When visiting a shop is not called shopping.
I hear you… “but ?????”
Allow me telling I lived this experience in the shop called “Vecchie Ricette” /”Old Recipes” from Lucca, Italy.
It was its entrance, who convinced me to step in and thank goodness I did that.
Once I was in, it all made sense since I found that the owners, an Italian couple who lived their first youth a while ago, were the mere vendors.
One could have immediately felt their love from the way the shop was arranged.
Spices, old cheese, all kinds of pancettas, salami, orechiette, paninis…
Looking at each of the goodies I envisioned the way the old couple made a place and a universe for each of them.
I could see the lady in the early hours of the morning receiving fresh batches of just-out-of-the-oven paninis and checking the crispy crust. The man slicing laces of pancetta for little tastings inside the shop.
With no rush at all, sipping some Tuscan vino while offering the shop all the time and goodness they were left with.
The peace of the place, the inviting aromas and the warmth of the owners were absolutely mesmerizing.
I am so grateful for being able to share this with you, and hoping you’ll get there some day.
Andreea Radu 