For 85 days, between March and June of this year, my wife, Orna O’Reilly, aka Chef Double O, and I hunkered down inside Villa Allegra, our little bright-white house with Santorini-blue shutters tucked inside the Valle d’Itria just outside of Ostuni, as Italy imposed a nationwide lockdown of biblical proportions to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. We only left our humble abode — kitted out like we were cast members on an episode of CSI — for the bare necessities: grocery and wine shopping. There was no dining out. No socializing with friends and neighbors. Nothing!

While she cooked and baked up a storm for nearly three straight months, I photographed most of the tantalizing dishes she prepped, selected their wine pairings and chronicled our lockdown on all of our social media platforms under the heading What’s Burning Tonight (WBT). In a relatively short amount of time, we established a steady fan base of like-minded foodies who wanted to dine with us virtually. Here’s a baker’s dozen of the highlights ripped from the WBT diary.

(Mar. 15^th) Day seven of the nationwide lockdown in Italy hasn’t stopped Chef Double O from performing more of her magic in the kitchen. How about salmon en croute, a whole-grain puff-pastry filled with salmon and spinach accompanied by fluffy mashed potatoes.

And, in the glass? Talò Fiano, a palate-pleasing, floral-scented varietal from the San Marzano Estate in the province of Taranto, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(Mar. 30^th) It’s a beautiful Sunday morning around Villa Allegra, the 21st day of Italy’s nationwide lockdown and Chef Double O’s 21st consecutive chowdown. As I hoist myself up on one of the stools surrounding our kitchen countertop, she places a small bowl in front of me filled with her variation of a popular Swiss breakfast food: Bircher Muesli. It’s a mushy mix of grains, seeds, dried fruits, grated apple, yogurt and honey topped with blueberries and strawberries. It’s just what the doctor ordered, actually Dr. Maximilian Bircher-Benner, a Swiss physician and nutritionist from Zurich who created this “rise and shine” healthy dish. Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!

Buon appetito!

(Apr 2^nd) It’s the XXVth day of the nationwide lockdown here in the Bel Paese and the XXVth edition of Chef Double O’s chowdown. Orna put our neighbor’s recent gift of farm-fresh eggs to good use as she prepped and plated a multigrain “quarantine” quiche filled with roasted butternut squash, caramelized onions and speck, accompanied by a green salad of valeriana (lamb’s lettuce) tossed in a Dijon mustard vinaigrette. It was “lock the door and throw away the key” delicious.

And, in the glass? One of the top wines of Puglia: Pungirosa, a DOCG-rated Castel del Monte Bombino Nero rosato from the Rivera Estate in Andria.

Buon appetito!

(Apr 14^th) On this the 37th day of Italy’s nationwide lockdown, I donned a mask and surgical gloves and braved a trip into Ostuni for a much-needed wine run. Frankly, I’ll brave just about anything when our cellar nears red on the stockpile meter.

I was the only wino, I mean customer, in the enoteca and had Silvestro, Elena and Francesco running around helping me find everything on my list and then some. When the dust settled, I filled the boot of the car with six cartons of wine, or 36 bottles. Ripping the mask off my face, I gunned the Fiat 500X out of town and into the safety of the rolling countryside.

Meanwhile, back at Villa Allegra, Chef Double O prepped her 37th chowdown dish: pan-fried, bio chicken breasts with strips of smoked speck accompanied by roasted fennel and taters. It was a meal fit for a guy just returning from hazardous duty. 🙂

And, in the glass? Aglianico, a superb ruby-red varietal from the Villa Schinosa Estate of Trani in the province of Bari, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(Apr 17^th) The nationwide lockdown here in the Bel Paese has reached 40 days, and like Noah’s Arc that floated about for the same amount of time, Chef Double O pulled a pair of thick salmon fillets out of the deep freeze to star in her 40th chowdown dish.

She pan-fried the fillets then plated them with roasted new potatoes and string beans. This 40th day chowdown dish was devoured by yours truly in just 40 seconds. Yes, it was that good!

And, in the glass? Aka, a bright, deep-pink colored Primitivo rosato, just like the color found in the rare Japanese coral of the same name, from Produttori di Manduria, the so-called “Masters of Primitivo,” in the province of Taranto, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(Apr 27^th) Under happier circumstances, today would be the 50th anniversary of something for somebody. Instead, today marks the cinquantesimo giorno of the Bel Paese nationwide lockdown.

Not to worry, Chef Double O is on the prowl in the Villa Allegra kitchen searching high and low for her secret ingredients to go into her secret sauce to plate her fave beer-battered cod and crunchy greens, tomatoes, and avocado-filled fish tacos, a handheld staple of the beach bums that occupy the space up and down Baja California. Surfs up and so are my fish tacos!

And, in the glass? Susumaniello, a splendid varietal rosato from the AlmaD’Itria line of wines produced by the Upal Wine Cooperative of Cisternino, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(May 7^th) On this the 60th day of Italy’s nationwide lockdown, the Villa Allegra cupboard is showing more open space than the state of Montana. Well, almost. Not to worry though, Chef Double O, with meager supplies on hand, has managed to whip up a delightful dish of fresh tagliatelle al ragù with a sprinkling of grated Parmigiano Reggiano on top. She calls it comfort food, I call it deeeelicious!

And, in the glass? Sturnio Rosso Salento, a vibrant Negroamaro-Malvasia blend from the Upal Cooperative of the Valle d’Itria, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(May 15^th) We’re now up to the 68th day of Italy’s nationwide lockdown. While the world has hunkered down, for the most part, to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, one dish, more than any other, is seeing a renaissance with wannabe stay-at-home bakers: banana bread. And, Villa Allegra is no exception.

When a bunch of our musa sapientum becomes overripe, Chef Double O flies into action and preps another loaf of ‘nana bread with walnuts, and my breakfast is pretty much set for the next four days. Add a side of fresh berries and a cup of strong French-press coffee with cream and I’m good to go until sundown.

Buon appetito!

(May 17^th) Seventy days. Ten weeks. That’s how long Italy has been in a nationwide lockdown. And, for her latest culinary trick, Chef Double O painstakingly prepped our homegrown artichokes, polenta and veggie skewers for the barbie to grill up alongside sausage rounds filled with fennel, thick slices of pancetta and cuts of bone-in Capocollo from Martina Franca.

And, in the glass? Talò Primitivo di Manduria, the king of Pugliese reds, from the Cantine San Marzano in the province of Taranto, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(May 18^th) Today is the 71st day of Italy’s nationwide lockdown. With no desire to travel and with plenty of time on our hands, Chef Double O shucked peas today from organically grown pods and prepped one of our favorite dishes when we lived up north in the Veneto: risi e bisi (rice and peas) with a touch of smoked speck. It was stay-at-home delicious!

And, in the glass? Fedora, a DOC-rated Castel del Monte blend of Bombino Bianco, Chardonnay and Pampanuto varietals from the Cantine Rivera of Andria in the province of Barletta, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(May 22^nd) We’ve now arrived at the 74th floor of Italy’s nationwide lockdown. While we’re here we might as well wish Sir Arthur Conan Doyle — creator of master sleuth Sherlock Holmes — a happy birthday, as he was born on this day back in 1859.

Meanwhile, in the Villa Allegra kitchen, Chef Double O deduced that tonight’s dish should be whole-wheat, flatbread pizzas topped with pesto, salame Milanese, cherry tomatoes and toasted black olives. The pies were so tasty that they were worthy of home delivery to 221B Baker Street.

And, in the glass? Tramari (Between the Seas), a light and elegant Primitivo rosato from Cantine San Marzano in the province of Taranto, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(May 28^th) The only thing that I have in common with Phileas Fogg, a London-born aristocat, and Passepartout, his French valet, is that I’ve spent 80 days now in Italy’s lockdown while the aforementioned pair circumnavigated the globe in 80 days through the imagination of Jules Verne.

Meanwhile, down here on terra firma, Chef Double O plucked several handfuls of our homegrown artichokes from the garden and made them the star of tonight’s menu: a baked lasagne filled with artichokes and spinach. After the first bite, I felt like I was sailing high above in the clouds with Messrs. Fogg and Passepartout aboard their hot-air balloon.

And, in the glass? Maresco, a Valle d’Itria varietal of the AlmaD’Itria line of wines at the Upal Cooperative in Cisternino, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

(June 2^nd) Eighty-five days ago Italy came to a screeching halt, but tomorrow we’ll all be allowed to move freely from one region to another without purpose, but with caution, i.e. masks and social distancing, wherever we roam. Chef Double O and I, however, will remain in place, here at Villa Allegra, as if the lockdown never ended, just to err on the safe side.

We’ve enjoyed keeping you company at dinnertime with her creative dishes and my photographic documentation of the same. So, without further adieu, here’s the final WBT offering: baked swordfish Livornese style with potatoes, cherry tomatoes and black olives.

And, in the glass? Fi, an excellent Fiano varietal from Cantine Risveglio in the province of Brindisi, here in Puglia.

Buon appetito!

The post What’s Burning Tonight: Dishes for a Pandemic appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Chicken Little

Thank you all for your feedback last week. As expected, quite a few of you did not agree with my controversial suggestion to open businesses from the lockdown this early in the game (I posted some feedback on the Traveling Boy website). Actually, I’m not too sure myself. My real purpose was to let us start thinking with a more balanced viewpoint.

The great philosopher, Chicken Little, was walking around the hen house one day when a malicious fox threw an acorn on her head. “My goodness!” she excalimed looking up, “the sky is falling!” She runs to her friends and warns them of their impending doom. One opinionated animal after another hypothesize the logic of the sky falling. The gullible masses parrot opposing world views. Soon the hen house turns into a panic room. They rush out of the hen house and into the fox’s trap.

Ever since the pandemic started, we’ve listened to opposing arguments from fact claiming experts on both sides. There’s a whole lot of blame shifting and conspiracy theories going on. So who’s telling the truth? Only time (if we have enough of it) will tell. Before we rush out of the realm of reason, may I suggest we observe the fox (the source) who threw the acorn in the first place? What’s that guy up to?

Whether the fox spread the disease with intentional malice or not, there is a game plan hidden by the powers that be. If we continue to panic, we would have already lost the battle. Why don’t we stop, turn down the volume and pray? We can maneuver out of the fox’s trap. He will never expect it.

“Be still my soul. Be still and know that He is God.
Rest quietly. Rest in His loving arms for He is watching over you.
Ever faithful, ever true. So be still and know that He is God.”

Is the sky falling or is it just a rumor? Who cares?! With God on our side … (or better still) when we are on God’s side … who can stand against us?

Keep safe and hold on to your faith. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to  Peter Paul of S Pasadena, for sharing this joke.

Video: Gay Dinosaur

Thanks to Janet of Whittier, CA for this short meme.

Video: Manna in Dipolog City

Thanks Enrique for this video. A few days ago thousands of fish washed up on the beaches of Dipolog, a poor small town in the Southern part of the Philippines. Is there any doubt that God provides during this troubled times?

Video: Covid Lesson

Thanks to J.J. of Manila who shared this video. Taiwan has only had 429 cases and 6 deaths, and business never stopped. What’s the secret?

Video: Two Guys Catch a Flight

Thanks to Vanessa of Hacienda Heights, CA for this dangerously entertaining clip of 2 aerial stuntmen. What would you choose? To be locked up but safe or to be free as a bird but living on the edge?

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns. This isn’t really a pun but it’s close.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Mario of Manila

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA. Don’t be frightened. It’s just me!

Finally, here’s one from Naomi of N Hollywood, CA. So, you really want to wait till it’s safe to go out?

The post Good and Bad News appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Open for Business? What Do You Think?

Are you looking forward to Monday? That’s the day businesses are supposed to restart opening their doors. At least that’s what the US Federal government  suggested at the time of this writing. It’s up to each governor to decide what’s good for the State. And it’s up to each business to decide what’s good for their company.

I was apprehensive about that. I thought it was too early because people are still getting infected and people are still dying. But then I watched an interview with a woman from the Wall Street Journal (I forget her name). And she had an insight about when to open: “You have to balance the need for health and safety with the need to bring back the economy and getting people’s lives back to normal.” She said the prevailing mindset is a purist mindset (which was like mine) — to open business only if every trace of that virus has been eliminated. Although it sounds good and safe, the drawback is we will be waiting forever for that to happen while the economy and people’s mental state will continue to spiral downward to the point where it may never recover. A better alternative, she claimed, is to open the doors now while the epidemic continues to loose steam (accepting that there will still be people getting infected and dying) in exchange for the economy starting to revive. Does this make sense to you? What do you think?

If the health charts that I’ve been seeing are accurate, Covid-19 isn’t as deadly as was earlier estimated. More people are dying by other causes anyway. There are also more medications and ventilators available than a month ago. More people have now been exposed and have built up their immunity, so the risks have significantly diminished. What do you think?

This balancing principle may be sound but it still needs wisdom when to implement. Nevertheless, if the shops and offices continue to take precautionary measures, if people wear face masks and wash their hands, avoid physical contact, keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth … this should work. What do you think?

Come Monday, many businesses will start opening their doors. Some already have. Let’s hope they will be responsible. And let’s start living again. What do you think?

Keep safe and hold on to your faith. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Mike of New York, for sharing this joke.

Video: How NOT to Make a Face Mask

Thanks to Mike of New York for this video that made me cry..

Video: Love at 60 Feet Under

Thanks to Naomi of N Hollywood, CA for sending this video made by her personal friend, Paula.

Video: Archie Bunker Goes to the Hospital

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA for this classic sitcom.

Don’s Puns

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C.who loves puns.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Naomi for this reminder to be more sensitive to our dogs.

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. for this serious announcement.

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA for this Twilight reflection.

The post Husband Has Covid-19 appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Never Too Late

This email is late. I thought I had set it to go out at midnight PST but in my weariness, I forgot to schedule it properly. Sorry about that. Especially to you subscribers who live in the other side of the world. So here’s me doing catch up.

Someone recently asked me if I needed a ghost writer for this email blast. She didn’t know I do everything. I do the collecting, the writing, the illustration — everything … and every Friday. I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years now … 17 years!!! It started with a group of former office mates from my old job (after I was laid off due to the recession). Someone sent me a joke and I enhanced it with my illustration. Then they said I should share it to more and then it just grew. At first it was purely jokes. Then, when Youtube came around, I added funny videos. Then I did a little commentary (like this one). Now this email goes around the world in every continent (except Antarctica … at least to my knowledge) and to many religions and other belief systems. I know I share a lot about my faith and I hope people understand that this is just my perspective. I do not claim to know more or be better than anyone. I do invite other perspectives and you may read some when this email is eventually posted in Traveling Boy (which, I believe, is one of the best online Travel blogs run by my dear creative friend Ed Boitano).  Sometimes I do get into more in-depth conversations but, mostly, I do it on the side.

Why do I do it? Because I can. I dunno. Sometimes I ask myself that question too. This is an ongoing experiment which should have stopped years ago. I do spend considerable time to prepare each week. It sounds like a job but it isn’t. I don’t get paid for this. Sometimes I do get job leads but this isn’t the purpose. I do get pleasure knowing that I’ve touched someone who needed to laugh or who was wrestling with some issues. One big reason is because I pray for you guys. I really do. I pray that whoever reads this will be blessed in some way. When people ask for prayers, I really do spend time asking for heavenly intercession. I’ve prayed with a British nurse who was searching for guidance, a soldier in the middle east who missed his family, several who have lost their jobs or were in the middle of a divorce, lots of people in mourning, lots of intellectuals, lots of spiritual leaders but mostly just regular folk.  It’s like touching people’s souls. Most of you I will probably never see in person. Maybe when we all get to heaven, we will come to a TGIF party and share this Friday experience.

This wasn’t my topic last night. I only share this since I have this opportunity. I share this because I want you to do something more with your time during this lockdown. Instead of binge watching and adding the pounds, why not start something you enjoy? Something you’ve always wanted to do but always had work getting in the way. We’ve already seen those creative videos (more below). Start your own experiment. It might grow into something beyond your wildest imagination. Don’t call it a dream … call it a plan.

Let’s keep our distance and keep our sanity and hold on to our faith. TGIF people!

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sharing this joke.

Video: Covid-19

Thanks to Naomi of N Hollywood, CA for sending this video made by her personal friend, Paula.

Video: Toilet Paper Domino

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for sharing this video. When you’re stuck at home, your creativity goes up a notch.

Video: When the Rolls Are Back in Walmart

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for this performance of an old hymn.

Video: Chinese Actor Donates Fortune to Charity

Thanks to JJ of the Philippines for sharing this quick documentary of a famous actor born in poverty and never got accustomed to his riches. Bless his generous spirit.

Parting Shots

Thanks to JJ of the Philippines who sent this puzzle. I know of a kid who solved it in 10 minutes.

Thanks to Mike of New York who shared this picture:

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. for this face:

The post Murder at COSTCO appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Cabin Fever

I think we are in week 5 of the Covid lockdown. People are processing things they would normally have no time to consider. People are getting into each other’s nerves. If you are beginning to have conversations with inanimate objects, you know what I mean.

I just recently got into a conversation about the inhumane condition that this government demands of its citizens. A friend’s Dad is in a locked down retirement facility but she wants to be physically present with her Dad to comfort him. She is even willing to get infected and die in the process. She is thinking of crashing the doors to get him. However, from the medical logistical point of view, If she gets sick, she will be stealing resources (man power, medications, ventilators, etc.) from innocent others.

I can understand that the government is still grappling with uncertainties. What is the nature of the “beast?” Does it spread through animals? Does it live longer on metal surfaces? Is it airborne? Do we have enough resources to win this war? If it really is that deadly and that contagious, should someone dictate what is good for you and the rest of society? Should we be forced to isolate? Should doctors and nurses care for the foolhardy victims? My daughter is a nurse who is going through very real trials due to the pandemic. Is it fair for us to squeeze even more out of her to care for people who choose to be sick?

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Mike of New York for sharing this joke.

Video: Sophie Sings Fly Me to the Moon

Thanks to Debbie of Moreno Valley, CA for sending this adorable 5 year old’s rendition of Sinatra’s classic tune.

Video: Dog Hugs

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. for these heart warming clips of the love between dog and master.

Video: Grocery Shopping

Thanks to Naomi of N. Hollywood and Terry of Santa Monica, CA for this video. A great way to shop!

Video: Visita Iglesia

Thanks to Leo of Toronto for sharing his personal video of churches during his travels. Even the background music is from his own choir, the Madrigals of the University of the Philippines. I should have shared this last week but it’s better late than never.

Rodney’s Puns

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.  who sent this collection of puns. Sounds like this is original.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Naomi of N. Hollywood, CA who sent this image:

Thanks to Cheryl of Arcadia, CA for this picture:

The post Self-Isolation appeared first on Traveling Archive.