The ochre hued landscape … echoed with bursting olive trees, dark sage green leaves dusted with the coloured sands, and then the deep green walnut groves that sprang from the valley sides …
… this was where they were headed to a tree house restaurant on the villa’s estate, overlooking the Tiber valley, set amongst the canopy of the walnut grove.
This treat was the highlight of their stay – something that had been on the cards for years – the pandemic stymied their first attempt … now five years on in 2025 – they were fulfilling their plans.
That Long Shadow had faded in recent years and now these friends were really going to enjoy the delights of Italian cuisine – one of the world’s best … and here they were ready to sample all the tasters offered …
These septuagenarians, friends since the early days, had sent their men folk off for the evening … while they were going to indulge themselves with wonderful memories interspersed, no doubt, with howls of laughter …
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| A walnut coming out of its green sheath |
This may well be their last overseas foray like this – who knows in this ‘new’ world of ours – but we’d survived … and the roaring twenties were theirs to luxuriate in as 20th century silver-surfers had found they could do …
However – of course – as they’d always excelled at cooking, were all considered gourmets, yet had gourmand interests – this was going to be the meal to be remembered …
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| Umbrian countryside |
… the tree house could only take six – but perhaps they could tempt their husbands to bring them back again – so their beloveds could check the menu – and these twelve gourmands could all have another feast at the golden villa of the sun burnt Umbrian hills.
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| Antipasti ideas ... |
… the table was booked for late afternoon – the sun would still be up, before dusk started to come down … plenty of time to eat and be merry.
Drinks came with olives, fresh walnuts, pickled walnuts, thin cheese and walnut crackers, fresh breads, farm butter …
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| Walnut oil - with fresh walnuts |
Antipasti … served with fresh figs, walnuts and melon; a platter of chicory (green and pink), the leaves had juicy ripe pear strips draped in them, gorgonzola pieces spread over … then sprinkled with walnut oil …
Pasta with creamy walnut pesto …
Various fresh salads and salad tasters … served with walnut and garlic mayonnaise … ripe Italian tomatoes … orange salad sprinkled with walnut pieces and walnut oil;
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| Fish with nut stuffing |
… the main course - whole fish baked with walnut stuffing – sliced and served;
a selection of spit roast meats with local vegetables …
A simple mouth cleansing dessert – lemon sorbet … and then the finale …
… a cheeseboard with apple and walnut chutney, fresh walnuts, other seasonal fruits and a variety of crackers …
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| Pickled walnuts |
Local wines, spritzers, jugs of cold spring water were served … to finish and go with the coffee was a selection of “digestivo” … to temper the rich meal.
Now the sun was nearly set, the rays were spreading across the valley hills … the canopy of the walnut tree house had kept the heat of the evening sun away from them … while the long shadows were ending the day …
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| Walnut trees |
An evening of delight – one that these aging ladies would remember for a long time - perhaps they could come back again before they were homeward bound – they just felt their husbands would feel left out at not being able to dine in the canopy of walnuts …
The foothills of Covid-19 were easing into the distance – but the long shadow of waiting for my WEP post … is another story …
Take care – the idea for this Long Shadow came from spotting this wonderful Tree House restaurant on the treetop of a walnut forest … hence the walnut ideas (which I found elsewhere) …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
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