Greetings from Italy!

I'm in the lovely town of Spello, which is nestled in the Umbria region of Central Italy. While I am here for work (first fittings for Tommy Hilfiger's Spring 2011 collection to be shown during Fashion Week in September), there is always time to enjoy the best of what Italy has to offer...food! ("When in Rome..." as they say!)

Meals are the best part of every day. The local restaurant La Cantina di Spello offers delicious local favorites for a perfect dinner - tagliatelle with black truffle and eggplant parmigiana, paired with amazing local wines. I bought some bottled truffles in olive oil so I could make it at home.

We are staying in the charming La Bastiglia Hotel perched on the highest point of Spello. My window looks over the entire valley. It is quite a way to wake up! And with crowing roosters to boot!

The restaurant features contemporary takes on traditional cuisine - such as oversized gnocchi stuffed with fresh cheese. (Yum!) Their strawberry gelato is pure summer perfection!

We took a side trip to the town of Assisi (as in Saint Francis) to check out the Basilica. It is perfectly in tact and rebuilt after the entire roof caved during an earthquake in 1997.

It's been a whirlwind trip but amazing food and wine - along with productive days at the atelier - make it all worth it!

xo,
Peter