Travel Diary - Indian Summer Tour 2016, Part 5, Berardino Lombardo, Agriturismo Il Contandino, Caianello (Ce)

After a long week of school, work, various appointments here and there, Sundays are reserved to stare in famiglia/be with your family.  In terms of Sunday lunch, a grande agriturismo is one of the best ways to spend a long afternoon together. 

Agriturismo? 

 Definition: Agriturismo - a combination of the words for "agriculture" and "tourism" in Italian - is a style of vacationing in farm house resorts codified into Italian law in 1985......

An Italian agriturismo will usually serve foods to guests prepared from raw materials produced on the farm or at least locally. (Source, About Travel )

 I chose Berardino Lombardo’s Agriturismo IlContandino in Caianello for my last stop on my Indian Summer Tour.

Travel Diary October 16, 2016

The weather was perfect!  Perfect for a day of good food, good wine, and great company.  My son and I arrived just in time to get a giant bear hug from Berardino as he led us to the aperitif table.  

Berardino Lombardo

Aperitif country style starring newly pressed extra virgin olive oil and crunchy toasted bread.

A great kick off to what would be an afternoon of local food, local recipes, and fun fun fun.

Example – with truffle season in progress, it just makes sense to make a simple fresh salad with lettuce, thinly sliced mushrooms, truffles, and a splash of olive oil.

 I could have eaten a kilo or so!

Next came an onslaught of appetizers complete with a quick explanation of the ingredients along with tips for me so that I could prepare each item at home. 

Panzariello: day old bread, tomatoes, onions, olives, zucchini, ad origano alltossed with olive oil.

Melanzane poverelle; eggplant marinated in extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, and oregano then baked in the oven for about 20 minutes.  Simple but spectacular!

Pane cotto e broccoli.  Once again, day old bread is not tossed away, but fried with wild broccoli greens!

 Cicoria e fagioli.  Cannelloni beans and  wild chicory soup.

Uovo a susciello.  Another simple and tasty dish using staple ingredients such as tomatoes, broth, sausage, and eggs (cooked directly in the broth! )

A glass or two of Lombardo’s Aglianicone wine….

Sunday?  Can’t miss out on a Campania classic.  Pasta with Ragu sauce!

Second course – Roasted pork with a side of oven roasted potatoes...

Dessert!

Before leaving, a quick stop in the agriturismo’s bottega.  A little shop which features some of the local products produced by Lombardo and friends.  

Products that one can take home and reproduce the flavors and feelings of a spectacular sunny Sunday afternoon.