If you’re part of the inGamba family, then you know our home is in Borgolecchi, in the heart of Tuscany. This holiday season, even if you’re not riding through the Chianti region, you can still bring some Italian flair to your holidays in a few simple ways.
Use the good stuff
Gifted a beautiful candle? Light it. Opening a bottle of red? Break out those good handblown crystal wine glasses, even if it’s the Tuesday before Christmas and not the holiday itself. Having a sandwich for lunch? Serve it on your good china, and use a linen napkin instead of a paper plate and paper towel. Riding the trainer? Take an extra minute to program a playlist that sets the right mood for the day.
At inGamba, we believe that every ride, every drink and every meal is a chance to create a real experience, and that means using the things that can elevate a moment, not saving them for a later that never comes.
Savour every moment of the process
And you can apply the same principles to the rest of your holiday season: Take your time wrapping gifts instead of rushing the process. Spend a few extra minutes chatting with the man at the wine shop to pick just the right vintage for your dinner. Linger at the dinner table just a little while longer, stretching that conversation.
Make bruschetta as a holiday appetizer
If you’re hosting a holiday event, serving a bruschetta is a great (easy) way to add some (easy) flair to the dinner table. Start with a good bread, says Tomi, ideally from a local bakery. Then, try one of his two simple-but-delicious recipes:
Kale and beans: “This is one of the most traditional bruschettas during the winter, because black kale is from this season,” he says. “I put cold olive oil in a pan with a clove of garlic and very slowly heat it up to infuse the olive oil with that delicate garlic flavor. Then, I take out the garlic and add clean chopped kale and cook it for two minutes at a low heat, just to soften it. Then, at the last moment, I add pre-cooked white beans, a little bit of olive oil—which it’s never a little bit, I will say it’s actually generous. We are in Tuscany, so it’s always a lot of olive oil—and then let that heat for one more minute. Then, I put it on top of the bread, and it goes to the oven with a little bit more olive oil on top. It’s very simple.”
Sausage and strachino: “Straquino is a kind of soft cheese, and it’s delicious. I mix it with pre-cooked crumbled sausage, with a bit of black truffle oil. That goes on the bread and directly into the oven. It should only be in for two or three minutes until the bread is crispy and the cheese is melted.”
Enjoy an Italian wine
Of course, we have to mention Chianti, since where Borgolecchi is situated, we have access to some of the best vineyards for Chianti wines in the world. But you can also opt for a sparkling prosecco—a favorite of Eros Poli, one of our lead guides, when he’s craving something light. And of course, remember that the best way to enjoy a glass of wine is with friends, recounting your favorite cycling moments of the year.
Start the celebration now
In Italy, Christmastime officially starts on December 8 with the celebration of the Immaculate Conception and runs through the Epiphany on January 6. And the eight days before Christmas, also known as the Novena, are almost as important as December 25th itself, so if you’re able to, start celebrating today.
Even if you’re still at work trying to clear the calendar before the end of the year, try to carve out a small amount of time each day to get in the festive spirit—and remember the true reason for the season by taking a moment to reflect on things that you’re grateful for, or to give back to charities like World Bicycle Relief that are making a real difference in the world.
