A Shout Out to Romina
My neighbor Romina has been one of the blessings of my time here in Panzano. From Day One she has been a safety net helping me with everything from the mundane- “How do I turn on the washing machine?” to saving me from awful inconvenience like when I lost my keys and she let me in late one night! When she smiles her eyes sparkle and I feel the warmth of her kindness even if I don’t always understand all the words.
One of the nicest surprises is when I open my door to her knock to find her (and sometimes little 2 year old Juri, too) standing there with a plate in her hand. It is often her version of a favorite Albanian specialty - a slice of Tre Lece Cake- moist and coconutty under a coating of sweet jam. Last week she shared a different treat. She called it torta. It was like the best spanikopita ever. Romina will always say as she hands me the plate, ”This is something from my tradition.” Since Albania shares a border with Greece and its cuisine is very much Mediterranean, her treats are always familiar but with a slightly different ethnic twist. Even more than the treat on her plate, I appreciate this friendship with my generous neighbor.
Romina’s latest treat!
A sweet treat from Romina- Albanian Tre Lece Cake