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Today we pick up Eric and Nick for a trip to the country and Mandraccio. However, the center of Torino is closed for a marathon. The boys find their way to Piazza Carlo Emmanuele
Secondo by way of bus/tram/foot? and we meet them there.
We arrive and I remember well this place as I have been here a number of times. It is part of the organization of gastronomic palaces the I described
from Pigna d'Oro. Inside the welcome is energetic and warm...Franz knows everyone in this business it seems.
During the meal, we are all re-aquainted with an old family tradition...the making of a coniglio
(rabbit) from a table napkin! Recently I was telling Tina and I think Virginia about how Nonna Brunetti and Julia Patrone would produce this magic at Easter and Christmas. We would clamor for them to make these
wonders and then animate them in their ample arms to our screaming delight. As I told Tina, it would be nice if I could make these bunnies, but I do not know how to do it. I mentioned this to Franz a few days ago,
and he told me that Nick had learned this from Pam and has now returned the folklore to Italy!
So, another passage of time while we all practiced the craft of building these rabbits; finally filling a plate
with our creations. OBOY!
We return to the flat in Torino for the inevitable discussion about our ancestors by Franz. He talks for some time about what they all did, their history, etc. He tells us that he is
writing a book, with help from Pam, and I think, Pam is writing one as well. Some years ago, my mother's uncle Gardella wrote some history and a family tree of the Minettos, and Link Piazzo has written one about
that piece of the family as well. So, I am convinced by Franz that I should write the more recent acount of the Brunetti's and Minettos in America to add to the collection. When we are finished these will be a
tremendous memory and continuation of this large and "famiglia formidable".
In the old days, it was up to the old ones to sit with the younger and tell the stories, over and over again. I remember
some of them well. But today, with everyone apart, no time to get together, except perhaps at a funeral, there is the prospect of losing our culture and roots. Some of us do not speak the language at all, and some
can only recall vague images of our childhood times with the Nonni. Cooking is part of this culture, and we will find a way to write this into these books for the future.
These books will be a way to fill
some of the gaps so that our history (accoring to Franz, back to the 16th century) may find continuity and some meaning.
It is late, my flight leaves in the morning. There are more pictures past day W+1 that I will send in another message.
I have made a CDRom of all the pictures that I took at the wedding and left it with
Franz to give to Nick and Eric. I will copy this collection and send it to you, as you desire. Also, there is about 2 hours of video tape that needs a lot of editing to make into something that you might enjoy. This
will take some time, as I find the ratio of production time to final tape time is about 5:1. This will come later, if you wish.
So, I hope that you enjoy some of this as much as I enjoyed making the messages.
Enzo
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