Immaculate Feasts & Conceptions
It’s beginning to look a lot like…The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It’s the official start of the Christmas season in Italy. Dec 8. “Come around for dinner.” I said. On Conception Eve. “Half past 7. No make it 8.” The table was set for 5. Then 6. Then we squeezed in a 7th before Jesus showed up and started multiplying our main dish - roasted cauliflower with cumin and coconut oil #ifJesuswereavegetarian
This is what I love about life in Italy. There is always room in the inn. For an aperitivo Daniel made 🍸 vodka martinis and then some genius - I believe it was me - #IblameDaniel @danielgermanidesigns - had the idea to drink martinis all night in lieu of wine. The next morning was rough. I tried something new. Roasted Beet Root with Feta on Baked Puff Pastry. Drizzled in honey. Holy Mother of Jesus it was good. This feast. It’s in her honor. Mary’s. I’ve always assumed the immaculate conception referred to Jesus and an impossibly short gestation period from December 8th until 25th December but learned only now that in fact the conception-the feast in question where we sipped pumpkin carrot soup with thick cream for our secondo - is in fact a celebration of the Virgin Marys birth. Her mum St Anne got knocked up the old fashioned way #bippityboppetyboo however God intervened and removed original sin so that Mary shalt be born pure and pristine ready for birthing the Prince.
For Italians the feast also means a day off work (as the holiday fell on a Wednesday) and plans were made for getting together for yet another big family lunch to which I passed in lieu of a looming deadline for my podcast. To cap off the night - there was grappa- and Federica brought me the first Panettone of the season. Her version of Frankenstein and Myrrh. As Maurizio loaded my dishwasher - God I love Italian men - he asked, “Do you mind if I turn on your oven?” I made a mistake only an American would do. I didn’t heat the oven to warm the sweet bread. Finally after tasting it warmed to a crisp I understood why the Italians adore their Pannetone. The door bell rang. And we set the table with a plate for an 8th. #nightsatcasamia #lifeinitaly#mylifeinvenice #venetianlife
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