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vacanza {time off}

August 7, 2014 by Elizabeth 20 Comments

Table in Umbria

Italy pretty much shuts down for the month of August. Since my life is my work and my work is my life, I rarely shut down completely. But for the rest of the month I’ve decided to take things down a notch, at least here on the blog.

Rather than post three times a week, I’ll try to check in weekly. (I can only go so far with this vacation thing)

What will I be doing? Still cooking and eating (mostly around this table here in Umbria).

And my Negronis will come with a side order of  Umbrian sunset.

Negroni at Sunset

Here’s some of the things I’ve been eating and drinking the last week:

Stuffed Tomatoes
Tomato and Rosemary Pasta
Roasted Red Onions
Zucchini and Basil Soup
Zucchini, Mint and Ricotta Pasta
Basilito
Gilians’s Postiano Gin and Tonic

Antipasti, Pasta / Risotto, Recipes, Soups

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Previous Post: « tramezzini + cocktails at amblè {florence}
Next Post: eating in rome in august {2014} »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Angela De Marco Manzi

    August 7, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Elizabeth, Buona Vacanza. Come sempre, ho trovato nel Suo blog qualcosa deliziosa a cucinare e magiare alla spiagga, le cipolle rosse. Posso trovarle al mio farmer’s market qui a Brooklyn! Cuoco questa settimana e bevo un vino (o due 🙂 ) a Lei! Grazie tantissime per le Sue suggestioni e goda davvero il resto di l’estate. (I hope I didnt butcher the language too much 😉 )

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 7, 2014 at 7:24 pm

      You’re Italian is great!

      Reply
  2. Paulette McPherson

    August 7, 2014 at 7:19 pm

    Enjoy your vacanza, we will survive (just barely) until your return! LOL!!

    Reply
  3. Lori August

    August 7, 2014 at 7:23 pm

    Any favorite places to dine out in Umbria that are closer to Torgiano?

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 8, 2014 at 5:12 pm

      There are a few in Todi (Umbria, Jacapone, Pane Vino) and then some in Bevagna, Montefalco and Foligno. But in Torgiano there’s not really anything except Tre Vaselle, which is kind of stiff and expensive.

      Reply
  4. lisa | renovatingitaly

    August 7, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    Three times a Week…..Brava.
    We are busy with the house and have a workaway chap coming tomorrow.
    Enjoy your break, come back refreshed
    love lisa and the gang x

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 8, 2014 at 9:14 am

      Thanks! Good luck with the work. Aren’t they taking August off? If not, then consider yourself blessed.

      Reply
  5. Michael Blevins

    August 7, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Enjoy some time off! You certainly earned it!

    Reply
  6. Anonymous

    August 7, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    I remember many wonderful dinners around that table.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 8, 2014 at 9:14 am

      Ok, Anonymous, who are you?

      Reply
  7. Cynthia Hill

    August 7, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    Pergola is heaven, the zucchini,ricotta and mint was awful…………….how did I screw that up! Zero flavor, except the mint! What was missing?
    I mix almost everything with pasta, and am not a bad cook, except last week!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 8, 2014 at 9:20 am

      Mmm….not sure. Since this is such a dead simple pasta, it really has a lot to do with the quality of your ingredients. Great ricotta is obviously a starting point. And did you remember to salt the water? Also, the zucchini should have given it a lot of flavor.

      Reply
  8. Paul D.

    August 7, 2014 at 11:03 pm

    Buone vacanze e godeti il riposo!

    Reply
  9. Julia { dinners with friends }

    August 8, 2014 at 12:05 am

    Brava! Enjoy the lazy summer days and have an Umbrian sunset Negroni for me 🙂

    Love the zucchini mint ricotta pasta idea & will raise a Basilito from the West Coast soon …

    Julia

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 8, 2014 at 9:25 am

      Thanks! Looks like you are having a great summer too. Love following you on Instagram.

      Reply
  10. kathy austin

    August 8, 2014 at 5:16 am

    Dear Elizabeth, Have a wonderful vacation! I will miss you, your prose, your photos, the feeling of well being you share. Hopefully we will see you in September. Cheers, Kathy Austin

    Reply
  11. dee gee

    August 8, 2014 at 1:15 pm

    I actually like to visit Rome in August because there is less chance of getting run over by a Vespa. If you can take the heat, the city is relatively quiet because the locals are away in Umbria taking beautiful pictures of Negronis at sunset. Have a wonderful vacation!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 8, 2014 at 5:10 pm

      Yup. We are all here. Slurping up our Negronis!

      Reply
  12. Gaurav

    August 10, 2014 at 12:49 am

    Relatively new to you but not new to Italy, especially by Lake Garda where we summer every year. Still struggling for a decent place to eat in Venice. Any ideas? Going there tomorrow. Abracci

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      August 10, 2014 at 10:09 am

      Yes, lots of suggestions. All on my app, Eat Venice. Here is the link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/eat-venice/id595912742?mt=8

      Reply

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