Giro in Italia 2004

This was our first Giro and Mark Pastore, the proprietor of Incanto Restaurant in San Francisco attended with his wife Nona.  The dinner we cooked-up for the Vestri family and friends numbered 25 guests in the family party room over the frantoio.  There is a single large table that seats everyone, and the room is stocked with dinner service for thirty.  Italians take dinner parties very seriously.Enjoy the pictures; click the thumbnail for larger images.

Also enjoy some videos on the Select Videos Page.

The beautiful colli (hills) around the frantoio, with some old olive trees in the foreground.	Very early morning delivery of fresh-picked olives to be pressed for the festa.	The wood fire stove used to grill the bruschetta.	Two frantoio workers with the new control console.
Guido Vestri and Mark Pastori.	The new malaxer gently churns the curshed paste to facilitate oil separation.	Mark learning how the oil is created.	Paolo Vestri, youngest Vestri sibling, will be  taking over the frantoio.
All during the festa people arrive to purchase the new oil.	Guido drawing new oil for a customer.	The pomace byproduct of crushing extra virgin oil can be used to make low grade oil, but Olivestri uses it to heat the plant and their homes.	The whimsical chestnut roaster fire being lit.
The dinner table set for  for 26 for the Halloween feast that  we prepared for the Vestri family.	Three of the Vestri daughters with two of their husbands lead us in song after dinner.	The garden view of Villa Petrinia, the B&B operated by one of the daughters across the street from the frantoio.	Kris and Howard at Villa Petrinia  -  Welcome to our site & enjoy the nuovo!

Check-out the stories and photos from some of our other trips:

 (some day I will assemble 2007 & 2008)
There are also some fun videos on the Select Videos Page