December 24, 2023

Villa Carmilia, San Siro, Largo Como, Italia

Buongiorno, the weather has been so cooperative. It is another beautiful day here on Largo Como. Yes, it is cool but it isn’t raining, and it isn’t cold. Sometime after I went to bed last night, Carmen and Maria arrived from Sicily. Our group just continues to grow. There are nineteen of us here now. That should be it for resident guests.

It should be a bit of a quiet day. There are no planned activities, although I believe Mary is planning on making fudge. Pietro hired a boat so some of the group, Taylor, Leander, Damilia, Grace, Rachel, Maria, Rochelle, Harry IV, Carmen and Damilia, could go to Bellagio and Varenna to do some last-minute Christmas shopping. Again, it is December and being on the lake in an open boat, you would think you should be freezing your ass of, but while it apparently was chilly it was neither cold nor wet.

While they were boating, I was sitting out on the porch simply enjoying my cigar, watching for the delivery service bringing Taylor, Rachel and Leander’s luggage from Milan. Someone had to be there because, unfortunately, none of us could figure out exactly how to leave the front gate in the open position. So, I sat and watched. It was a terrible imposition, and it took me two cigars. NOT! Taylor was using the air tag to track the luggage, but it was really spotty. The last position was Malpensa Airport. During my watch the luggage didn’t come.

It a great day for a nap, so after the group got back from the cruise on the lake, I went upstairs for a nap. When I woke up, I found out Taylor’s family’s luggage had finally arrived. They were all showering and changing their clothing. Presents were being wrapped and put under the tree. Luisa was doing her best to opening as fast as they were being wrapped. If you are eighteen months old, you can get away with those things. Being cute doesn’t hurt either.

We played some more Cards Against Humanity. It was the family edition. There were ping-pong games, football on the lawn and long walks in the garden. Basically a very tranquil day. Mattia came down from Berbenno and joined in the festivities and had dinner with us.

Dinner was a simple affair. The various cheeses were served, and other stuzzichini (nibbles). There was sliced beef steak (tagliata di manzo) served over rucola e pomodorini (arugula and cherry tomatoes). This was accompanied by several different vegetable dishes. It was all very good. The chef has also made a lemon semi-freddo for dessert. That was fantastic!

One group headed off the midnight mass at Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta. Several of us stayed here to watch Luisa, who was sleeping, and will attend mass in the morning. I spent a little while figuring out the best method of cooking the prime rib tomorrow. The prime rib has long been my duty. Tomorrow, we have a 4.37 kilo (9.6 pound) four rib prime rib. My normal method simply isn’t going to work.

Usually, the roast spends the first fifteen minutes at 500 degrees fahrenheit and then the oven is turned down to 325 degrees fahrenheit to let it cook. This size roast would normally take about two hours. The chef informed me the commercial oven in the kitchen doesn’t go up to 260 degrees centigrade. He pulled out a heavy cast iron grill and suggested using the grill to seal the meat. Ok, but that isn’t the way it is usually done. Then there was the question of a meat thermometer. The translation from english to Italian apparently didn’t go well on that one. The chef suggested rather than taking the meat’s temperature I should just look at at. Honestly that works but having a meat thermometer to back up the visual inspection gives a little more belief in success. Tomorrow will tell.

It has been a tranquil day. Family spending time together, for the most part peacefully. It is late and time for bed. Have a Merry Christmas. Ciao Enrico.