Italian Hospitality-Borgo San Luigi

Located in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, Borgo San Luigi is a four hundred year old hotel, with open spaces and peaceful surroundings. Located between Florence and Sienna it is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. We felt so welcome here. The staff was very warm and gracious.

Please have a look at the Borgo San Luigi web site. http://www.borgosanluigi.it/en/index.html

It was an incredible experience. Chef Ricardo even allowed us into his kitchen. Three generations cooking in a restaurant kitchen. How awesome is that? Have a look at the video on You Tube.

Fresh Pasta Dough
1/2 kg flour
1/2 kg semolina flour
400 g water
1 egg
pinch of salt
50g olive oil

Mix all ingredients together. Mix well. Let sit for 30 minutes under a damp cloth.
Roll dough thinly, using the semolina flour. Cut into irregular square shapes.

Boil in salted water for 2-3 minutes.

Toss with sauce of choice.

Stay tuned for the video tutorial

Adventures in Italy(the adventure starts before ever leaving the ground)

After two years of planning and saving the time is almost here. Many hours of research and study will, I'm sure, pay off. Basics in Italian, in my opinion, should include things like where is the bathroom?, my shoe size is 39,  and a litre of the house red please.

Packing List for three weeks in Italy in Fall

Carry on size (Checked) suitcase

• 6 shirts(one long sleeved)
• 2 dresses
• 4 bottoms
• 4 pairs shoes
• 2 coats
• PJ's
• underwear(6 of which are old and full of holes, they will be discarded after I wear them)(3 pair made of quick drying material, these I intend to wash as I go)
• 3 pair socks
• ziplock bags small and large(4 of each)
• flat sink stopper
• laundry soap sheets
• small gifts for showing appreciation( 2 decks of cards, small Canadian flag, Canadian pins)
• travel sized corkscrew (very important when traveling to a country like Italy)

Carry on Purse and Rolling Backpack

• power adaptors
• power block
• travel mug(insulated for cold and hot beverages)
• small roll of duct tape
• Travel sized shampoo, soap,hair spray, toothpaste etc
• spork 
• collapsible cup
• make up
• 1 shirt
• 1 pair of pants
• 1 pair of underwear
• 1 pair of shoes(ballet flats)
• combs/brush
• medications(pepto,ibuprofen,pepcid,gravol)
• tissues
• snacks
• large grey scarf to use as a blanket
• journal
• pens
• ipad
• iphone
• umbrella
• camera
• cross-body bag
• collapsable shopping bag