Tuscan Tablescape

This week I have featured my kitchen remodel and my

wood-burning pizza oven so I thought I should set

a Tuscan Table in my Italianate back yard.

It is a beautiful fall day here at Purple Chocolat Home.  The

garden is just gorgeous with lots of vegetables that have

ripened. 

Tuscan colors remind me of fall with the beautiful

yellows and greens and burnt oranges.

This beautiful pitcher was purchased on our last

trip to Italy.  We have had three opportunities to travel

to Italy, two in May and one in September.  Spring and

Fall are wonderful there, if you ever plan on going.

Since this pitcher was so large I had it shipped

home and was thrilled that it made it.

This is the other side of the pitcher.  I love it.  It

adorns my pizza oven that I showed you in my last

post.  I also brought home two other pieces that match

it.  Those I hand carried in my carry on.  Actually, I

had three pieces that I was carrying, but alas, one of

those broke.  I think this one is my favorite.

One of the most beautiful colors in Tuscan architecture is the

buttery yellow of this wavy placemat.

Both goblets look great with the colors of the table.

More golden touches in the napkin and napkin ring.

Olive oil is such a staple in Italy so we need to feature

some on the table. 

 My Garlic Basil Oil will be

great for dipping crusty bread.

When we visited Rome a few years ago we had the

opportunity to eat with a native Italian family in their

apartment.  She had just gone and picked olives and

pressed the oil.  She served it too us.  It was a beautiful

cloudy green, so full of the pulp of the olive.  I have never

before or since tasted anything like that freshly squeezed oil.

Speaking of bread, in Tuscany to this day they do not use

salt in baking their bread.  Anyone who has accidentally

left the salt out of their bread will know how that tastes -

rather bland and flavorless. 

The Venetians controlled the salt trade and when they

raised the taxes to an unbearable level in the middle

ages, people from Tuscany revolted and refused to

put salt in their bread.  That tradition continues

today.

Don't worry when you come as a guest to my Tuscan table

I will revolt against the Tuscans and put salt in my

bread.

And since zucchini is such an Italian vegetable, I am going

to make you a three layer Chocolate Zucchini cake with

Chocolate Cinnamon Icing.

I am going to serve it with my beautiful new fork carved

with Italian figurines.

These little cherubs are so appropriate with this heavenly

chocolate cake which I will post the recipe for tomorrow.

I hope you enjoyed your Tuscan afternoon with me.

I will be posting this on

Centerpiece Wednesday

and

Tablescape Thursday.

Dishes - Tai Pan

Goblets - Tai Pan

Flatware - Best

Candleholder - Pier 1

Pitcher - from Italy

Napkins - Tuesday Morning

Napkin Rings - Wal Mart

Serving Fork - ebay