"A Return from Umbria" Dinner

It's not about us -- we've never gone to Umbria, although I'd love to do so. The returnees are Mataio and Jessica Gillis, co-owners of Ciao Thyme In the Kitchen, a local catering company/occasional restaurant/cooking school, and two of the most interesting people I know.

In October, they led a tour to Umbria for a small group of local folks, who enjoyed all sorts of special activities and meals. Mataio and Jessica, with the help of their capable crew, shared some of those traditional Umbrian dishes at "A Return from Umbria" dinners last night and tonight.

The photo shows an overview of the large dining room and working kitchen, and the dinner guests getting acquainted with one another, conviviality being one of the goals of these gatherings.

There were seven courses, one of which, the Antipasti Misti, had nine different items! My favorite was the lentil soup, made from the tiny lentils Mataio brought from Umbria, where they grown. (Interestingly, lentils are a major crop here in Washington as well, grown on the eastern side of the state, which is much drier and warmer.)

You can see four of the antipasti and photos of all the other courses -- three desserts! -- and the menu, including the wine pairings, here. (Warning: If you are hungry and click on that link, you may do grievous bodily harm to your computer/iPhone/iPad, trying to get at that delicious food...)