell of dust, the fresh smell of the ocean, or the sweet smell of fruit trees? For Bui Hue Tam - a woman passionate about scents who just returned from a trip to Tuscany, the Italian countryside has a scent that blends the cool scent of herbs, the smell of young grass and the dry scent of the sun, the rustic, old scent of ancient houses and many other gentle flavors.
The scent of the Italian countryside
Not choosing a tourist destination in the big cities, Hue Tam went to the countryside of Tuscany in Central Italy as the place for her vacation. It is a land filled with the fragrance of trees and grass, where rows of cypress pine trees meander along the curves of the roads. On both sides are undulating forests, sparkling under the warm golden sunlight of the late spring days. The beauty is both splendid, simple and extremely lovely, inviting people to lie down on the green grassy hills, inhale the scent of wildflowers and listen to the sweet breeze of nature blowing gently by their ears.
When it comes to Tuscany, it is hard to ignore the most beautiful vineyards in Italy. According to Hue Tam, the most ideal time to see the brilliant grape vines in harvest time, participate in the experience of visiting or directly picking grapes here is in August. Besides, Tuscany is also a place of long-standing wine production with a history dating back to the 8th century BC. Sipping glasses of wine with aromatic notes from fruits, seeds or even wood, musk... produced in the traditional way is a magical experience that anyone should enjoy at least once.
Tuscany is also a haven for ancient villages from the Middle Ages. Covered with an old breath tinged with time, the lives of the villagers flowed peacefully and peacefully. The smell of rich cheese, leather, lilacs, irises or purple wisteria clusters blooming on fragrant trellises lingered in the air, all contributing to the beautiful picture of this countryside. To fully experience the simple beauty, Hue Tam's family chose to rest at an ancient manor namedPieve Marsina & Borgo Argenina.
Perched on a hilltop, the estate consists of several traditional houses built from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The ancient stone brick walls, terracotta tiled roofs and cozy rustic interiors make anyone who comes here feel like they are touching the Italian life of the old days.
"Both are gentle, peaceful and very beautiful lands, but unlike Switzerland with its overwhelming majestic nature or the Netherlands with its brilliant, gentle landscape; the Tuscany countryside makes me feel just enough. Large enough and poetic enough to be amazed, but also with enough new things to discover and immerse myself in nature" - Hue Tam shared.
Amidst the lyrical scenery, the vast nature blending with the rustic and ancient villages of the Central Italian land, the rhythm of human life also takes place strangely calm and gentle. Perhaps, that is what makes this place a true resting place for souls who are longing for a moment of peace and quiet.
Beauty in every delicious dish
Cuisine is a characteristic of the boot-shaped country. Therefore, the journey to explore Italian culture would hardly be complete without the appearance of famous delicacies. At the ancient house of the friendly locals, Hue Tam's family also participated in the experience of learning to cook a traditional Tuscan dinner.
Obviously, the main dish of the meal is Pasta. Among the many types of Pasta, from the familiar long strands like Spaghetti to the round balls with fillings like Tortellini, Hue Tam's family's choice isTagliatelle al Ragu Toscano(spaghetti with minced meat Ragu sauce) andRavioli Ricotta e Spinaci(Pasta filled with Ricotta cheese and spinach). For traditional meals, Italians often use fresh pasta instead of buying ready-made pasta from supermarkets. The noodles are made from only two simple ingredients: flour and eggs, then kneaded and rolled by hand to achieve a moderate thinness and elasticity before being put into a cutting machine to shape.
With traditional minced meat pasta, the soul of the dish lies in the sauce. Made from a Soffritto mixture of onions, celery, carrots, olive oil cooked with red wine and tomatoes, the sauce is stewed with minced beef for 3 hours. The sophistication in the preparation and long cooking time allows the characteristic flavors of each ingredient to blend completely. The result is a pot of soft stew, with a sweet and seductive aroma. In addition, the filling of the Ravioli dish has the rich flavor of the white Ricotta cheese mixed with the fresh flavor of spinach. All are wrapped into beautiful and plump "pillows" by the hands of the maker.
Besides the main dishes, the appetizers are simpler with two very "Italian" sandwiches:Bruschetta with Sausage and Stracchino(Cheese and Sausage Grilled Sandwich) andBruschetta with Tomato and Basil(Tomato and Basil Toast). And finally, the Tuscan culinary experience comes full circle with a dessert.Ciambellone- a traditional Italian sponge cake with a delicate pear layer and a sweet caramel scent. This cake is also often eaten for breakfast in local families, combined with a cup of strong espresso to start the day.
The delicious flavors of a Tuscan dinner are not only a simple indulgence to the taste buds but also take us to a deeper level of Italian culture - where creating delicious dishes is considered an art form. And that is also the final piece to complete the journey to the beautiful and peaceful land of Tuscany.
