Midge Guerrera is our creative force. Hating the word "retired" and seeing a need to infuse the village she chose to be the scene of her "second act" with a wee bit of tourism she rounded up the neighborhood women and this initiative was born. Now, other towns have asked her to visit and help them understand how to bring their visions into reality.In her earlier life she was a program creator/builder, actor, playwright, producer and professor. Now those same skill sets are bringing new friends to Pontelandolfo. She blogs as Nonna's Mulberry Tree.
Annarita Mancini is Pontelandolfo's and the Sannio Hill's concierge or "fixer." She is an incredible organizer and finder of unusual experiences for our visitors. Annarita is also our primary translator. Speaking four languages, she works as a cultural mediator of immigrants.
Borgo Cerquelle is an Agriturismo created out of an ancient peasant village of stone houses. They cultivate the land and breed animals in a bio-mode. Every group has a chance to visit the animals, tour the gardens and eat a 4 hour lunch made of items raised on the farm. It is a great place to bring young children for a Southern Italian country life adventure.
Angelamaria Addona's B&B Calvello sits high in the mountain. When you need to leave the hustle of the city behind, this is the place to stay. The view is incredible and folks can follow trails through the adjacent state park. Her kitchen dates to the early 1900's and Angela is committed to sharing the traditional fare that her nonna cooked in the same wood burning oven and stove that our culinary tourists get to now use. We love her wood oven pizza and often have parties at B&B Calvello.
Nunzia De Bernardo's cuisine is rooted in the heritage of the contadini, subsistence farmer. She has glorified the Pontelandolfese tradition of using every bit of what you have, including left over bread. Meat, a privilege that few could afford, was usually only eaten on Sunday. One’s garden and hens were always a source of daily raw materials. The dishes Nunzia presents feature a peasant’s stale bread, combined with the vegetables grown in her husband Amedeo’s garden.
Carmela Fusco, with a smile on her face, cooks lunch daily for a minimum of eleven people! Carmela’s dishes are an interesting mixture of traditional Southern Italian cuisine, learned from her mom, and the best Milanese traditions. learned from her time there. She is fortunate to have a husband who forages the mountains for truffles, mushrooms, spring asparagus and more. You too can feel like you're invited to lunch – read her cooking hints on the Facebook page, A Pranzo Della Nonna! Her motto is “cooking with the heart is good for the soul too.”
Maria Di Ciero and Franco Perugini are the effervescent duo that created Marcelleria Perugini, famous for its Torcinello. Restaurants and markets from all over the region stock this lamb based artigianal item. Maria was the chef at the restaurant, Il Castello. Music fills their home and our culinary adventurers were often caught playing the air guitar in their kitchen. Maria and Franco spend a lot 'of time in the macelleria but when the business does not need her presence they can be found in the place that gives them the most satisfaction – the kitchen.