Living Villa Cappelli

So, full warning, this is not a happy podcast. But I just wanted to say a little about Paul and thank you all for your support. For those of you that don’t know, Paul Cappelli passed away this year after a short battle with cancer. From all of us at the Cappelli family — Steven, Connie, Nikki, Casey, and Logan — we want to thank you all of you so, so much for all your support. His creative, amazing, loving, and bigger-than-life spirit and love for all things Italian will live on in everything we do at Villa Cappelli. Forever. Thank you.

We take a lot of pasta names for granted. Sure, we all enjoy “spaghetti,” but do you know what it means? How about “penne” or “fusilli”? In this podcast, we talk about the names of various pastas. And in many cases how the name describes the shape. If you want to see actual pictures of the various pastas, check out all the pics in the show notes. Also, at the end the podcast, we give you a few cooking tips on pasta.

The title pretty much says it all. We talk a little more about the coronavirus in Puglia and how Italians are dealing with things. Luckily the medical system here is very good. We talk Caremongering. A wonderful movement started in Canada. Essentially, it is a movement encouraging acts of kindness or assistance, especially to help vulnerable people, during tough times, like the COVID-19 pandemic. And while it’s not an Italian expression, the sentiment is totally Italian. Typically Caremongering revolves about starting your own local Facebook group. The more local, the better, like smaller towns or regions or neighborhoods in big cities. Typically, posts are divided between two main topics: #iso and #offer. #iso posts are for people "in search of" help, whereas #offer posts are for people offering help. For example, someone posts they are #iso toilet paper, and a neighbor can drop some off on their porch. So, since we are spread wide and far in this group, feel free to start your own local Caremongering group! Not sure how? Here are step-by-step instructions: https://www.facebook.com/help/167970719931213 Then we talk a bit about what we are harvesting from the garden as well as planting. I’m not sure how we got on the top of canned bread, but I promised pictures in the show notes. So here it is.

Not much in the way of show notes for this episode guys. And this might be a trend as we focus more on putting out good audio, and not so much on the show notes, so we can do more podcasts. This episode, we catch you up with what life has been like with the coronavirus here in Italy, and more specifically, Puglia. It is definitely a strange time, but very manageable and fine from our perspective. Do you have a question you'd like answered? Anything we didn't cover? Let us know in the comments. And we'll give you updates very soon in the next podcast. Stay safe everyone! Wash and sanitize those hands!

In this episode, we try to give you a bit of behind the scenes look at what it’s like to run a villa, especially from the tour and vacation rental aspect. We cover all sorts of topics, including: • Breakfasts, as far as what we serve and why a simple breakfast is never a simple breakfast • Laundry. Again, while for most a load of laundry here and there during their week is a normal chore. There’s nothing normal about it when you have 10 bedrooms of sheets and towels to wash each week. Plus, you have to head down to hang them up to dry, which is another trip in and of itself. • Meals. How we design meals and cook them, with and without guests. If you’ve ever made a big holiday meal for your family, you probably have some idea the amount of work that goes into that. So when are cooking for say 15 to 20 people each day, the chopping, cooking, and cleaning all add up. • Touring. Paul is the man who drives everyone around on tours. So after breakfast, he’s driving everyone to the next site and leading the tour at that location. He also sticks with everyone to order everything for each meal, and make sure everyone is taken care of at the restaurant. • Shopping. This is never a quick task when food shopping in Italy. You could just go to a supermarket, but we never do. So you head to your butcher. Then the local produce vendor (aka farm stand essentially). The baker/breadman. The local cheesemaker. Etc. Etc. Etc. We, of course, have our favorites spread all over town. So Paul is either driving guests around to visit each store during our tour. Or if we are making meals for guests, he is doing the shopping for that. • Cleaning. This isn’t just about a turnover day, which is always a very long day, but also about during the week. On the turnover day, you have to clean up the whole villa. Which meals cleaning 10 bedrooms, 2 common rooms, the kitchen, and all the outside spaces. During the week, there’s just normal everyday cleaning, but also clean up after a meal with guests. Which if you are serving a four-course meal to 20 people means 80 plates alone, not counting pots, glasses, etc. • Entertaining. Probably the most fun, but this would include handling happy hour drinks, taking guests on special outings, and at as a concierge. • Product work. So when we don’t have guests, we switch to making products to sell to mainly the U.S. So this includes, of course, harvesting olives, taking them to the mill, etc. It includes catching up on inventory and making other products like our conserves. It’s putting labels on all the packaging and making sure everything is ready to ship the states. All the stuff you might think of with a business like that. So, that’s just a bit of our excuse for being so tardy with doing more podcasts, but we do hope to do more very soon!

In this podcast, we catch you up on the projects we’ve been doing at the villa during our “off time” without guests. From major new interviews to unexpected construction, we’ve had a lot going on. Topics we cover: • Paul’s interview on CBS Sunday Morning about olive blight in southern Puglia that is destroying a lot of olive trees • Here are some excerpts from the written story: Olive trees don't just dot the landscape in Puglia, Italy; they define it. They are so important here, in the heel of Italy's boot, that locals use words like "patrimony" and "cultural heritage" when describing them. But what is worrying olive growers here is a disease that's killing olive trees by the millions. Paul Cappelli, who'd been an advertising executive in New York City until a few years ago, left his job and moved to a home on the ancient Appian Way surrounded by olive trees, and entered the oil business. "Not the Texas oil business; I'm in the real oil business!" he said. It's a dream come true, with a nightmare behind me," he said. "That's what it feels like, a nightmare?" asked correspondent Seth Doane. "Yeah. I'm always looking over my shoulder." Paul Cappelli has tested his trees, and there's no sign of xylella – yet. "It's like the Black Death is coming," he said. "It feels like if I look over my shoulder and I see dark clouds, it's the Bubonic Plague coming towards the town." • While the story itself is sad, if was a nice bit of PR for us • How we have been working on making the garden much more organized and pretty • From a raised bed vegetable garden to new walls and planters • We are also are building a storage room next to the pool for all the pool equipment • The new land of olive grooves that we bought that we’d love to do a huge dinner in, like in Out Standing in the Field • The complete story of our leaky roof and and how we had to redo a whole section of roof that we just put on three years ago • The discovery of the problem through to the new construction • How the problem developed in the first place • What the contractors claimed the brown water was • Are plans to move the laundry room • Our big question of whether or not to get a clothes dryer • We cleaned out our wine cellar • One side of the wine cellar will still be a rec room from guests, while another side will be a small antiques store for guests at the villa • The hard water in Italy • Thus why we put in a water softener, to help with everything from washing dishes to saving appliances • How the hard water broke down the ice machine twice • Paul got a good 20-30 lithographs and he is buying up old frames to put them up at the villa • How the artwork comes from friends up in Parma who had a long connection to Paul’s family, including Paul’s uncle being the chauffeur to a count from Parma • Paul’s olive tree and olive wood projects

Have a big milestone birthday coming up? Or perhaps an anniversary? Perhaps you’re just looking to travel with a large group of family and friends. Then booking a villa in Italy might is the perfect way to celebrate with family and friends. Here are just a few of the reasons you should book an Italian villa now! 1. It’s more affordable than you think When you stay in a villa in Italy, it will feel like you’re living in luxury, but it’s very affordable. Definitely more affordable than a hotel or resort. According to Lonely Planet travel site, even a midrange hotel room in Italy will cost you upwards of 200 Euro a night. At a four or five star hotel, it will be 250 Euro or more. A villa rental however usually averages to 99 Euro a night per room. That’s a 60% savings! • Meals • alcohol • Parking, etc. Bonus tip: It’s not uncommon to ask guests to chip in when joining you for this amazing celebration. They will also have an amazing holiday, you are just arranging it all. You don’t have to pay for it all on top of that! Renting a villa makes it a lot easier to split costs that deciding who had the salad and who at the pasta at dinner. 2. You can bring along a ton of friends and family Space, it’s not the final frontier. It’s what you get when you rent a villa! Ever tried to squeeze your family into a hotel room when traveling? Especially once you get to five or more kids? It’s not only uncomfortable, but a hassle. A hotel room can average around 400 square feet A villa can average 2000 square feet! Or 20000 sq. Feet total • full kitchen, multiple bathrooms, multiple living spaces, and probably a game room or two is an amazing option for larger groups. • get away from everyone for a couple of hours? There’s always some corner free. Want to play a board game? Set up your area over there while others lounge by the pool. There are always options when you rented a villa. 3. You’ll find a variety of entertainment If you’re traveling with a large group for your birthday or anniversary (or other big event), that usually means you’ll have a range of ages, from parents with kids to elderly relatives. An Italian villa rental allows you all to be together, yet still have your own space to find something fun to do. A hotel just isn’t geared for families or groups of friends traveling together. Between the expenses mentioned above, it’s also not conducive for a lot of together time. Just gathering by the hotel pool or a nearby restaurant isn’t all the different from other get-togethers at home. A villa allows you to cook together. Play games together. Take a walk or run together. Go see the sights and more. Plus, while kids do love hotels, they do get bored easily. With a villa, you can comfortably let them explore and play without worrying about other guests. Plus, most villa rentals have a DVD library, board games, and pool to keep kids occupied. Double plus, if you can get an Italian villa centrally located, you can take a lot of fun day trips. Italy, and especially Puglia, have a lot of great sites that both young and old enjoy seeing. From castles like Castel del Monte, to amazing seaside towns like Polignano a Mare, and to beautiful Unesco World Heritage sights like Matera. 4. Your celebration will be YOUR celebration When renting a villa for your getaway, you get a higher level of privacy that you could never get at a hotel or condo. No sharing the pool. No dealing with dining with strangers or hotel staff asking to clean your room early in the morning. It also works in the opposite direction. No one likes to go to a restaurant with a toddler that could have a meltdown or that crazy loud uncle that tends to embarrass you. Hotel guests can include everyone from adventurous newlyweds, rowdy teens, crying babies and even creepy guys poolside. A villa rental really is a lot more private. That beautiful space is YOUR space. 5. You’ll celebrate in style From your own...

In this podcast, we take a dive into the culinary world and explore where there is a lot of “fake food” out there. From doctored extra virgin olive oils and grated cheese to wine and balsamic vinegar, we give you the real news on fake food. Topics we cover: • How we’ve had a few podcast fans visit this year, including Kendra and her new business: www.vida.wine • How often we don’t realize the wool is being pulled over our eyes in regards to food. Here’s a list. Do you have others? Let us know in the comments. Extra Virgin Olive Oil • The corrupt world of extra virgin olive oil and the struggles we face with that. It is definitely a fake food most times. • This book covers this topic extensively. Check it out: Extra Virginity • How by Italian law that even if the olives come from a different country, as long as the oil is bottled in Italy it is allowed to be called “Italian Olive Oil” • How producers from Tuscany come down to Puglia and buy Puglia olives, then bottle extra virgin olive oil in Tuscany and call it Tuscan olive oil • How our extra virgin olive oil is really just freshly squeezed olives • We’ve covered this subject a couple of times in past episodes. Check out: — Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Everything you always wanted to know and never knew to ask — How to tell if your extra virgin oil is really extra virgin — Why your Italian "food" may not be real food And click here to sign up for our email course explaining more on how to tell if your extra virgin olive oil is really extra virgin. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Coffee • Paul wonders why whole bean coffee costs less than ground coffee • Paul believes there must be other additives to make it cost less • After doing a little research, I think there may be other reasons: Namely, inferior beans. Here's what one site had to say: "Whole bean coffees come from better lots, because it’s impossible to hide negative qualities in a bag of whole bean coffee. Much of the coffee’s aromas and flavors are released when it’s ground. Therefore, customers who purchase whole bean coffee and grind it at home will notice the coffee’s nuanced qualities — regardless of whether they are good or bad. In comparison, coffee that’s pre-ground has already lost many of its aromatics and flavors by the time the customer purchases it. Thus, it’s not as important to use beans that are highly flavorful and aromatic when selling pre-ground coffee. Roasters that offer ground selections can get away with using lower-quality beans." • Does anyone have any insight? Let us know in the comments! • How Paul had a work colleague was bragging about how he makes coffee pods that have 75% pure coffee grounds in the pods Parmesan Cheese • We did a whole podcast on this here: Why your Italian "food" may not be real food • How Parmesan actually is legally allowed to have cellulose (wood pulp) in every jar. Supposedly it is a safe anti-clumping additive when it is only 2-4% of a product. But FDA investigations found 8.8% in some! In some cases ,the cheese was less than 40% of the product! Wal-Mart has now be slapped with a lawsuit over selling a product labeled as 100% Grated Parmesan but had 7.8% wood pulp! Truffle oil • How Paul bought some fresh truffles a few years ago and we made truffle oil • But then we discovered this can be very very dangerous, and only last 2-3 days • This sight https://www.idratherbeachef.com/how-to-make-truffle-oil/ goes into it a bit more: "When you make fresh truffle oil as demonstrated in this post, it has a VERY limited shelf life of two, maybe three days maximum. I suggest making it in small batches to ensure all the oil may be used quickly. Fresh truffle oil has a limited shelf life due to the oil not being brought and held 212 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the temperature that kills botulism...

We move outdoors to sit among the olive trees for our second part of our interview with rock ’n’ roll royalty Jenny Boyd. We talk music, creativity, and her book It’s Not Only Rock ’n’ Roll. Topics we cover: • We talk about Jenny’s second husband • The British invasion • How Brits saw America a land of opportunity • What musicians drive was during the creative process, what they experience when writing a son • What part drugs and alcohol played in the creative process • If they believed everyone has the potential to be creative and how to express yourself • How they musicians are just like normal folks • How the Beatles never knew their music would live on and be so popular for so long • How they came from very simple lives in Liverpool • How Jenny’s new book is a memoir of her life growing up in the 60s and 70s with all these musicians • How George Harrison was most influenced by their experience in India • Carpool Karaoke with Corbin • The reason some groups have stayed together or come back together • How Jenny interviewed Keith Richards for the book • Keith’s take on creativity • How all the artists were willing to talk about their muse • How they all had a sense of destiny and knew they were going to be famous • Paul’s breakfast with Pete Townsend • Pete’s take on people feeling he was selling out by using his music in advertising • How people feel they have ownership over of the music and even the artists • The most interesting Don Hendly, Joni Mitchel, David Crosby, Graham Nash • How all of the artists were really encouraged by someone when they were young • How you have to be you to be creativity • How Paul hated seeing work that was imitating other work in advertising • How you need to find your own voice and find the courage to use it. • A book on the subject: The Courage to Create • Paul’s description of showing creative work to clients and how it feels like you are exposing yourself to them • How Eric Clapton described it as looking into the face of God • How Ringo described presenting songs to the rest of the group • One of Paul’s favorite quotes about creativity: “Big ideas are so hard to find, so fragile, and so easy to kill. Don’t forget that, all of you that don’t have them.” • How Jenny was inspired by her stay at Villa Cappelli • How she stayed “in the now” while here and enjoying • How she was inspired by the food and cooking at Villa Cappelli • Steven’s take on cooking and how there are no rules • Jenny’s take on our creative expression at Villa Cappelli • Steven’s appreciation of Italian’s “living in the now” and definitely enjoying each moment and each day • Italians don’t just each to nourish, but sit down, relax and each with the family • Paul really wants to create a sign that says, “Just calm down!” for guests that come to the villa • How tours have changed here at the villa from guests really interacting with each other to everyone sitting on their phone posting pics to Facebook • How one of our guests did something amazing while staying here. She wouldn’t take a camera with her when she went out. She instead took her sketch pad and would sketch whatever she saw and then watercolor it. • Jenny said she was inspired to draw while staying here • The famous picture of everyone “enjoying” the Pope’s visit • How we hope to do an unplugged tour at some point • This great Nature Valley commercial [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er5IijMC24A[/embed] • Again, enjoy Jenny’s book. Check it out here. • Again, you can follow Jenny here at her website.

We are finally back after a very very very busy summer. But we couldn't resist making some time to sit down with one of our guests, Jenny Boyd, and talk to her about creative and music and her book It's Not Only Rock 'n' Roll. Topics we cover: • We introduce Jenny Boyd, a recent guest at Villa Cappelli • She wrote the book It’s Not Only Rock and Roll Click here to get a copy. • How Paul grew up with the music Jenny had a first-hand account of this music • How Jenny is a part of rock and roll nobility if you will • How music today doesn’t have the same social relevance as it did in the 60s and 70s • We wonder what has changed, why aren’t artist tapping into the zeitgeist like that used to • They really had no idea that it was going to be such an important time and that music would be such a big part of it. • The Beatles were like the first boy band • Jenny was married to Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac • How Jenny and Mick meet • Pattie Boyd is Jenny’s sister, who was married to George Harrison of the Beatles and later Eric Clapton • Jenny talks about how Pattie and George met • How Eric Clapton wooed Jenny away from George, writing Layla for her while Pattie and George were still together Here's the song on iTunes and below are the lyrics: [Verse 1] What will you do when you get lonely And nobody is waiting by your side? You have been running and hiding much too long You know it is just your foolish pride [Chorus] Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I am begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? [Verse 2] I tried to give you consolation When your old man had let you down Like a fool, I fell in love with you You turned my whole world upside down [Chorus] Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I am begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? [Verse 3] Let us make the best of the situation Before I finally go insane Please, don’t say we will never find a way And tell me all my love in vain [Chorus] Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I am begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? [Chorus] Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I am begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? [Chorus] Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I am begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? [Chorus] Layla, you’ve got me on my knees Layla, I am begging, darling, please Layla Darling, won't you ease my worried mind? • How Paul likes Bell Bottom Blues from the same album • The drive is very key for all the artists Jenny interviewed • They also had a sense of destiny. For example, Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills & Nash said he just knew they were going to be famous • Jenny went to San Fransisco in the 60s and had an “ah-ha” moment • When she moved to San Fransisco, they were all tapping into the zeitgeist • How the musicians hung out with royals and everyone was just equal • How Paul thinks pot had something to do with it • Paul’s memory of disc eaters • Paul’s story of when Rumors came out and smoking when his Mom was visiting • How the song Jennifer Juniper was written about Jenny by Donovan [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCtcXDCxh7w[/embed] "Jennifer Juniper" Jennifer Juniper, lives upon the hill Jennifer Juniper, sitting very still Is she sleeping? I don't think so Is she breathing? Yes, very low Whatcha doing, Jennifer, my love? Jennifer Juniper, rides a dappled mare Jennifer Juniper, lilacs in her hair Is she dreaming? Yes, I think so Is she pretty? Yes, ever so Whatcha doing, Jennifer, my love? I'm thinking of what it would be like if she loved me How just lately this happy song, it came along And I like to somehow try and tell you Jennifer Juniper, hair of golden flax Jennifer Juniper, longs for what she lacks Do you like her? Yes, I do, sir Would you love her? Yes, I would,...

Another quick catchup episode, talking about spring in Puglia, our new dogs, our spring projects, and other odds and ends of life in our villa in Puglia, Italy. Topics we cover: • How we lost our dog Orso recently • And how we decided to get some new puppies • Mina came to us from a farm in the Mugia • Mina is a girl, which is what Paul wanted • Mina is also a Maremmano, here’s a little about that breed: - An Abruzzo sheepdog - Used for centuries by Italian shepherds to guard sheep from wolves - They have a solid, muscular build, a thick white coat, a large head and a black nose - The coat is thick and long and forms a thick collar (or mane) around the neck • How Mina was terrorizing the casts, so we had to get Mina a playmate • He is half Maremmano and half Dogo Argentino, though he looks all Dogo Argentino • He has very distinct markings, and after a lot of suggestions from our Instagram friends (link), Logan came up with the name Duke • A little about his breed: - A large, white, muscular dog developed in Argentina - Their primary purpose was for big game hunting, like wild boar - Some say they look similar to American Pit Bull Terrier - While breed as big game hunters, they are also trained for search and rescue, police assistance, service dogs, military work, and more • Here are some pictures of them: Un post condiviso da Italian Villa Rental & Food (@villacappelli) in data: Mar 4, 2018 at 10:00 PST Un post condiviso da Italian Villa Rental & Food (@villacappelli) in data: Gen 29, 2018 at 1:06 PST Un post condiviso da Italian Villa Rental & Food (@villacappelli) in data: Gen 4, 2018 at 10:01 PST • Our off-season projects • How we replaced our wooden raised beds with some beautiful stone raised beds • The walls of the beds are drywall, meaning they don’t use any mortar • The artistry of constructing these walls. Here is a video: • Then we constructed a beautiful shed in the back corner of our garden • Here are some pictures of the shed as well • All the materials we used to build the shed • Paul’s other project, making olive wood cutting boards • Here are some pictures of his work • Here’s his holy cutting boards as well Un post condiviso da Italian Villa Rental & Food (@villacappelli) in data: Mag 31, 2017 at 9:36 PDT • Here’s a link to the story about the Virgin Mary Apparition appearing in a window: http://www.tampabayskeptics.org/v9n4rpt.html • Our winter weather here in Puglia • We had a very good olive harvest this year, but it was a very late harvest • Our new 3L tins • We have a few new products: - Some anchovy fillets - Colatura di Alici, like an anchovy fish sauce • The Colatura is sort of like Garum, which was a fermented fish sauce used as a condiment in the cuisines of ancient Greece, Rome, and later Byzantium • Paul helped come up with the name of company who makes the products in Amalfi, and the company’s name is Amalfin • If anyone is interested in us carrying their line of tun products, let us know. • It is high-quality tuna packed in oil • Paul wants to know what it is called “Tuna fish”? Why not just “Tuna”? Is it a marketing thing? Does anyone know? Please let us know in the comments! • Our new ceramic jugs to decant our 3L into a pouring jug • How olives are drupes, making extra virgin olive oil essentially fruit juice • Drupes include coffee, jujube, mango, olive, dates, coconut, cashew, almond, apricot, cherry, damson, nectarine, peach, and plum. • Anyone interested in our culinary tour, there is still room. Click here for more information. • Michael’s podcast that we mention is here, so you can enjoy his playing on our out of tune piano. • Our hashtag promotion. Just snap a dish you made with our products or you with our products, and hashtag #villacappelli on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We will be choosing at random, one lucky winner each month to get...

After a long hiatus (we were super, super busy), we are back with a podcast catching you up on everything that’s been happening since we last broadcast. Have a subject you’d like us to cover, let us know in the comments. Topics we cover: • Our experience being actors in August [caption id="attachment_2164" align="alignleft" width="225"] Our ugly beards![/caption] • How we had to grow our beards out in the middle of a heatwave in August • Our experience on set and the characters we played • How hot it was on set • Why we got to name our characters with our real names • Paul’s family from the Fresno California area that visited • How Paul’s uncle refused to come back to Italy when he was 16 and instead went to Chicago and then Fresno, where he settled and had kids. Michael is his grandson • How his cousin did come back to Italy eventually for an arranged marriage • How many of the Terlizzi descendants still live in the Fresno area • And the other areas they have settled as well • How all immigrants tend to settle in the same area • Our visitors from Israel • What Israelis are like as guests • A funny story the grandfather of the group told us relating to his name being Jesus • Our friend John Herbst visiting from NYC • The skit that John always compares our podcast to: [embed]https://youtu.be/bPpcfH_HHH8[/embed] • The group who came with the charity we donate to every year, Family Equality • Why we believe you should use Google Maps, NOT GPS when traveling in Italy • All the industries smartphones have destroyed, watches, digital cameras, notebooks, calendars, GPS units, maps, etc. • Our friends Sarah and Erwin from Brussels who visit us every year • Patrick Brunner our friend from NYC and LA who visited us, and how he had a very hard time getting here for over a year • Our other regular guests, Angel and John from Boston who came with their group of friends • How Paul drove them around to some different and off-the-beaten-path places in Puglia and to the Amalfi coast • Some sights to avoid in Puglia • How we can customize tours for you when you come visit • Our friend Matt who also came to visit his husband Chantry at the end of their honeymoon • Our culinary tour that we had this year • And our new culinary tour for May 2018. If you’d like more information, check it out here • Our friend Daniel Miller and his crew that came to visit • Paul’s quick vacation to San Diego to see his daughter Nikki • How he got to go fishing with Nikki and Matt (her fiancé). If you’re in the San Diego area and want to have a great fishing experience, look him up here. • How Puglia is not great about tasting and wine tours, but quite a few guest this year had really great experiences and the local wineries • Paul had quick trip to Paris and all the amazing food he had there and brought back, especially the blood sausage • Paul's love of the food stands and flea markets in Paris • The group of Hungarians that came to finish off the season • How Hungarian is one of the hardest languages in the world to learn (a point covered in my 3-Point Thursday Newsletter. Sign up to get it below!) • The good times to visit us, especially if you are only looking for a room or two • How great the end of September and October is in Puglia, almost like a second spring

If you're seeing this before September 9, 2017, you're in luck and can still enter our amazing Eat Happy Sweepstakes! Just click here to enter If you're seeing this after the fact, please sign up for our mailing list on the right or below this post so you can be notified when we have another sweepstakes! Below is the list of prizes and sales copy if you are interested. Win over $700 in Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, food, and cookbooks! Prizes include: Eat Happy Why are we doing this? Long story short, we are Mom and Pop gals and guys competing against giant food corporations with million dollar budgets. This contest helps us reach folks like you and spread the word about quality food and healthy eating. What are people saying about us? On Villa Cappelli: On Eat Happy: Anna Vocino ACTOR, COMIC, VOICE OVERER, BEST-SELLING COOKBOOK AUTHOR Paul Cappelli & Steven Crutchfield OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF VILLA CAPPELLI Who we are, in case you didn't know by now.... Anna Vocino When I’m not in the kitchen, I’m an actor, comic, voice overer, blogger, and podcaster. Celiac and Gluten Free since 2002, I wrote Eat Happy to recreate gluten free versions of comfort food favorites from my half Italian, half Southern-girl heritage. In 2012, I partnered with the inimitable Vinnie Tortorich to co-host and produce The Angriest Trainer Podcast, and my recipes these days are mostly free from sugars and grains—the Vinnie term is NSNG—No Sugars No Grains. I use fresh ingredients whenever possible, and I keep things simple. NSNG and cooking has changed my life, so I hope I can help it change yours. Paul Cappelli & Steven Crutchfield We’ve been hosting, cooking and touring Italy for over 13 years, and like you, we love everything Italian. The food, the culture, the people — all of it. It really comes down to living life to its fullest, which Italians do every day. In a former life, we were both international advertising creatives, creating some award winning famous ads. However, we grew tired of corporate life and Italy was calling. So we moved to Puglia, Italy, and created Villa Cappelli, an agriturismo hosting guests from around the world while making Italian food products for people like you. We love sharing our love of Italy, and all of our products — all 100% Italian, natural, and delicious — are our way of giving you just a little taste of Italy. Remember, just click here to enter.

What do we think Italians do better than anyone? Find out in our list below. But first, a couple of notes. While some of you finding this post will read through this as a blog post, please note these are podcast show notes where Paul and Steven discuss their thoughts on the 21 Things Italians Do Better. So hopefully you’ll listen to the podcast as well, so any nuances come through. Also note, when we say Italians, we mean Italians living in Italy. Not Italian-Americans. While a lot of these apply to both, this is meant to be our observations of Italians living in Italy. So without further ado, here are 21Things Italians Do Better. 1. Food and Cooking Food is so personal and subjective, steeped in tradition. So while I’m sure many might argue that there are other amazing national cuisines out there, many would agree Italian food is amazing. The secret could be a couple of things. Most notably, the fact that they eat very seasonally. Thus the flavors are all very fresh and delicious, at the height of their flavor if you will. So with Italian cooking, dishes can actually be very simple. It’s about highlighting the fresh ingredients, not covering up something with a heavy sauce to hide a flavor. [Note: In the interest of getting these show notes up, I will follow up on the Caterina d’ Medici information we talked about in the podcast.] 2. Fashion This can be divided into two parts, one part being the actual designers and one being the fashion of Italians every day. So the designer part is easy, as there are lots of big names in the fashion industry, including Versace, Gucci, Valentino, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana. However, the populous as a whole always ascribes to La Bella Figura, or “The Beautiful Figure.” Meaning that one is always looks and composes oneself to make the best possible impression. In our experience, this is very much ingrained in a lot of the Italian people, especially older generations, who will not leave the house without dressing up. It’s nice to see so many people with such a sense of style. Paul’s mother is a prime example of this. While most of the time she’s sitting around in old clothes in her room watching TV, if company is coming over or we are going out, she definitely gets her bling on. 3. They make family a top priority There are many examples of this. They will dote over any kid in the room. They will never leave a kid with a babysitter, like a neighbor or family friend. They feel that’s just not right to leave them like that. Every day (at least in the south), they go home at noon to have lunch with the family. And every Sunday, you must eat with all your family. They have multigenerational families living together, where the grandparents take care of the kids. These are just a few examples, but anyone who’s ever been to any Italians home for Sunday lunch or any special event, sees right away how important family is to every Italian. 4. Italians are great at showing affection Some cultures, well a lot of cultures, have a hard time showing any kind of affection, to family, much less to friends or acquaintances. Italians are much more, shall we say, “touchy-feely.” While they won’t run up and give you a kiss or bear hug on a first greeting, after one or two meetings they will expect the kiss-on-the-cheek greeting. NOTE: If you’re coming to Italy always remember, go to the right first! You will touch your left cheek to their left cheek, then reverse and touch your right to cheek to their right cheek. Actual kissing or kissing sounds are optional, depending on personal preference. Another interesting note for us is how men here have no problem showing affection. Male fFriends will easily walk arm in arm or put their arm around their male friend at the table. They have no problem showing affection and don’t think of it as “gay” as say someone might in the states. 5. Italian really know how to “take it easy” Different but similar to La Dolce Vita, Dolce Far Niente is...

In this episode, we catch up with some renovations happening at the villa and Paul’s adventure in local small town Italian politics. Topics we cover: • How we added three new bathrooms upstairs • How we saved a lot of time and money by using existing sewer pipes instead of adding in new ones and new construction to our first floor • How Paul loves using Farrow & Ball paints • Paul’s explanation between dyes and pigments • Impressionist paintings • One villa guest who stayed with us, Natvar Bhavsar who used pigments in his painting • Paul’s adventure in politics • Three strange rules (strange to us) that exist in Italian elections • First off there were 290 candidates for 17 city council seats • One reason is each of the parties, of which there are many, they have to nominate a certain number of people in order to be considered a “list” or a “party” • All these parties then form coalitions, there were three this election nominating three men for mayor • The next rule that was strange was the fact that you have two votes for city council, and if you want to use both votes, one has to be for a man and one for a woman • While understanding the thinking behind this, it seems like a strange law • In a national election, you are voting for a party, not for a person • In Italy, people always lament about how people here get jobs not so much based on merit, but on who they know, etc. • However, when it comes to politics, most people don’t seem to be voting based on merits, but on the fact they are voting for their cousin, or their brother-in-law, or their neighbor, etc. • The election outcome • Why the one left wing coalition is not throwing his support behind the other left-wing coalition • What it will take for Paul’s party to win in the runoff election • Paul’s speech during the election • Steven’s surprise in the passion and dedication people showed for a small town election, holding debates and getting very fired up • How some of the people during the debates were spitting on the other candidates • How the whole town almost shuts down a few days before the election • There is a 48 media blackout before the election • What the incumbents did to win the election • The results of the election for Paul • How because there are so many candidates running, a guy who got 2% of the vote got elected to city council • Why this seems so confusing for us coming from a two party system • NOTE/UPDATE: Paul’s party did not win in the runoff election • Why Paul decided to run • How Paul uses Facebook to influence the government here Some more about Italian politics • Italy is run through a Parliamentary Republic with a multi-party system. • Italy has been a Parliamentary Republic since June 2, 1946 when the monarchy was abolished • Executive power is held by the Council of Ministers which is led by a Prime Minister • Legislative power is held by two house of parliament primarily, and secondarily by the Council of Ministers which can introduce bills and holds the majority of the parliament • The judiciary is independent of the executive and legislative and headed by the High Council of the Judiciary Paul's Speech:

Kenny White — the pianist, singer/songwriter, producer and arranger — has been in the NYC recording scene for decades. And lucky for us, he recently blessed us with a concert at Villa Cappelli. So we took the time to sit down and get his thoughts on the current music scene, his creative process, and even play a few songs. Topics we cover: • How Paul and Kenny met in the advertising business • The Coke commercial that Paul and Kenny worked on: • How Paul wanted a 60 piece orchestra for the spot and Kenny then had to write a piece for 60 pieces which he had never done before • How Kenny had to stay up to write the song and miss his wife’s birthday • A film had never been filmed at Rockefeller Center before • Getting through the bureaucracy is by schmoozing people • How people are buying vinyl again • Kenny is doing a tour of his latest album Long List of Priors • The countries he's toured, including Belgium, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, England and Italy • The title comes from the song “A Road Less Traveled” • The song, “The Other Shore” • Kenny’s song he wrote when leaving Italy, “The Olive and The Grapes” Lyrics below: The sun made good time today, broke the long night’s tension It skied along the cloud tops, ’til it lit the starboard engine Doesn’t matter how the coin lands, heads or tails, With paradise dissolving into the vapor trails Up here, you’d think we’d be much closer to the spot where heaven waits No that’s down there, somewhere among the olives and the grapes Lost under fedoras, dead smokes and worn out skin The men stand at the bar and nod to every person hat walks in Already on their 4th cup, the fraternity is clear As they laugh at the same jokes they’ve told for 40 years I’m leaving with a missing part, the story’s incomplete So I’ll make up an ending with fewer bruises and scrapes, ‘The boy who traded in the blacktop for the olives and the grapes” War has knocked on doors here, spilled its venom in the streets And history’s been laid low between enemy drumbeats A young girl sits by the water, like so many have before her Imagining a life that reaches way beyond her border I know that she has planned at least a hundred great escapes But she belongs right there among them Belongs right there among them She belongs right there among the olives and the grapes. Kenny White - vocal, piano, Antoine Silverman - string arrangement, Gary Schreiner - accordion, Marty Ballou - bass, Antoine Silverman - violin, Entcho Todorov - violin, Jonathan Dinklage - viola, Anja Wood - cello • Which comes first for Kenny, the lyrics or the music when writing music • Kenny’s songwriting theory • How most music today is about nothing, has no real story • Paul believes because music is not political today, it might be holding back political movements and causes • The political songs that Kenny has written • Why songs aren’t political today • The movie “The Last Waltz” • The picture of the Pope’s visit to NYC where no one is “in the moment” • Kenny’s experience with Woodstock • Paul’s experience at the Watkins Glen Concert • Kenny’s home in Brooklyn, New York • Kenny’s experience growing up with a lot of Italian-Americans • Kenny having to find someone to guard the stage during the homecoming dance • Paul’s experience with music and Coke commercials • To buy Kenny’s stuff: KennyWhite.net iTunes Amazon • Kenny’s song with David Crosby and Peter Wolf • Paul’s experience with Joe Cocker Did you like our interview with Kenny White? Any questions for him? Let us know in the comments.

In this podcast, you’ll learn all about Paul’s hunt for wild asparagus, some tips on how to cook asparagus, and what to look for when buying it in the store. Topics we cover: • How much wild asparagus Paul as been picking • Why Paul goes picking on Thursdays • Two ways to cook the asparagus If you steam them or use a “wet cooking method,” they will taste more “green” and grassy While if you roast them or use a “dry cooking method,” they will take more “meaty” • How you can cook them/steam them very easily in the microwave using the below method: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/steamed-asparagus-recipe • When Paul worked on microwaves for GE, the best uses for microwaves • Paul recipe a pasta cooking the wild asparagus with some mussels, garlic, onions, parsley, and tomatoes • How you pick the wild asparagus, pinching them off a picking them from the fields • How asparagus goes well with shrimp • A bit about our KTM chili flakes which contains the Carolina Reaper • The tomatoes we use for cooking in the winter, a slightly dried hanging tomato • The most amazing bowl of Pasta had in Naples features just tomatoes and basil • The waiter claimed it was so good because the tomatoes were grown in the volcanic soil • The way some of the older women make fresh tomato sauce • Some tips on buying asparagus Look for bright green or violet-tinged spears with firm —not limp — stems. The tips should be closed and compact. Avoid limp asparagus. Take out a stem from the bunch and see if it is limp. • How to store your asparagus when you bring it home — namely placing them in just a bit of water as if they are fresh cut flowers • But why you should eat it very quickly • How Paul likes the asparagus with our new Red Wine Vinegar • The smell associated with asparagus — how some people have it, some can’t detect it, and how they don’t know why it happens • How food transcends all • How the last podcast hit a nerve with some people (LINK) Bonus asparagus info: • Asparagus is made up of 93% water. • It is low in calories and is very low in sodium. • It’s a good source of vitamins and fiber. • The white version of asparagus enjoyed in the Netherlands, Spain, France, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Turkey, Italy, and Switzerland. The asparagus is covered in soil as they grow to “blanch” them. Since no photosynthesis starts, the shoots remain white. It is believed to be less bitter and much more tender. But honestly, I’m not so sure on that. I personally like a bright, green asparagus. • Hollandaise sauce is a popular sauce to serve with asparagus. Hollandaise is an emulsion of egg yolk and liquid butter with lemon juice, salt, and pepper. • Asparagus originated in maritime habitats, so it likes soils that are too saline for normal weeds to grow. Thus, a little salt was traditionally used to suppress weeds in beds intended for asparagus. The downside to this is of course that bed couldn’t be used to grow anything else.

To start with, this should probably have a major subhead: "15 Strange Things Italians Do that are strange to Americans." Because I'm sure they are not strange to any Italian or even other parts of the world. But to two Americans, these are a few of the weird things we've noticed Italians do. Know any others? Let us know in the comments. And don't forget to share this with family and friends who might get a kick out of it. 1. They don't wear seatbelts or use baby seats Not sure if this is a macho thing? Or they believe it's safer because you can, I don't know, throw yourself from the car? Whatever the reason, they almost refuse to do it. To keep the car from beeping at them, they will either buckle the seatbelt behind them in the car. Or, they will actually carry around an extra buckle, just a buckle with maybe a little strap on it, so they can put that in the latch to stop the car from beeping. It is against the law and you will get a ticket if you are stopped, so don't try this when visiting. Is this only a southern thing? Small town thing? Let us know in the comments. When it comes to the kids, the children will actually sit in mom or dad's lap while they are driving. Sometimes while the parent is also on the phone driving a stick shift. We have no rationale for this one. It's just crazy. 2. They throw litter out of the window of their car This is definitely more a southern thing I think than northern. But littering here is just not looked at as a terrible thing like it is in the states. I have watched someone literally clean out their car while driving down the road. Reaching down to throw out a plastic bottle, then some papers, etc. When was the last time you EVER saw that in the states? 3. They peel their fruit and vegetables You will never see an Italian bite into an apple or pear unpeeled, even if it is washed. That sucker has to be peeled before it passes those lips! The new rule in Italy is that when purchasing fruit in a market, the display has to say if the peel is edible. If it is organic, the peel is edible. I bet they still peel the organic. 4. Italians will not "drive" in the passing lane This is strange to us but it is CORRECT. The passing lane should only be for passing. And while Italians do drive fast and like maniacs, they do strictly adhere to this rule. So if you are driving in Italy, don't stick around in the left lane. Pass someone and get back into the right-hand lane. Otherwise, you'll have a lot of Italian drivers honking and flashing their lights at you. 5. They never go outside with wet hair It goes back to colpo d'aria, the thought that a hit of cold air will cause sudden death. OK. Not sudden death, but pretty much every other malady out there. It's also why they won't drive with a window down, hate fans blowing directly on them, and wear scarves in the summer (see #10 below). 6. When entering a room in someone else's home or a store, they have to say "hello" You might have already greeted them at the gate. Or the room they are entering could be empty with the lights off. And there doesn't have to another person even around. But when they enter the room, they will say, "Buon Giorno" or " Or the room they are entering could be empty, with the lights of and not another person even around. But when they enter the room, they will say, "Buon Giorno" or "Permisso." Polite? I don't know. To an American, it's just weird. 7. They never eat eggs for breakfast Today, most Americans probably have more in common with Italians in this regard. Today, American's will grab a bowl of cereal or a cereal bar before running out the door and aren't usually cooking up a batch of eggs. However, you will never see an Italian scrambling up some eggs and bacon for breakfast, even on the weekend. Italians are pretty consistent in their concept of breakfast, which usually consists of a coffee and a pastry. That's it. Italians are pretty consistent in their concept of breakfast,...

After a long hiatus, we are back to give you updates on happenings at the villa from record snow storms to our latest guests. But most importantly, the amazing experience we had — and hope to continue to have — with a guest chef at Villa Cappelli. Facebook group Villa Cappelli Guest Chef Invented in 1941 in Mexico, when one afternoon, a bartender made a special cocktail for Margarita Henkel, the daughter of the German ambassador. Includes tequila, triple sec homemade lime juice, homemade sour mix, salt. Villa Cappelli Margarita Recipe Type: Drink Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves: 1 Margarita Ingredients Instructions Brown Derby This cocktail inherits its name after the famous hat-shaped Los Angeles diner where it was created. This refreshing drink is made with bourbon, honey, and grapefruit juice. Brown Derby Recipe Type: Drinks Prep time: 2 mins Total time: 2 mins Serves: 1 drink Ingredients Instructions California Collins Mixologist Ryan Fitzgerald created this drink for the San Francisco Slow Food Festival. It's made with lemon verbena or lemon grass, gin, apple juice and soda. California Collins Recipe Type: Drinks Author: Villa Cappelli Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves: 1 drink Ingredients Instructions Prosciutto, made from by Paul's cousins in the hills of Pisa, infused in bechamel sauce, then breaded and fried. Horse meat with lemon, capers from our garden, red onion, roasted peppers, and raw quail egg. Fritters of salt cod, potatoes and parsley served with a lemon cream sauce. These "little soldiers" were traditionally served to the sailors to support them during the fighting. Grilled mushrooms with chimichurri sauce and fried quail eggs. The chimichurri sauce as the key here. Sooooo good!

Enjoy our interview with our recent guests 10-year-old Geneva and her father Austin, who are traveling the world together. Topics we cover: http://www.homeschool.com/ https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/06/17/guide-to-the-best-homeschooling-and-unschooling-resources/ Follow Austin and Geneva on Facebook at PeterTink. Follow them on Instagram here at https://www.instagram.com/2nomadic/ Here's the Pinky and the Brain opening video we mentioned.