2001 Spring Sessions Begin for Cucina con Mia

On Monday, April 23, Mia left San Francisco for Italy to begin preparations for the Spring session.

She left with her suitcases filled full with materials for students, and a very long "To Do" list before the students arrive. It was impossible for her to get settled again in Coldigioco until she got the chance to enjoy her first glimpse of Rango's hard work in the orto, and all of Paula and Sandro's continued efforts in improving Coldigioco.

Mia reports that the asparagus are plentiful; the fava bushes are amazing -- lush and green; the onions, tomatoes, and strawberries are doing great; and the little pea plants look marvelous. The beans will be ready in a few weeks just in time for the students to enjoy. Rango has been taking care of everything, including pruning the roses, the wall of rosemary and much more. Now that Mia is in Italy, we can receive her personal updates in preparation for the students¹ arrival.

More good news -- Just before Mia's departure, Cucina con Mia was able to establish a wonderful partnership with Architectural Photographer, Jim Cross.

When we met with Jim, we could see immediately that he was the perfect person to document our upcoming culinary adventure in Italy. Jim has a beautiful portfolio with a range of warm images of exquisite Victorian rooms graciously composed. These images were so inviting that we knew we needed his help to document our facilities.

The fact that Jim is also a professional house painter and wall finisher, he was immediately enthusiastic about seeing the 500-year-old structures in Coldigioco. With additional travel references such as support team member for one of Mark Barnett's first Eco-Challenges in British Columbia, as well as support for the Mille Miglie antique car race in Italy, we knew Jim was the one with the right skills and just enough enthusiastic sense of adventure to join our team in Coldigioco this spring.

Look for his images when we launch Cucina con Mia's Virtual Tour.

A presto!

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Newly Restored Organic Kitchen Garden
Welcome to Cucina's Orto

Regular visitors to Coldigioco will be pleased to see the splendor that once was the most beautiful private vegetable garden in the county begin to flourish again in 2001.

The garden adjacent to the Cucina con Mia cooking facilities originally belonged to Itala and her husband Nanni, who moved in 1998 to a neighboring village. It was heartbreaking for the Coldigioco residents to see the garden go untended, but in everyone¹s hearts, they knew that it was only temporary until they could find the right personnel to maintain the orto.

For those new to Coldigioco, the vision for the orto is to fill the 20-meter square plot bordered by a small chapel, olive trees and rolling hills, with tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, peppers, cabbages, broccoli, peas, beans, favas, arugula, radicchio, assorted lettuces, asparagus, artichokes, strawberries, parsley, and herbs.

Orto vegetables warmed by the sun will be available for Cucina con Mia students to use in their menus. Students are also welcome to enjoy fruits from fig, persimmon, pomegranate, plum, and wild cherry trees when in season.

Now for the great news! Last October, master gardener Rango agreed to tend the Cucina orto. Rango, a former forest ranger and farmer for 30 years, has already re-tilled the plot, tended to our neglected asparagus and artichoke plants, planted garlic, onions, dwarf peas, potatoes, and fava beans, and mapped out the entire plan for 2001.

It will truly feel like spring this year when the asparagus poke their heads up signaling the beginning of a new season in Coldigioco.

Check back for updates as the seasons unfold and reports of the latest harvest are posted to our website!

A presto!

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