La Bella Vita: Life, Love and and Food in Southern Italy

Southern Italy 1968. The ancient village of Torre Saracena, a huddle of shuttered houses and sunbaked streets, perches on a rocky promontory above the sea. For centuries this insular community has closed its ranks against everyone outside its walls; even the inhabitants of the nearest town are classified as foreigners. After marrying her Italian boyfriend Lorenzo at 18, Vida and her family share their time between the bustle of Rome and the tranquility of Torre Saracena. Despite initial misgivings from the locals, they are soon accepted into the community and spend twenty years living la bella vita with the villagers and hippy eccentrics who become their trusted friends. From feuding and festivals, through to topless riots and brushes with the Neapolitan Mafia, life in Torre Saracena is high drama on a small stage. Cover Page......Page 1 ISBN 1840244895......Page 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 7 Preface: THE BEGINNING......Page 9 THE FIRST YEAR......Page 14 Panzanella......Page 27 THE BIG BANG......Page 29 Puntarelle in salsa di alici......Page 44 JASPER’S YEAR......Page 45 Fave fresche al guanciale......Page 57 SIGNORA LUCIA’S DAUGHTER STARTS COURTING......Page 58 Ricotta condita......Page 72 TRATTORIA STELLA......Page 73 Seppie in umido......Page 85 THE YEAR BRUNETTO IL PICCOLO FELL IN LOVE......Page 86 Cozze alla marinara......Page 99 THE CHILDREN’S WARS......Page 101 Frappe......Page 111 MICIA......Page 112 Pollo con pepperoni......Page 123 THE CHOLERA SCARE......Page 125 Cipolline in agrodolce......Page 136 LEONE AND HIS BROTHERS......Page 137 Gelato all’uva......Page 147 FESTA DEL PAESE......Page 149 Noci zuccherate......Page 160 STELLA’S ROMANCE......Page 161 Pasta e fagioli......Page 173 MAKING MONEY......Page 175 Risotto con polipo......Page 187 THE TOPLESS RIOT......Page 188 Pasta alla checca......Page 197 FABRIZIO......Page 198 Pizza, prosciutto e fichi......Page 207 THE PIRATES AND THE MAFIA......Page 209 Spigola con finocchio selvatico......Page 220 ARENA ITALIA......Page 222 Frittata di zucchine......Page 233 LENA LA LADRA AND THE LAST YEAR......Page 234 Bruschetta con fave......Page 246 POSTSCRIPT......Page 247 Set in Southern Italy in the year 1968, this is the story of the ancient village of Torre Saracena, a huddle of shuttered houses and sunbaked streets, that is perched on a promontory above the sea. For centuries this community has closed its ranks against everyone outside its walls; even the inhabitants of the nearest town.