As part of the research for our cookbook “Camillos Kitchen”, Lower East went on an inspiration and photo trip to Tuscany, Italy.

Our first stop was the organic farm Fattoria La Vialla in Castiglion Fibocchi. The farm produces wine, olive oil, sauces, pesto, jam, balsamico, pasta, cakes, sausages etc. Everything is organic and made with love and passion. Apart from the production on the farm, La Vialla also has a group of old stone houses on their land, you can rent for your stay. Highly recommendable! They have a lunch restaurant and as a guest you can take part in the long table dinners with the other guest two times a week. This concept fit perfectly to the idea of our cookbook. Good food make people talk together – about the real stuff – life, death, love etc.

When we arrived at La Vialla in the evening, we were welcomed by the sweet staff who gave us a basket with delicious left overs from the kitchen (salad, sausages, cheese and bread etc. for our evening meal – so sweet and thoughtful) and handed over the keys for a Fiat Panda, that could bring us to our lovely 2-floor house, 20 min. challenging drive uphill from the main building. In it self the drive was an amazing experience. Good that one of the young girls drove in front of us in the dark. In the house we were met by a big basket of other wonderful products from the farm – a birthday present from La Vialla: Wine, pasta, tomato sauce, cookies and a birthday cake. As food lovers we were already thrilled.

We stayed at La Vialla for five days, working on the book, taking photos and had good talks with the passionate staff, a.o. Mauro, Annette & co. We spent a hole day with the wonderful Annette, who showed us the entire place – the olive production, the wine cellars, the bakery and the museum. We ended up having a tasty Tuscan lunch in the garden made from all the good products of the farm, created by the cook Stefania … antipasti followed by a pasta with sugo, a gorgeous frittata and a birthday tiramisu cake made with cantuccini. All courses were accompanied by wines from the Vialla production. We tasted whites, reds, some unfiltered, etc. Everything was extremely delicious – both the food, the wine and the company.

When we were about to say goodbye to Annette, we were very lucky. At this very moment the first press of this years olive oil were ready to taste and we hurried to the olive house. It was amazing to taste the first drops of the new olive oil – so green, fresh and very powerful. Everybody was extremely happy.

La Vialla has a food and wine shop, where we could buy all the products produced on the farm… and so we did. You can also order all the products online – apply for the product catalogue – and be happy…

Apart from the good products they have a very nice graphic style on all their products – a beautiful handwriting used on all the packaging… so as graphic designers we were also happy.

Thank you Fattoria La Vialla for your hospitality. We are looking forward to coming back. Or to welcome the Vialla people here in Berlin.

See more about Fattoria La Vialla on the website and facebook