An Elegant Villa, Gracious Service and Fabulous Food! A Dream Come True!
Virginia and I have wanted to eat at Massimo Botturo’s Osteria Francescana for many years. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime-splurge that we simply haven’t been able to realize. But recently, something wonderful happened. Virginia, ever-vigilant, noticed that Chef Botturo has an estate a short distance from Modena called Casa Maria Luigia. They were advertising a brunch that fit our budget, so we jumped at the chance to enjoy the chef’s cuisine. Oh, we were especially excited because this would be the first time we were venturing outside of Umbria since early March when the COVID quarantine started, It’s a 3-hour drive from Foligno to Modena, but we couldn’t wait for the special day!
When you arrive at Casa Maria Luigia you enter a very special world. You wander through the front gate and you’re immediately greeted by friendly staff who invite you to wander the beautiful grounds and gardens. The villa itself is a feast for the senses. It’s interiors are whimsical yet serious, modern with a sense of the classic. The villa makes you feel happy and alive!
The grounds and gardens are quite beautiful as well. We really enjoyed wandering past the small pond, swimming pool and fountain. There’s a small cottage where you can read or relax. Some of the staff were harvesting herbs and flowers which would find their way into our brunch dishes.
A Fabulous Brunch Experience!
The brunch consisted of a tasting menu which can be described as a journey through a wide variety of flavors, textures and aromas. “Just a zucchini” was exactly that, while “From Modena to Mirandola” was a far more complicated dish combining savory and sweet flavors. Not only was the food exquisite but the waitstaff was incredibly well-trained and professional. Our main waiter was kind enough to speak Italian with us. He was a bit surprised that we wanted to speak Italian but this made us feel more connected to the experience. Here are some pictures of the brunch:
What was so good about this menu is the fact that nothing was super exotic or unfamiliar. It was very Italian in that the dishes were composed of high-quality ingredients, presented in a simple fashion.
One of the highlights of our day was meeting Lara Gilmore, Massimo’s wife. She made her way around to each of the guests to say hello. She’s a delightful and engaging hostess. She made us feel truly welcome!
It goes without saying that this has inspired us to start saving our euros so that one day we might have that special dinner at Osteria Francescana.
