The cool, rainy season of Umbria was where my husband took me for my birthday. I had been to Italy before but this trip was so different from the other trips, it just seemed more magical! Maybe because two sets of dear friends surprised me to celebrate. We found ourselves driving through beautiful green farmland on our way to a hill top town called Monteleone D’Orvieto. The little village looked so majestic from the valley below. If you have ever been to an Italian hill top town, you will know that the roads are extremely winding, narrow and only accommodate really small cars. Thru the excitement we managed to get lost but finally found our place. The antique front door flanked by two topiary plants beckoned us. So charming! We entered into a world that was a wonderful mix of old world and new. The apartment, Mazzini 31 from www.lucidicasa.com, had modern furniture with hand painted fresco walls, stone and ancient beams. There was also a Etruscan cave wine cellar discovered during renovations.
#mazzini31 #umbria #monteleonedorvieto
The agenda was to tool around Umbria and take on a few wine tours. On one of those wine tours, our guide, Alberto http://www.winetourscortona.com, would always take us to a local restaurant for lunch, this time in Montefalco. One dish in particular stood out, a salad consisting of pecorino cheese, pears, shaved almonds, raisins and pomegranates. It was fabulous!!! And so easy to do!! (A mandolin might come in handy.)
Our inspiration!! This was the salad we were served at Oleum or "olevm" in Montefalco.
Ingredients
First, I sliced some soft Pecorino cheese using a mandolin and put the slices on the bottom of the plate. You can layer as much as you like. Go to a fine grocery store to find a softer Pecorino cheese. Then thinly slice a Bosc pear and make a slight curl. Then I sprinkled sliced almonds, pomegranate seeds, white raisens and used a very light salad dressing.
Umbrian Pear Salad Recipe
A block of pecorino cheese
One Bosc Pear
Sliced almonds
Pomegranate Seeds
A light lemon dressing, light balsamic dressing or a raspberry vinaigrette.