Travel with Julie

How to order Gelato

One of the first things you will do when in Italy is eat gelato -- everyone does, even the locals indulge on the delicious ice cream treat.  But don't be surprised to find ordering gelato a little intimidating.  There are as many flavors as there are gelaterie (ice cream shops), and they are all described in Italian.  So how do you know where and how to get the best gelato?  For starters, watch this video from Geobeats for tips on ordering gelato:

 

Where to go:

 San Crispino (Via Panetteria,42, Rome)
 Vivoli (via Isole delle Stinche, 7r, Florence)
 Gelateria Il Doge (Campo Santa Margherita, 49, Venice)

What to order:

 Ice Creams
 Cioccolato (cho-koh-LAH-toh) - classic chocolate
 Gianduja (jahn-DOO-yah) - chocolate hazelnut combination
 Cioccolato all'arancia (cho-koh-LAH-toh ahl-ah-RAHN-cha) - chocolate and orange
 Pistacchio (pee-STAHK-yoh) - the definition is obvious; my personal favorite!
 Mandorla (mahn-DOOR-lah) - almond
 Nocciola (noh-CHO-lah) - hazelnut
 Crema (KREH-mah) - egg custard flavor
 Cocco (KOH-koh) - coconut
 Caffe (kay-FAY) - coffee

 Sherberts
 Fragola (FRAH-go-lah) - strawberry
 Lampone (lahm-POH-nay) - raspberry
 Limone (lee-MOH-nay) - lemon
 Mandarino (mahn-day-REE-noh) - mandarin orange
 Melone (meh-LOH-nay) - melon, usually cantaloupe
 Albicocca (al-bee-KOH-kah) - Apricot
 Pera (PEH-rah) - Pear
 Pesca (PEHS-kah) - Peach

One final tip:  Forego the cone and use a cup.  Gelato is softer than ice cream and melts faster!

What is a Tenuta?

No, it's not a tomato . . . it's not a tuba or tornado . . . nor is it a tavern, taxi, or tabernacle.  So, what exactly is a tenuta?  Pronounced tay-noo-tah, it is an Italian estate or vineyard.

A tenuta usually consists of a large estate home surrounded by a small village that once housed those who worked the farm.  Today, many of these estates and villages have been converted into apartments and B&Bs for visitors.

 

Pictured here is Tenuta di Lupinari, one of the largest private, family-owned estates located in the heart of Tuscany.  

Behind the estate home is the small village, also known as a borgo. 

This property has been beautifully restored to constitute 11 apartments and 4 B&B bedrooms.

I really enjoyed the spaciousness, the peacefulness, and the overall feeling of being a local while staying in one of Lupinari's apartments.  It truly is a unique experience.

Visit Tenuta di Lupinari's website at www.lupinari.com.

My Favorite Italian Word

I'm currently reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert who writes an account of her year-long journey through Italy, India, and Indonesia.  It is her love affair with Italian food, culture and language that I wholeheartedly relate to.  She selected Italy as one of her destinations primarily to better learn the language;  it was there she found her favorite word to say, attraversiamo.  It means, "Let's cross over."  Many Italians exchange this word when they are ready to cross the street.  Ms. Gilbert goes on to explain how saying the word brought her great enjoyment and she looked for every opportunity to use it.

I stopped reading to laugh because, I too, have a favorite Italian word, prenotazione.  Pronounced pray-noh-taht-zee-oh-nay, it means "reservation."

Like Ms. Gilbert's word, prenotazione is a pedestrian word -- nothing special about it.  Still, I love the way this word sounds and the way it feels rolling off my tongue.  It is a BIG word, making it even more special for the simple fact it is in my limited Italian vocabulary!  Its connotation to travel could be another reason I like it so much -- a prenotazione for a flight (a reservation to GO somewhere ); a prenotazione for a hotel stay (a reservation to BE somewhere); a prenotazione for dinner (a reservation to EAT somewhere).  However, it is less about its translation and more about the pleasure I get from saying the word -- it's a really COOL word!

Now, I have a prenotazione with my cellphone to make a prenotazione for tonight's dinner . . . Ciao!