September 22, 2026

Tuesday

From the college dorm room in Torino, Piemonte, Italia

Today is laundry day! It has been a week since the last laundry day. We both got lots of sleep, nearly eight hours each, last night despite the heat. It did cool off last night and leaving the fans on and the windows open helped cool the room down.

When in Torino I usually do the laundry at lav@sciuga on Via Vanchiglia. Today isn’t going to be anything unusual. It opens at 08:00 and I was out the door at 07:45 so that I could be there when it opened. I actually got there a little bit before 08:00 so I walked down the block to Via degli Astisti and back. When I got back it was open.

An hour and a half later and I was on my back to the dorm. Put things away and then we went to Caffetteria Antonelli for our morning cappuccino and brioche. Somehow it just wasn’t as good as we remember, or we are spoiled by having gone to Torteria40. Tomorrow we’ll walk the extra few blocks.

 One of the two kitchens, basically identical

Another view of the kitchen area.

After having our cappuccino we walked down the Via Po to Piazza Castello made a U-Turn and walked down the other side of the Via Po. We stopped into Agrisalumeria Luiset and picked up some salame della rosa for Luisa. Then it was back to the dorm.

We stayed a little while in the dorm before heading out for lunch. We needed to be somewhat quick about it because Latteria Bare closes at 13:30 and we need to pick up some cheese for our aperitivo tonight at Serra’s. So, we just headed downstairs to Caffè Vicarelli which is just literally outside the front door of the dorm. In truth the dorm is actually just the floor above the café. We have eaten here several times. Usually the same thing, lasagna for Mary and risotto alla zafferano for me. We then share the insalata mista, without the tuna or olives. It was good as usual.

After lunch we made a beeline for Latteria Bare. We really huffed it and both of us were quite tired but the time we got there, but it had just gone 13:00 so we made it. Per instructions from Serra, we bought a kilo of Parmigiano Reggiano "Vacche Rosse" (Red Cow). Apparently, they don’t often have it in stock. This cheese is ages a minimum of two-years, most of then thirty months, Yes, it comes from cows that have red hides, and apparently their milk is rich in protein—specifically casein—calcium, and phosphorus. This is an eating cheese, yes it can be used for grating but that might be a waste.

I also purchased 500 grams of Fontina Val d’Aosta DOP. Giulia, who lives in Aosta, introduced us to this a few years back. It is the most famous and iconic cow's milk cheese from the Aosta Valley, celebrated for its rich, earthy flavor and exceptional melting qualities. Aosta in known for it’s fondu, and this is the cheese that makes it so good. However, it is also a nice cheese for an apertivo. This cheese made exclusively from the milk of local Valdostana cattle breeds (Pezzata Rossa, Pezzata Nera, and Pezzata Bruna). It is aged for at least 80 days in mountain caves, developing a creamy, elastic texture and a nutty, savory taste.

Since I was in to mood, I also purchased 300 grams of traditional and authentic Emmentaler – the generic version we call Swiss cheese. Authentic Emmentaler AOP comes specifically from the Emme Valley in Switzerland. True Emmentaler has a rich, savory, slightly nutty, and fruity taste. Generic Swiss cheese is typically much milder and creamier. North American "Swiss cheese" is a broader, milder style. It is also very nice to have on the tagliere for your apertivo.

Mary had to sit a while after we bought the cheese. It is hot and we really pushed ourselves to the limit to get to the shop before it closed. Afterwards we walked slowly back down the Via Po towards Serra’s. We stopped at Acqua e Sapone for a few supplies and then continued on.  

We arrived at Serra’s about 15:00. Mary and Luisa watched cartoons until Mary’s iPad’s battery died. Gloria being relieved of the girls cleaned up the playroom. Serra and Pietro had meetings and we still putting away things after returning from California. About 17:00 Pietro and I took Amadea for a walk in the stroller. We headed to the supermarket to get some meatballs for dinner.

Amadea we sound asleep even before we got to the market. We got the meatballs; they are premade by the butcher – my guess is there is meat, bread, carrots and some cheese in the meat balls. They are very good, and obviously easier than making your own. Besides the girls love them.

Mary prepared the tagliere, I cooked the meatballs, Serra and Pietro made a salad. We sat down to apertivo about 19:00. This is our dinner as well. Mary and I headed back to the dorm about 19:30. The night nurse was arriving just as we were leaving.

We walked back to the dorm. I went downstairs and had a glass of wine and a cigar at a table in front of Caffé Vicarelli. They closed at 20:00, so I walked through the Piazza Vittorio Veneto and finished my cigar. Back in the dorm by 20:20. In bed asleep by 20:35.

A remarkable day step-wise. 15,400+ steps. Tomorrow should be lighter. We are taking the girls for a picnic with Gloria. Then we will watch the girls while Serra and Pietro escape to Milano for the night.

Buonanotte & Ciao

Enrico and Maria