Fluentfriends Newsletter March 2013::The Insider

Fluentfriends Newsletter March 2013 Edition. The Insider Continued.

....Last summer saw the death of celebrated author and political commentator Gore Vidal, famed for his acerbic tongue and witty one-liners.

His love for Italy was no secret. In 1948, whilst touring with fellow writer Tennessee Williams, he discovered the ancient hill town Ravello. Seduced and inspired by its peaceful elegance, magical gardens and stunning infinity views, Vidal returned in 1972 to make the villa la Rondinaia, perched upon a 1000ft cliff-face, his home.

Vidal was not alone in his fascination. From Giovanni Boccaccio to Richard Wagner, André Gide, Graham Greene and Leonard Bernstein, Ravello has beguiled artists, musicians, and writers alike through the centuries.

Chef Vicenzino Mansi, grandson of Nicola Mansi, runs bespoke cookery courses in the heart of Ravello and explained to me how his ancestor had worked for one of the town’s nineteenth century patrons Lord Grimthorpe. In fact, in 1904 banker and conservative politician Ernest William Beckett bought the plot with ruined farmhouse, entrusting the entire reconstruction project to Nicola Mansi. The result was the breathtakingly beautiful Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rondinaia.

Vicenzino confided Villa La Rondinaia was originally intended for Lord Grimthorpe’s daughter, where she entertained friends and lovers. And so it became a favourite haunt of the Bloomsbury Group, including Virginia Woolf, Vita Sackville-West, E. M.Forster, Keynes, and Strachey.

‘It is said it was for these reasons, this particular ambience, this pedigree’, Vincenzino shares, ‘that Gore Vidal purchased Villa Rondinaia (The Swallow’s Nest).  Sold on in 2004, the Villa has since been available for private rental and as a wedding venue.

Not far from Villa Rondinaia, the twelfth century Italian villa Palazzo Sasso shares similarly breathtaking views. It was named after the prosperous Sasso family of Scala, the town above Ravello. At its heart Andrea Sasso built the original chapel to Mary Magdelene.

The twentieth century saw the building renamed ‘Hotel Palumbo’, host to kings, queens, and high society. We spoke to Francesco, once a waiter there as a boy, who remembers serving in the grand dining room which took up a large part of the first floor.  Sadly in 1978 the Vuilleumier family renounced the management of the hotel, it then lay abandoned for 19 years.

A dream to lovingly restore the building came to fruition and in 1997 the building was reborn as Palazzo Sasso.

Claiming award after award, the hotel has since been acknowledged as one of the world’s finest. We particularly love the unobtrusive yet impeccable service which has become the hallmark of the hotel, led by the excellent front of house manager Antonio Ferrara. Its restaurant Rossellinis (a nod to past illustrious guests Ingrid Bergman and her director husband, said to have often giggled their way through dinner) has two Michelin stars to its name.

And, as they say, the rest is history. Until now. The Avino family who took on the daunting task of turning around The Palazzo’s fortunes in the nineties, has brought about a second rebirth. From January this year, 2013, Palazzo Sasso has become Palazzo Avino.

Hot off the press! If you are thinking of visiting the Amalfi coast this Spring and fancy a celebrity chef cookery course you may be interested to know that  Palazzo Avino chef Michele De Leo of Rossellinis, is running a cookery session on 19 April 2013 in Sorrento.

Other dates for your diary include: 

• 15 March: Chef Danilo Di Vuolo: from Maxi Capo La Gala Restaurant (in Seiano-Vico Equense) Michelin
• 22 March: Chef Peppe Aversa of La Buca restaurant Sorrento
• 26 April: Luigi Biasetto - Maìtre Patissier Chocolatier Confiseur Glacie, Relais Dessert of 2007, owner of the Pasticceria Biasetto di (Padova) and Pâtisserie Biasetto (Bruxelles)
• 3 May: Paolo Sacchetti: Pasticcere dell'anno 2012/2013 - Titolare della Paticceria Nuovo Mondo di Prato
• 17 May: Rosanna Marziale: 1st Michelin gained 2013 - Restaurant Le Colonne in Caserta. Ambassedor of Mozzarella di Bufala nel Mondo dal consorzio di Tutela della DOP

          All sessions cost 50.00 euros per person.

          Contact us at cookandtalk@fluentintuition.co.uk to book!

If you are looking for a first class Italian cookery course, Chef Vicenzino Mansi will be running his excellent ‘Mediterranean’ cookery days this Spring.

Contact us at    cookandtalk@fluentintuition.co.uk   and we can put you in touch!

If you are in the area and would also like to brush up on your Italian you can benefit from a very special programme in the heart of Sorrento with Sorrentolingue. They are offering an exclusive deal for fluentfriends:

               THE FABULOUS FIFTIESPLUS Programme - Italian in Sorrento
            15-19 April or 22-26 April 573.50 Euro for study and accommodation

This fun course aims to provide situations in which you can immerse yourself in Italian culture with confidence and enjoyment, and to give you a chance to practise Italian with your teacher, in the company of like-minded people. You will have daily Italian sessions for adults combined with cultural classes and a week of activities and excursions to complete the programme in Sorrento. Two week programmes also available on request, but places are limited!

                Call 01483 768500 or email us  for more information!

                Italian Saturday Crash Course in UK    23 March 10am - approx 4.15pm

If you are in UK this weekend and fancy learning some Italian to get yourself up to speed for your trip, why not join Francesca for her Italian crash course for beginners this Saturday 23 March 10am. Just give Nikki a call on 01483 768500 or email nikki.op@fluentintuition.co.uk to book or find out more here>>>>> 

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