A rainy day podcast, we recap Thanksgiving and helping a neighbor build a greenhouse. As usual the conversation turns to food with an update on Jason's bread starter, born and raised here in Le Marche plus talks of a 'secret' lunch spot, the hunter's hideaway in the hills above Apecchio. Jason then shares tips for making creamy delicious risotto. This week's podcast is short & sweet. Let us know any suggestions you have or requests for topics to talk about!

Thanks for listening -  Ashley & Jason

This week Jason and Ashley chat about closing down the house for winter now that the guests are gone, road tripping through Europe and the dirty deed of slaughtering chickens. Then we turn the conversation to Thanksgiving and turkey-talk with how & why to brine a turkey. We interview my younger brother Jerome on his first impressions of Le Marche and the food of Italy.

After a summer hiatus, Jason & Ashley are back & just as bubbly as ever - chatting about life in Le Marche on their farm.

This week: "What Grows Together Goes Together" Jason talks about cooking seasonally and shares a seasonal truffle recipe, answering the question: "How do you cook truffles?"

We talk about local festivals like the "Sturgis of Italy" and the truffle festivals in Le Marche throughout November, making fresh sausages for the hunters and beginning to prepare for winter.

THANKS for listening!!

Easter has come & gone - we reminisce on the day & opera singing Zio Albi (incase you missed the clip - watch it here: Easter Concerto).  During the podcast, learn from our mistakes both in the garden & finding a lunch spot in a foreign city! Then be transported to the attic of an ancient acetaia (vinegar making family & home) in Modena where Jason & I sample 8 traditional balsamic vinegars and interview the passionate Giovanna from Acetaia di Giorgio. She lovingly tells us about her families balsamic making traditions & why the product her family makes is far superior to any mass produced version. It's a wonderful interview with a true artisan of Italy!

Acetaia di Giorgio

Via Sandro Cabassi, 67

41123 Modena

http://www.acetaiadigiorgio.it

Telefono / fax 059.333015

Mobile 338.6575552

Email: [email protected]

We are excited to share an interview with our friends Antonio & Paola, owners of Gelateria Maki in Fano & our most favorite artisan gelato shop in the Region! They stopped by for a visit so we thought we'd ask a few burning questions about gelato: how is it different from ice cream,  difference between artisan & industrial gelato, where their passion came from and much more! It's clear Antonio & Paola are passionate about what they produce (gelato, sorbet, chocolates) and the importance of quality ingredients - you can taste it in every delicious bite!

Gelateria Artigianale Makì

Piazza degli Avveduti, 1   Fano (PU) Italy     +39 07211796064

Italy is blasted by a Siberian storm & we are snowed-in! In a rare evening podcast from our frozen farmhouse we talk about things that come along with severe weather  & living in the countryside that we've never experienced before! And as the snow accumulates to over 4 feet, we contemplate our next move....

Start your day with a cappuccino and get into the Italian state of mind as we talk about our favorite winter activity - sausage & salami making! Jason shares our simple recipe and explains how simple sausage making is. Currently there are 90 kilos of meat curing in the rafters upstairs! We laugh as we retell stories of Doctor Gaggi & his impromptu sausage tests he gives Jason, not ready to hand-over the reigns. We recap some of winters events and don't miss the fitting word of the week!

We visit Cartoceto to celebrate the unearthing of formaggio di fossa - a unique local cheese that has been buried in a pit for months. The Doctor has a bad day, we make an offer on a meat grinder and readying the house for winter (things we never thought of before living in the country). And, its official, the holiday season has started, bringing with it endless eating & cooking....break out the fat pants!

Thanks for listening!

Join us, Ashley & Jason in the kitchen as we crack walnuts prepping for our annual Thanksgiving Pranzo (lunch). Menu ideas for your Thanksgiving are shared. We catch you up on the what's been going on around the farm since the summer and we chat about what I call "the year the fox got fat!"

Thanks for your patience as its been a few months since we posted a podcast! Hope you enjoy -

Happy Holidays, Ashley & Jason Bartner

So much going on! We participated in the annual transumanza - cow herding through Piobbico up to Mt. Nerone with family & friends. It's that time of year to start making homemade digestivi (after dinner liqueurs) like visciolino (wild cherry liqueur) & nocino (walnut & vanilla liqueur). Garden updates, weather system installed & funny stories around town. Don't miss the Marche Wine & Jazz Festival from 3-31 July.

Thanks for listening, Ashley & Jason

http://www.latavolamarche.com