"It’s more about seeing a different way of eating, cooking, experiencing life. Experiencing Italy. When we go to visit a local farmer who makes cheese, wine, olive oil, that you can see that you can live in a different way.”
We’re in great company with Thomas Tviis Hansen, of Danish origins, whose love for Italian food, wine and hospitality led him and his wife Lisbeth to create Il Ghiottone Umbro nestled in the medieval Umbrian hilltop town of Todi.
Having previously owned and operated an Italian restaurant and enoteca in Copenhagen for over a decade, Thomas and Lisbeth were ready for a new adventure come 2010. One that brought them closer to the roots of this fantastic “cucina” that had filled their lives with joy for so many years.
In this episode, Thomas shares how together they renovated an old stone building into a light and airy home where they welcome guests to experience the simplicity, honesty and fantastic taste of the Italian Kitchen.
Top Takeaways
[1:34] From owning an Italian inspired restaurant in Copenhagen to venturing to the source, what inspired Thomas and his wife Lisbeth to move to Italy.
[7:00] Considered “Tuscany’s little sister”, the undeveloped and real nature of Umbria as a culinary destination.
[7:45] Missing the culinary scene in Denmark, Thomas crafts non-traditional Italian dishes that even his neighbors can’t resist.
[11:45] The humor behind the name “The Umbrian Glutton” and its different meanings in English, Danish and Italian.
[13:30] Thomas and Lisbeth’s Danish minimalist design shines bright in contrast to their home’s historical stone building.
[15:30] The beauty in Il Ghiottone Umbro being on the cusp of countryside and the corner of town.
[17:15] “I’m allergic to hotel buffets.” What to expect from Thomas’s breakfast menu that changes daily.
[19:15] How a Cooking Stay introduces guests to a different way of eating, cooking, experiencing local produce and pasture to live in a different way.
[23:18] Thomas and Lisbeth’s Kitchen Notes are a bundle of Italian seasonal recipes…with a twist.
[26:26] What to expect from the seasonal harvest in the Umbrian countryside.
[28:26] Todi is a beautiful hilltop town that truly feels alive with locals living their daily lives.
[37:30] What a different perspective a small and slow stay can give to your travels, like Thomas & Lisbeth’s recent trip to Venice.
