b'BACK TOTRAVELLING! by Deborah Jones Finotti, Advertising Representative, (I hope) Focus on ScugogAfter no travel for my husband andever I absolutely love Italy and explor- canals. It was called Ristorante da Ivo myself for over two years, it looks likeing the out of the way places.It helps.WELL, with Ivos name in the 2022 will be our magic number.Wewhen your number one guide isuenttitle, we thought we should explore havebeeninvitedtoaweddinginin Italian. If I found myself lost in Italy,and experience what they had to o er. Italy. For those of you not aware, myI can unequivocally say I would notLike so many older establishments in husband, Ivo, was born in Italy.Hisstarve with my knowledge of Italian;Veneziaitwasverysmall,perhaps parents immigrated to Canada whenI am able to communicate a little, buthad room for 25 seated guests.The hewas2yearsold,alongwithhisunderstand a lot of what is being said.ambiance was of the Roman period 6-month-oldbrother.HestillhasaI had an amazing mother-in-law, andbut nicely toned down.The owner lot of family there, and in the past, hewhentheyimmigratedtoCanada,himselfgreetedusatthedoor,in-would travel over once or twice a year.it was to Montreal, so it was advisedtroducedhimselfbyname,Ivo IvoscousinsdaughterisgettingtheylearnFrench,eventhoughtheand asked ours.He was so pleased married after having to postpone theboys were educated in English. I neverwhenIvoansweredinItalianand wedding the last 2 years.Like everyfelt the urge to learn Italian because Idiscovered they had the same name.I would like tonish with a once inmagic.We were half -way throughwhere, but because it was Italy, it will year we have told her we will de - could speak French and we communi- He served us himself, and after oura lifetime event that happened to usthe opera when the full moon startedalwaysremaininmymemory.The nitely be there, unless the pandemiccated beautifully. meal he sat with us and brought outin 2008.We were able to get tickets toto rise behind the outdoor stage.Thephotos do not do it justice.gets in the way.We will book ourIwantedtosharemyfavouritetheGrappa,(atraditionalNorthernthe Aida opera, performed in the oldopera was perfect, but the moon tookDeborah place with all of you, and that wouldItalianbeverage,canbe35to60%HAPPY ights and think positive thoughts.Roman amphitheater in Verona. Themy breath away and my concentration In the past, Ivo has travelled backbeVenezia!!!OraswesayVenice.alcohol,amazing andalsoavoursevening was cloudless, the stars werefrom that point on was focused on the to Italy yearly, not to just see family,Everyone has heard about the Grandknownbyusasmoonshine)Thebrilliant,andthenithappenedlikemoon. This could have happened any- EVERYONE!but to attend Vinitaly (InternationalCanal,Gondolarides,St.Marksmeal was amazing and as we were Wine & Spirits Exhibition) conferenceBasilica,PiazzaSanMarco,(Ihaveleaving,hepresentedmewithtwo that is held yearly in April in Verona.beentherewhenthewaterlevelsdessertsizedisheswithabeautiful WineriesfromalloverItalypar- were high and covered a 1/3 of thesketch on it as well his name, and two ticipate as they present their award- Piazza).Every time I have gone overengraved dinner napkins. We contin-winning wines & spirits. It is not openwith Ivo, we spend two or three days,ued to see him yearly and in 2008 we to the public but to trade, agents andandjustgetlostinthemanytwisttook our girls and aanc with us for importers.I have not had the greatand turns of the narrow cobble stoneafamilyreunion.Unfortunately,he honor of accompanying him becausewalkways, breath in all the colourfulhadpassedawaysuddenlybutthe I am not a connoisseur of wines andshops,gelatostands,outdoorcafesstahad taken over the business and my ticket is much appreciated by oneandthefrenzyorcalmnessofthisremembered us.The food and ser-of his many cousins. It is a 4-day eventvery old magni cent wonder.vice continue to be outstanding. My andcangetratheroverwhelmingI absolutely love the open waterlast memory of Ivo was showing us a with all the seminars and of coursevaporetto (water buses), especially ifpicture of George Clooney and Brad wine tasting. If I went, it would beyou can get the front row and just en- Pitt arriving for dinner at his restau-strictly for the prestigious restaurantsjoy the magni cence of the architec- rant a few weeks before our last time whererenownedtureofthebuildingswith Ivo.He was such a proud man chefs prepare menuson the canal. Sitting atand never to be forgotten.withregionalpro- the very front, there isFoodisneveranissueinItaly, duce.Letsfaceit;nothing to block your a trattoria and you will get thend you will never starveviewandthefreshbest home cooked meal using fresh in Italy. aironyourfacejustlocalingredients.Nomenusjust Ihavebeenverymakes it perfect. what is available that day.Speaking blessed to have trav- Backin2003weof which, Ivos Aunt is an amazing elled extensively withwere introduced to ancook. Asyouwalkupthestairsto Ivoovertheyears,amazing, charming lit- their home in the village in the lower whetherpersonalortlerestaurantnestledAlps, the aromas that emanate from accompanyinghimalong a canal, with theherwide-openwindowsareaddic-onbusinessrelatedentrance at the end oftive.She does the simplest of recipes trips.Every place hasalittlearchedbridgethat makes your stomach go wild!!! itssplendour,how- over one of the smallerEveryone says so.36 FOCUS - APRIL 2022'