cookie's heart is in umbria

Our Italian roots are in the beautiful Umbrian hill town of Amelia, famed for its colossal 8th century BC polygonal walls and, since Roman times, for the quality of its dried fruit.

Most famously, since the 1830's,Girotti in Amelia has produced delicious stuffed figs. Celebrated by Garibaldi, the company is renowned for sponsoring the historic Mille Miglia car race in the 1930's.

We grow our own olives in Amelia and, through a collective of local producers, supply all the olive oil for our restaurant and shop.

Overseeing the local production of our hams, salamis and cured meats is our friend, Claudio Piccirilli. A farmer whose estate overlooks the Tiber Valley, and borders the towns of Amelia, Giove and Penna in Teverina, Claudio is a big man with a big heart approaching all his work with humility and a sense of honour.

Claudio's farmhouse kitchen at Piana delle Selve is the source of many of our preserves, the pigs reared on his farm provide us with cured meats and our house wine is made from his grapes.

If you ever visit Southern Umbria – and we can organise anything you might wish to do - Claudio offers great rooms and full board and will happily help with all your local needs.