Dinner at Beth's

Recently we had dinner again at our friend Paola Salvioni's home, where we met her good friend Beth Piper, who proceeded to invite all of us over to her place for a dinner a week later.  Beth is an American M.D. who still works in the U.S. most of the year, but on the side is working on her getaway plan:  restoring a large country villa and using it as a vacation rental. 

An impressive structure with three floors, eight large bedrooms, and nine bathrooms, its most distinctive feature is a a five-storey tower with the observation deck converted into a sitting room.

We ate out on the patio on a balmy late-spring evening.  

Beth served in the traditional Italian style: a salad for antipasto, a primo pasta dish, a secondo meat course, dolci, coffee, and of course wine at each.  The secondo was a big hit; we asked what they were and Beth said they were jump-in-the-mouths:  sauteed meat tidbits with a light sauce.  Carmen observed their making and cooking and we have been able to duplicate the recipe (the details of which are secret;-).  Simple--and delicious!

Before we ate we had ample time to stroll around the grounds and take some pictures.