The reluctant Tuscan, Dallas to London

The cover image of the Reluctant Tuscan On the flight home to Bangalore from Dallas to London, I made a friend over a book. An American girl next to me was reading ‘The Reluctant Tuscan’. The book made me strike up a conversation and she said she was reading it because her boyfriend was Italian and she was wondering how she would fit into his culture and family back in Tuscany! She was from California and her drop dead handsome Italian boyfriend had asked her to marry him. She had been to Tuscany twice and found it hard in a small village. But was concerned about her parents who were Caholic but not religious and never went to church. How would they blend with this rigid Catholic family and extended Italian family!

Phil Doran and his wife who bought the house Her copy of the book was amazingly a first edition, signed by the author Phil Doran himself! Apparently after years of working on a string of sitcoms, Phil Doran found himself on the outside looking in. Just as he and his peers had replaced the older guys when he was coming up the ranks, it was now happening to him. And it was freaking him out. He came home every night angry, burned- out, and exhausted. After twenty-five years of losing her husband to Hollywood, Doran’s wife decided it was finally time for a change—so on one of her many solo trips to Italy she surprised her husband by purchasing a broken-down 300-year-old farmhouse for them to restore. The Reluctant Tuscan is about the author’s transition from being a successful but overworked writer-producer in Hollywood to rediscovering himself and his wife while in Italy, and finding happiness in the last place he expected.

A meal in Tuscany which is hearty and fun In the witty tone that made him a success as a writer in Hollywood, The Reluctant Tuscan captivates those who simply love a good travel narrative as well as anyone who loves the quirky humor of stars -- Bill Bryson, Dave Barry and Jerry Seinfeld.

The beautiful cover of Under the Tuscan Sun with the actress in the movie adaptation. I had read “ Under the Tuscan Sun” years ago with my book club which I began in the Catholic Club named iBrowse, and so was curious. Another book lover Sheila Kumar and a member of my old book club had suggested it. Boy was I glad she did, because we all read the book sharing the five copies which were bought by the club and I finally took my copy for my DIL who is an avid book reader too in the US. “Under the Tuscan Sun” is a 1996 memoir by American author Frances Mayes. It was adapted by director Audrey Wells for the 2003 film Under the Tuscan Sun. The New York Times elevated the novel to the title of Notable Book of 1997. The book, published by Random House, was a New York Times bestseller for more than two and a half years, and was a New York Times Notable Book of 1997. It includes several chapters of recipes, and describes how she bought and restored an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside.

The beautiful house which was slowly restored. The story details the trials that Frances and her husband Ed had to go through to renovate their Tuscan villa. As university professors, they did not have to work during the summer; instead of teaching, they spent their summers renovating. While going through an extensive amount of paperwork to begin construction, they meet and befriend many people, including a group of Polish men and a local man who fixes their stone wall. They encounter many problems along the way; their Italian is poor and their contractors are lazy. Throughout the story, Frances imagines the villa's previous owner, possibly a kind old nonna ( grandmother). She pictures how the nonna would react to the renovations that Frances was doing to her home. The couple's main interest is to be able to return to their villa during Christmas break to celebrate the holidays. This is denied to them at first; the first Christmas that they return to Tuscany, they find their villa in shambles. This is resolved later in the book, when Frances and Ed get to spend their winter in their villa. Amazing how friendships happen over books! And we chatted for a while from Dallas to London about her plans and how it would work. Half way through I exchanged seats with her boyfriend so they could sit together!

Masala & Elaichi Chai, London, UK

The 100 sachet box of masala chai which was delicious “ Please bring me a pack of masala chai,” asked my son Andrew as I was getting ready to leave London for Tennessee. So off the two of us, my older son David and I went to Athifs, a well known store that stocked Indian and Pakistani goodies besides other Asian foods. We got a box of 100 sachets for him, but I spied the Cardamom chai and had to have a box. I was hooked in the cold of London and finished the box of elaichi tea while I was still there and carried another with me. Masala chai is a flavoured tea beverage made by brewing black tea with a mixture of aromatic Indian spices and herbs. Originating in the Indian subcontinent, the beverage has gained worldwide popularity, becoming a feature in many coffee and tea houses.

The BA Boeing which took me was brand new. A 'masala chai' is a chai tea with milk and a hint of spices – cardamom, cloves, and cinnamon mostly. ... The main difference between chai and masala tea is the addition of spices. Chai is black tea and hot milk, while Masala tea will combine black tea, milk and a few spices The spices we use in the Masala Chai are known in Ayurveda to have many health benefits, especially relating to the digestive system, like stimulating the appetite, reducing gas, and counteracting stomach acidity. Cardamom is known to enhance appetite, improve digestion and provide relief from acidity in the stomach.

My absolute favourite, especially since it could be bought sugar free Although the ingredients may vary from region to region, "tea masala" typically consists of Crushed Ginger, Crushed Cardamom, Pepper balls, Cloves, Cinnamom. The mixture is brought to a boil and 1 teaspoon of loose black tea is added. The Masala Chai tea blend we bought combined premium Ceylon black tea with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.. So, Masala Chai is literally 'spiced tea'. The tea has a warm and inviting fragrance, zesty flavor, and invigorating, aromatic finish. Each chai has a different flavour to it. India Chai blends Ginger, Cardamom, and Masala which are usually 2.3g servings and contain 67 to 78 milligrams of caffeine. Tea India which is loose Leaf teas @ 2.8 grams per serving contains 118 milligrams of caffeine. To compare -- A strong cup of black coffee has about 120 milligrams of caffeine. The black tea form of masala chai can help in preventing weight gain of belly fat. Also, masala chai alone cannot help in weight loss. It is only when combined with regular exercising and clean and healthy eating that masala chai will be beneficial for your health High amounts of black tea can cause side effects due to the caffeine in black tea. These side effects can range from mild to serious and include headache, nervousness, sleep problems, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremor, heartburn, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions, and confusion. With my heavy cough and cold my only solace was Masala chai, the whole day. It was soothing in the winter cold of Tennessee and London.

The Flagler Mansion in Miami, USA

The outstandingly elegant Flagler Mansion in Miami. Knowing that I love History ( my first Masters was in History) my doc son in Tennessee took me to see the Flagler Estate in West Palm Beach. It was a jaw dropping moment for both of us when we saw the building at first with its prime waterfront position. When it was completed in 1902, the New York Herald proclaimed that Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate in Palm Beach, was "more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." Today, Whitehall is a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public as the Flagler Museum, featuring guided tours. What never ceases to amaze me is the brilliant minds of these pioneers who made modern day America what it is. On my last visit I saw the Vanderbuilt mansion and there too the man’s genius built an empire which his family finally has lost. Future generations don’t have the foresight of the original founder, so common across the world. They faced hardship and came up the tough way. Their progeny are used to wealth and turn lazy and fritter away the billions they are left, sadly.

The stylish entrance hall Henry Morrison Flagler was born on January 2, 1830 in Hopewell, New York, to Reverend and Mrs. Isaac Flagler. At the age of 14, after completing the eighth grade, Flagler moved to Bellevue, Ohio where he found work with his cousins in the grain store of L.G. Harkness and Company, at a salary of $5 per month plus room and board. In 1852 Henry Flagler became a partner in the newly organized D. M. Harkness and Company with his half-brother, Dan Harkness. The following year, on November 9, he married Mary Harkness. They had three children, Jennie Louise, Carrie, Henry Harkness. Unfortunately, only Henry Harkness would survive to have children, one of which would later establish the Flagler Museum. In 1862, Henry Flagler and his brother-in-law, Barney York, founded the Flagler and York Salt Company, a salt mining business in Saginaw, Michigan. When the Civil War ended however, salt, which had been in heavy use as preservative by the Union Army, was no longer in high demand and Flagler and York Salt Company collapsed. Heavily in debt, Flagler returned to Bellevue, Ohio - his initial investment of $50,000 and an additional $50,000 he had borrowed from his father-in-law and Dan Harkness were lost.

One of the tastefully decorated rooms One of the The next year Flagler re-entered the grain business as a commission merchant and paid back the money he had borrowed for the salt business. During this time, Flagler became acquainted with John D. Rockefeller, who worked as a commission agent. During the mid 1860s, Cleveland was quickly developing as the center of the oil refining industry in America and Rockefeller decided to leave the grain business to start his own oil refinery. In need of capital for his new venture, Rockefeller approached Henry Flagler, with whom he had business dealings for many years. Flagler secured $100,000 from a relative on the condition that he be made a partner owning 25% of the shares in the new company of Rockefeller, Andrews and Flagler. On January 10, 1870, the Rockefeller, Andrews and Flagler partnership was organized as a joint-stock corporation named Standard Oil. In just two years Standard Oil became the leader in the American oil refining industry, producing 10,000 barrels per day. Five years later Standard Oil moved its headquarters to New York City, and the Flaglers moved to their new home to 509 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

The graceful central courtyard where the tinkling sound of the fountain was entrancing. In 1878, Flagler's wife, Mary, who had always struggled with health problems, became very ill. On the advice from Mary's physician, she and Flagler visited Jacksonville, Florida for the winter. Unfortunately, Mary did not recover. She died on May 18, 1881 at age 47, leaving Henry Flagler with a young son to raise alone. Two years after Mary's death, Flagler married Ida Alice Shourds. Soon after their wedding, the couple traveled to St. Augustine, Florida, which they found charming but lacking in adequate hotel facilities and transportation systems. Flagler believed that Florida had the potential to attract large numbers of tourists. Though Flagler remained on the Board of Directors of Standard Oil, he gave up his day-to-day involvement in the corporation in order to pursue his interests in Florida. He returned to St. Augustine in 1885 and began construction of the 540-room Hotel Ponce de Leon. Realizing the importance of a transportation system to support his hotel ventures, Flagler purchased the Jacksonville, St. Augustine & Halifax Railroad, the first railroad in what would eventually become the Florida East Coast Railway system. The Hotel Ponce de Leon opened January 10, 1888 and was an instant success. Two years later, Flagler expanded his Florida holdings, building a railroad bridge across the St. Johns River to gain access to the southern half of the state. Flagler began building a hotel empire by purchasing the Hotel Ormond, just north of Daytona.

The carriage room where the original classic railway carriage is housed In 1894 Flagler built the Hotel Royal Poinciana on the shores of Lake Worth in Palm Beach and extended his railroad further south to West Palm Beach. The Hotel Royal Poinciana soon became the largest resort in the world. In 1896 Flagler built the Palm Beach Inn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach. Flagler's railroad, renamed the Florida East Coast Railway in 1895, reached Biscayne Bay by 1896. Flagler dredged a channel, built streets, instituted the first water and power systems, and financed the town's first newspaper, the Metropolis. When the town incorporated in 1896, its citizens wanted to honour the man responsible for its growth by naming it "Flagler." He declined the honor, persuading them instead to use an old Indian name for the river the settlement was built around, Miama or Miami. A year later, Flagler opened the exclusive Hotel Royal Palm in Miami.

The crockery sets on display were mind boggling Flagler lost his second wife, Ida Alice, to mental illness, which she suffered from for many years. Ida Alice finally had to be institutionalized in 1895. On August 24, 1901, Flagler married for the third time, to Mary Lily Kenan. Built as a wedding present to Mary Lily in 1902 and designed by architects John Carrère and Thomas Hastings, Whitehall became the Flagler's winter home. With more than 100,000 square feet and 75-plus rooms, Whitehall was described in 1902 by the New York Herald as, "... more wonderful than any palace in Europe, grander and more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." A little more than a year later, Flagler fell down a flight of stairs at Whitehall. He never recovered from the fall, and died of his injuries on May 20, 1913, at 83 years of age. He was laid to rest in St. Augustine alongside his daughters, Jennie Louise and Carrie, and his first wife, Mary Harkness. When Henry Flagler began his work in Florida, it was perhaps the poorest state in the Union. Today, thanks in large part to Henry Flagler, Florida is the third largest state in the Union with an economy larger than 90% of the world's nations. Indeed, no individual had a greater or more lasting impact on a state than Henry Flagler had on Florida.

Luxurious inside of carriage Perfect for visitors looking for a dose of culture, Whitehall is the home of the Flagler Museum, a beautiful oasis that is worthy of a day trip. Built for his third wife as a wedding present, Henry Flagler constructed this over-the-top 55-room Beaux Arts style complex in 1902. A National Historic Landmark, visitors can stroll through the grounds of this Palm Beach attraction to take in a variety of historic European styles, and are welcome to browse the interior and see the building’s many original furnishings in addition to interesting exhibits, fabulous paintings,clocks and antique furniture. Carrere and Hastings designed the exterior of Whitehall, the interior layout and completely controlled the design of the marble entrance hall and its grand double staircase. The façade of Whitehall is marked by massive marble columns and topped with a red barrel tiled roof. Built around the central courtyard, the house consists of two floors, an attic and a basement. Besides the grand public rooms on the first floor there are twelve guestrooms, house servants rooms on the west side of the second floor and guests servants rooms in the attic along the east side.

West Palm Beach, USA

The blue skies and pristine white beaches of West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, Florida, has sunny palm-lined streets, breathtaking waterfront views, quaint shopping districts, historic and scenic neighbourhoods, and exciting year-round outdoor festivals. We were spending a week in the beach fronted city and it was another off my bucket list places to visit. My doctor son and daughter-in-law always plan these holidays, so I can go along with them and enjoy them too. Kind and generous to a fault, they are so warm and welcoming especially when I had just been a very stressful time back in India. It was cold in Tennessee and so Florida’s sunny skies, nearly perfect year-round weather and a range of outdoor and cultural attractions, West Palm Beach was the ideal setting for a week long escape for us. Separated from southern Florida by the beautiful Intracoastal Waterway, Palm Beach is West Palm Beach's sister city, and is known for being irresistibly serene and really a pensioners paradise.

The ferry that took us across to Peanut Island We decided to spend an entire day on Peanut Island on our first day -- a popular tourist attraction that houses a bunker built for President John F. Kennedy during the Cold War. It was fun parking and walking across to take the ferry. Quite different from our smelly and crowded Goa ferries, we all got place to sit before it took off. Peanut island had plenty of picnic areas, plus biking and walking paths. The ferry ride to the island cruises past the opulent mansions of the city's wealthy residents, but knowing about sea-level rise, I was not really envious. I would never want a beach- front mansion. After that I loved going to the beach almost everyday, with the family, even though it was cold.We sat out in the sun, while the kids played building sand castles and paddling in the shallows. The beaches had heaps of sea shells, something our Indian beaches are devoid of. It was amazing to see how many vacationers were out on the beach, sunning themselves. The water was definitely too cold to swim in though we saw lots of surfers cresting the tall waves.

The board walk which took us along the sheltering mangroves. For those who prefer indoor endeavours, the Norton Museum boasts an exceptional collection of American, Chinese and European art. Famous performers appear at "The Harriet" and at the Kravis Center. Of course there's always shopping, the city's other favorite pastime. From designer boutiques to big name department stores, West Palm Beach has it all. Known for its upscale boutiques and irresistible beaches, Palm Beach has long been a favorite Florida getaway for vacationers from all over the world. We drove down the A1a which is Florida's State Road. A1A is one of the most scenic road trip routes in the nation. It runs along the most eastern border of the state. I love oggling the beautiful mansions of the rich and famous and can’t imagine how difficult it is to maintain it along with their pristinely sculpted gardens.

Beautiful blue skies and broad palm lined roads The only hiccup was when we came towards the Trump Mar-a-Lago Club, there was high security which kept outsiders at bay. The 126-room, 62,500-square-foot mansion contains the Mar-a-Lago Club, a members-only club with guest rooms, a spa, and other hotel-style amenities. It is located in Palm Beach County on the Palm Beach barrier island, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Florida's Intracoastal Waterway to the west. The different cuisines had us eating out at different places everyday. Ofcourse the family had to try an Indian place one evening, but I got my Hardees mushroom and cheese burger well before they sat down to their meal. Who wants to eat Indian, while in the US? Just them!

Indulging in d'Anjou pears in the USA

The huge bag of Anjou pears we bought from COSTCO I love fruit and would rather eat fruit than food. So when I travel, the local fruit is what I indulge in. Here we were at COSTCO, where the fruit aisle is massive and a delight for a fruitarian like me. This time, the pears caught my eye and it was a huge bag of 2.2 lbs of the large green fruit. It was my first time I was tasting an Anjou and frankly when I bit into one when I reached home, I was very disappointed. The Rainier pears from Aldi tasted better! Then we left them to ripen and over the week I slowly descended into pear heaven. Ofcourse I wanted to learn all about them and got onto my favourite google to do that. Anjou, also know as d'Anjou pears are thought to have originated in Belgium, and they are named after the Anjou region in France. The variety was introduced in England early in the 19th century. Called Beurré d' Anjou, they were introduced in America in about 1842. The Green Anjou (pronounced ON-ju) pears are recognizable for their egg-shaped appearance, having a larger spherical lower portion that begins a gradual taper above the mid-point to a narrower rounded top. Their skin color is bright green, and sometimes has a soft red blush. The skin color shows only very subtle colour change while ripening.

Around 9 large pears come in a bag These are seasonal apparently and the harvest for Green Anjou pears begins in the fall and they arrive in produce departments in late September or early October. They are the most widely available variety through the summer. Many professional chefs choose the Anjou pear for their menus for their nearly year-round availability, as well as for their versatility in culinary uses. Green Anjou pears are PEAR-fect for just about any use, from slicing fresh into salads to baking into pies to pureeing for sauces and beverages. Interestingly the Anjou pear does not change colour as it ripens. Green Anjous will remain green even when fully ripe and tend to give under finger pressure. I just ripened the Anjou pears at room temperature. From COSTCO where we bought them firm and quite raw, Anjou pears may take between three and five days to become fully ripe. Once ripe, you can store them in the refrigerator, where the ripening process will be slowed for a few more days. According to the net one has to check the neck for ripeness by gently pressing the thumb near the stem end of the pear. When it gives slightly, the pear is ripe. Why do you “Check the Neck?” was my question. Because pears ripen from the inside out, and the neck is the narrowest part of the pear, which is closest to the core.

They took a week to ripen to their full deliciousness If you wait for the wider, bottom half of the pear to become soft to the touch, you’ll find the inside to be over-ripe. When that happens, though the mouth-feel may not be perfect for eating fresh, this is the perfect time for your super-ripe pear to be pureed into a tasty smoothie! The Anjou is truly an all-purpose pear. They are juicy when ripe, and their subtle sweetness hints at a refreshing lemon-lime flavor. Their dense flesh holds up well in heated applications like baking, poaching, roasting, or grilling and they are delicious when sliced fresh in salads or eaten as an out-of-hand snack. Most of our D'Anjou pears are grown in Oregon and Washington. As they ripen they become more juicy to eat and so I would stand over a basin or use a big, thick tissue like a child under my chin to catch the juice that dribble out as I bit into their sweet flesh.

Hubs home cooked Virginia peanuts, USA

The quaint tin in which the peanuts are sold Annika brought home a gift box with a tin of “Hubs home cooked Virginia peanuts”, which was a gift from a happy and loving patient. It’s the Christmas season and she brings back gifts almost everyday from patients who are grateful for her sweet and all embracing medical skills. She is a Rheumatologist and a damn good one too. I love peanuts, especially peanuts which have been roasted with just plain old salt. Then one gets to enjoy their flavour, instead of the masala stuff we seem to enjoy in India. So when I saw the tin I gravitated towards it and ofcourse Annika generously said “ open it and lets enjoy.” Inside was a card that told me about where the peanuts originated from. Way back in 1951, in the small Virginia crossroads village of Sedley, a woman named Dot Hubbard developed a unique way to cook the Virginia peanuts grown on her father’s farm. She diligently used only the finest peanuts from the local harvest. Peanuts grown on the sandy fields of the farm. Then she began gifting them around and grew a loyal clientele which stretches across the world today. Today, the family says, Dot’s recipe for using only the best remains unchanged.

Large sized salted Virginia peanuts sold across the US I was glad to learn a few peanut lessons about the nut which I so enjoy: Peanuts are powerhouses of energy. With 7 grams of protein per ounce, peanuts give you 12% of the recommended daily allowance of protein in each serving. Peanuts promote weight loss. Peanuts create energy and control blood sugar so that you exercise more efficiently. The high fiber content in peanuts helps make you feel full quicker, so you snack less and keep hunger at bay longer. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol free. Studies show that 2-3 servings of peanuts daily help to lower LDL (“bad” cholesterol levels) 11-14% without lowering HDL (“good” cholesterol).

An enterprise which is family owned and run from the -50's Studies have shown that eating peanuts is part of a healthy diet and may lower your risk of heart attack. Eating 2-3 ounces of peanuts daily may lower your risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular disease by as much as 21 %. Peanuts contain mostly unsaturated fats and non-detectable levels of transfats. A high ratio of unsaturated fats to saturated fats helps improve your cardiovascular health. Peanuts help inhibit cancer growth. Phytosterol beta-sitosterol (SIT),found naturally in peanuts, has been shown to inhibit cancer growth. SIT may offer protection against colon, prostate, and breast cancer. Peanuts create quick energy that burns calories and builds muscle. As a low response food on the Glycemic Index, peanuts satiate feelings of hunger, give you bursts of energy and help control blood sugar levels. Peanuts are little gold mines of nutrients. Peanuts have almost half of the 13 vitamins essential for normal growth and health and 35% of the essential minerals. It was fun researching about peanuts, but I don’t really care if they are so good for you, as I love the taste of them anyway. But if you dont try getting your hands on them quickly, they are inexpensive and delicious.

Yassins Falafel House, Knoxville, Tennessee

Yassin's Falafel House, Knoxville, Tennessee “Let’s have lunch at Yassin's Falafel House in Knoxville,” said Andrew one Sunday. “ He has the best shawarma’s which could be better than the ones you get at home in Bangalore.” So we jumped into the larger car where both mothers could fit and zoomed off to Knoxville. Walking in, my eyes fell on a number of newspaper articles proudly displaying that Yassin Terou, owner of Yassin's Falafel House in Knoxville, Tenn., had won the Reader's Digest Nicest Places in America award. Lovely pictures showed him and his family as guests on "Good Morning America," with host Robin Roberts.

The menu which we had to choose from The network had Yassin's Falafel House owner Yassin Terou in a back room where he was showing staff how to make his popular falafel when Roberts walked in and revealed that his restaurant had won the title. Terou's response was one of surprise before he wrapped Roberts into a warm hug. "Yes, it's an honour but America is the winner, Knoxville is the winner, Tennessee is the winner," Terou said. "When he sent you to choose me in Knoxville, I say this prayer to everyone around this country," he told Roberts. "What makes us a winner is the people in this country, not us. So thank you very much."

The Grilled chicken shawarma is served with pickles Reading that really warmed my heart as thats the America we grew up knowing and admiring. And what brought my son to this country. A place where immigrants dreams came true. Where hard work is rewarded and people can make their fortunes if they are focussed. We looked up at the menu to choose what we wanted to eat: There were Falafel’s which are a Falafel ( thin chappatie) wrapped in a pita with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and sprinkled with homemade tahini sauce. They could be ordered spicy or regular. The Grilled chicken shawarma is served with pickles, garlicky white sauce & french fries all wrapped inside pita. Both spicy or regular and I ordered that. Andy ordered a mouth-watering gyro meat, onions, tomatoes & our homemade tzatziki sauce, inside a warm gyro pita. These too were in spicy or regular.

BAKLAVA – Delicious walnuts in layers of flaky filo, laced w/sugar water, topped w/chopped pistachios If you are veggie you are not left out with seasoned grilled veggies, wrapped in pita with crisp french fries & our garlicky white sauce. You could also order a meal which consisted of : Falafel salad, homemade hummus & baba ganoush with a side of Pita & a drink. Or a Grilled Chicken Shawarma served over rice, paired with garlicky white sauce & baba ganoush with a Pita & a drink.

The nice looking board outside The sides on offer were creamy homemade hummus & pita. Or a chunky, homemade baba ganoush & pita. I have tried the same food in Dubai and the stuff here at Yassins were comparable.