The chocolate box and the gelato drawer-Dolce in the countryside

I've been back in the US for a little more than a week, back at work, and almost back into the swing of things.  I had a mind clearing, soul cleansing, life changing experience.  An experience that although not everyone can have, I encourage you to try, at least for a week or a few weeks.

Attempting to get back to whatever some consider reality or a normal lifestyle, it's something I hope to avoid, but I did have to go back to work to start bringing pay checks back into the picture.  Still, I find myself wanting to write more, because there is so much more to write about.  It was three months of cooking, traveling, experiencing, loving, living, eating, drinking, and flushing out the bad to make room for all of the new and good.  I am now filled with a new zest for life, a new perspective on the future, and a heart void of anger.  I will do everything I can to not let that reenter my life because it makes things toxic and ugly.

That being said, let's talk about something that I learned about on my first night in Orvieto and the first BBQ in the countryside - the Gelato drawer and the Chocolate box.

Now, the story behind the gelato drawer, I don't remember word for word and it's not a deep story, but it's become tradition, and one of the many things that visitors experience and should savour on their visit to the countryside.

It's a simple story of overbuying gelato.  This is not your typical gelato though.  It is what we here in the US would consider ice cream bars - from ice cream sandwiches to white, dark, and milk chocolate ice cream bars on a stick, and drumsticks.  There is a difference in flavor between what we have here and what they have there.  Mostly because of the regulations in what ingredients they are allowed to put in their treats, compared to ours.

One evening, I believe it was a year or so prior to our groups arrival, Chef Polegri and Chef Brookmire were hosting an internship group to a BBQ at the home in the countryside.  There was some shopping prior to venturing out to the house.  Unknowingly by Chef Brookmire, some of the students had picked up some gelato to have after dinner, however she(Chef Brookmire) had also purchased boxes of gelato.  After a few laughs from discovery of the gelato avalanche, room was made in Chef Polegri's freezer, and at that time the gelato drawer was born.   Besides gelato and an occasional Zuppe Inglese, nothing else occupies the freezer.  I don't think that's such a bad thing.

The drawer overfloweth with gelati!

In addition to the gelato offered in the countryside, we were introduced to the chocolate box.  I can't remember how the chocolate box came to be, but I'm certainly not unhappy that it exists, and neither is anyone that has had the opportunity to reach in and sample the delicious chocolates that it holds.

What I can tell you about the box is that it is a ceramic box, originally made to hold biscotti, however because of a slight flaw during I assume was the baking process, the lid did not fit properly.  Chef Polegri and Chef Brookmire loved this beautiful piece of ceramic artistry, which may I add is typical of Orvieto and the region of Umbria.  This piece was made in Deruta, Italy which is located in Umbria.http://derutaitaly.com  All of their pieces are hand painted and sold throughout the world.  The piece that the Chef's purchased, since it had a flaw, was discounted(what luck!), so they purchased it and designated it as the chocolate box.  All who enter Casa Segreta are required(unless you have some unfortunate allergy or sensitivity to chocolate or nuts) to reach in and "have a chocolate!!"

Mama mia!

These are just two of the examples of the hospitality that the Chef's offer on anyone's experience in Orvieto.  And this is something that I brought back with me, but sadly, I was unable to bring back a ceramic box, so, until I am able to have a piece from Deruta, this will have to do.

Ours is more of just a box, however it holds the same chocolatey goodness as the chef's.