Elda Sacchi (continuing stories from Composer in Residence Lake Como Festival 2010

Today, I have to talk about Elda Sacchi. In addition to being very kind and sensitive about my lack of Italian, and being full of energy to take me on walks around Como or the lakes, she is "la dea della cucina." Providing meals at lunch (colazione) and dinner (cena) that were so simple yet so delicious, I found it impossible to stop after one modest serving. Why she prepared enough for two extra people each time, I can never know, but in hindsight, cannot complain about either.

Elda showing off a zucchini grown in her garden,
where the herbs, lettuce and many
vegetables come from each day

I urged Elda to create a cookbook of her recipes, using the help of Sabrina D'Alessandro, a graphic artist and  friend who is currently writing a most fascinating book about words that have fallen out of usage.

Sabrina's spot for GEO. Her portfolio is at
http://sabrinadalessandro.carbonmade.com/

Also by "la forze del destino" the Sacchis do not use milk products, so my being lactose intolerant was uneventfully accomodated! Wonderful savory sugo (something like this one http://www.italianmade.com/recipes/recipe252.cfm ), over farro colla soia instead of latte. Strangely, there is a movie called Soy faro which has nothing to do with a creamy grain pudding, but instead is about, well a lighthouse, sort of.

 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0324031/)

Without Elda, I would have been often late, and always hungry wherever I went. But the most important thing about her is that you should never tell her what you like most, because you will surely get it! I am hopelessly addicted to Ameretti di Saronno, and a big fan of the sweet liqueur Amaretto di Saronno too.

Elda created a homemade gelato  made from Amaretto with added crushed amaretti. OMG! Unfortunately she wouldn't come home with me, so I have to wait until I visit again to kiss her feet and hope she will make more.