Extra Virgin

Debi and Gabriele, their girls and "Uncle" Robert are headed to Siena to see a play that some friends are putting on and then to make their pals a congratulatory meal. Siena, although in Tuscany, is on the other side of the region, so has a totally different cuisine - but Gabriele is determined to make his friends their favorite dishes even though he's never cooked them before - it will be a challenge. As his ace in the hole, Gabriele goes to a man named Bagoga, a master of pici pasta, a hand rolled, spaghetti-like pasta that is a specialty of Siena - serving pici should give him a leg up with his mates. For the pici, Gabriele makes a simple sauce with olive oil, garlic, hot pepper and tomatoes. In addition to which he makes a lardo crustini - mashed pig fat with herbs and spices on toasted bread and Debi makes a zucchini carpaccio, with lemon, olive oil and mint. The meal is a hit and Gabriele is happy that he passed this culinary test!