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That’s a BOY’S Name!

From the time I was old enough to speak, I was a reluctant crusader against the relentless ignorance over the gender-bending name my parents assigned me at birth. 1960s Madison Avenue provided only one example to refer to when enlightening people on how to accurately write the girl-version diminutive of Anthony. “It’s spelled with an “i” instead of a “y”, you know, like Toni, The Home Permanent.” I grew weary of the discourse and confusion about my androgynous moniker and envied girls appropriately named Mary, Cindy, or Barbara.

As I reached adulthood, the naming world evolved and it appeared the heat was finally off women with “men’s names”. Thanks to Oprah’s Book Club, Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison became a household name and songbird Toni Braxton was a sexy girl-named-Toni babe. Things were looking up in the given name department…until I moved to Italy.

**“Mi Chiamo Toni.” Oh, hell, here we go again.**

The Pursuit of Happiness

I snapped this photo of a smiling dumpster a few years back and thought to myself, “If a dumpster can be happy, why can’t we?”

For me happiness is like the AutoGrill on the Italian Autostrada; a pit stop on the road of life. You can pull in, park, take a coffee and hang out for a while, but you’re not permitted to set up camp. At some point you must get back into your vehicle and continue down the highway. Do you grumble as you get into your car, waiting and hoping to come across another AutoGrill soon?

When will we get it? Life is speeding past us like the scenery out our windshields. What we ought to do is run across the parking lot, jump back into our cars, roll down the windows and crank up the radio, singing bad pop songs at the top of our lungs.

Life is short. Be the dumpster.

The Light of a Candle

I am very lucky to be included in your circle of friends. Because of the distance between us we don’t see each other as often as I’d like, but when we meet it’s as if no time passes – we just pick up right where we left off. I know what a rare and special gift this is.

I lit a candle for you today. It burns brightly for happy memories, solidarity, friendship, peace and, most of all, love.

Pizza in Casa

Just a few kilometers outside the center of Orvieto there’s an area known as Localita’ Ponte del Sole. Drive slowly on the winding road and be careful not to blink or you might miss it: A small hand painted sign with the words “Risto-Pizzeria da Zia Graziella” nailed to a tree. The arrow points you down a white road that leads to a clearing…you’ve arrived at Zia Graziella’s place.

At first it might seem a bit unorthodox to find a pizzeria operating out of a private farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. However, when you consider that Italy is a country where food is one of its greatest sources of pride and cuisine part of its national identity, a speakeasy-style establishment thriving on a word-of-mouth reputation makes perfect sense.

Chef Zia Graziella has been creating pasta dough for over thirty-five years – first as the proprietor of a fresh, homemade pasta shop in the historical center and now as a highly regarded, wood-fired pizza cook. What makes her famous dough so extraordinary is that each batch is produced from an eighty-year old “mother” starter that she rolls out to a paper-thin consistency. Her recipe uses no oil and toppings are made with only the freshest ingredients picked from her garden or gathered from local area farms.

The price for a pizza dinner is fixed but the menu is fluid and dictated by the growing season. The meal includes antipasti, three or four different kinds of pizzas, dessert, wine, and coffee. Tonight, for example, we dined on Pizza Margherita (fresh tomato and mozzarella), Pizza with Fennel, Potato and Spicy Salami, and finally, Eggplant, Mozzarella and Tomato pizza.

The pizza flows like the nearby Tiber and can be stopped by leaving at least one slice on the platter – a signal to the kitchen that you’ve finished with the main course and are ready for dessert: a Pizza Nutella. I think it was somewhere between the coffee service and the pouring of Limoncello that I slipped into a Graziella-induced coma.

Honestly, I’d love to tell you that this amazing, one-of-a-kind restaurant is the best-kept secret in Umbria, but I’d be lying. Everyone knows the charming and talented Graziella: Martin Scorsese claims her gnocchi is the best he’s ever eaten and Richard Gere has her on speed dial. Not a VIP? Don’t worry – when you eat at Risto-Pizzeria da Zia Graziella, you’re more than just a celebrity, you’re family.

***Risto-Pizzeria da Zia Graziella,* Localita’ Ponte Del Sole, 38, Orvieto, Italy 05018, *+39 389 792 5102***

Finding Rome on the Map of Love: Book Review #2

Enjoying my copy…

…in front of the…

…Duomo di Orvieto.

Orvieto or Bust:

Stories of a Life in Italy

Archive for the ‘Orvieto Italy’ Category

That’s a BOY’S Name!

**“Mi Chiamo Toni.” Oh, hell, here we go again.**

The Pursuit of Happiness

I snapped this photo of a smiling dumpster a few years back and thought to myself, “If a dumpster can be happy, why can’t we?”

When will we get it? Life is speeding past us like the scenery out our windshields. What we ought to do is run across the parking lot, jump back into our cars, roll down the windows and crank up the radio, singing bad pop songs at the top of our lungs.

Life is short. Be the dumpster.

The Light of a Candle

I am very lucky to be included in your circle of friends. Because of the distance between us we don’t see each other as often as I’d like, but when we meet it’s as if no time passes – we just pick up right where we left off. I know what a rare and special gift this is.

I lit a candle for you today. It burns brightly for happy memories, solidarity, friendship, peace and, most of all, love.

Pizza in Casa

***Risto-Pizzeria da Zia Graziella,* Localita’ Ponte Del Sole, 38, Orvieto, Italy 05018, *+39 389 792 5102***

Finding Rome on the Map of Love: Book Review #2

On my mind.

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Stories of a Life in Italy

Archive for the ‘Orvieto Italy’ Category

“Mi Chiamo Toni.” Oh, hell, here we go again.

I snapped this photo of a smiling dumpster a few years back and thought to myself, “If a dumpster can be happy, why can’t we?”

When will we get it? Life is speeding past us like the scenery out our windshields. What we ought to do is run across the parking lot, jump back into our cars, roll down the windows and crank up the radio, singing bad pop songs at the top of our lungs.

Life is short. Be the dumpster.

I am very lucky to be included in your circle of friends. Because of the distance between us we don’t see each other as often as I’d like, but when we meet it’s as if no time passes – we just pick up right where we left off. I know what a rare and special gift this is.

I lit a candle for you today. It burns brightly for happy memories, solidarity, friendship, peace and, most of all, love.

Risto-Pizzeria da Zia Graziella, Localita’ Ponte Del Sole, 38, Orvieto, Italy 05018, +39 389 792 5102

On my mind.

Archives

Email Subscription!!

Blogroll

**“Mi Chiamo Toni.” Oh, hell, here we go again.**

***Risto-Pizzeria da Zia Graziella,* Localita’ Ponte Del Sole, 38, Orvieto, Italy 05018, *+39 389 792 5102***