Mark and Jan chose Tuscany to renew their wedding vows on their 30th anniversary. Or close to it, as it is in June. 30 years ago I made their wedding cake and messed up the first batch of frosting, which Jan and her niece Kate ate while I whipped up a new one. 30 years later I messed up a batch of frosting and this time Kate’s daughters Lucy and Polly ate the mistakes. The bowl was kept in the refrigerator in their apartment, and at night when their dad Doug would go in to wish them sweet dreams he’d find Polly with an espresso cup filled with frosting and a little spoon happily eating away. Most nights he joined her. Sweet dreams indeed.

Nothing is as idyllic as a vow renewal in grassy woodland with the sun setting behind, surrounded by friends old and new, the newest little Amelia and Evelyn who walked them down the aisle. Or somebody walked somebody down the aisle. A short and very sweet ceremony followed, and then a first dance with their friend Ciro singing Al Di La.

Starters and wine followed, and Chef Giulio didn’t disappoint, with appetizers of polenta with pate, mini eggplant parmesan, ricotta with shaved truffles, panzanella, potatoes filled with cheese and mushrooms, salamis, cheese and the most amazing cipollini onions roasted and filled with sundried tomatoes. Dinner was gnocchi with truffle, tagliatelle with vegetables and steak Fiorentina with potatoes followed by their wedding cake. Which, by the way, was naked in the back because Amelia and Evelyn wanted to taste the frosting early on and we couldn’t find the bowl of extra…

Enjoy the memories! Love is all there is…

 

Deborah