Our rustica: A home for sharing and experiences
A life away from chaos
They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Even before hearing Ruth and Andrea's story, it's easy to understand why it's so fascinating: whether it's the magnificent Prosecco hills, the energizing and breathtaking nature they live in, or their calm and friendly nature, form and content seem to go hand in hand in their life projects.
Our Rustica is a home that is always ready to welcome people from all over the world. But it is also a cooking school, a wonderful opportunity for those who want to have a unique and rewarding experience.
It's been nine years since Ruth, a fashion designer, and Andrea, an Italian chef, decided to make San Lorenzo, a small village in Vittorio Veneto, their love nest, in an area of woods, meadows and vineyards.
“ This house and this area chose us.”
Their project is an ever-evolving one, having gone from being a young couple's hideaway to a B&B and cooking school: after spending four years renovating the place, almost alone, by studying and watching tutorials, Ruth and Andrea, who have since become parents to Jasmine, felt it was a place worth sharing.
Sharing has been a driving force from day one, from the first brick laid and the first seed planted in the house’s garden. Our Rustica was born as a result of the joint efforts of people from all over the world who used the Workaway platform to offer their skills in exchange for food and lodging: by sharing their skills, feelings and experiences, Ruth and Andrea’s idea began to take shape, starting from scratch. Some guests have also regained their inner balance or rediscovered values they feared they had lost: for example, Philip, an English landscape painter who cycled around the world, originally scheduled to stay for a week, but instead stayed for three months, helping to build woodsheds while rediscovering the value of friendship and love.
“Our guests often feel like they are part of our family; they help us in the kitchen, clear the table, and wash the dishes with us.”
Forming special bonds with people is what this family and Our Rustica are all about. It is essential to know the guests and their habits well enough to anticipate their wishes and capture the nuances of their personality: being able to understand from an email what people from the US, China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland or Brazil need and expect when they come and take part in a cooking class, and being ready to welcome them – this is one of Ruth and Andrea’s talents, which proves that their sensitivity is expressed in everything they do.
“Some come to find inner peace, some need to be surrounded by beauty, and others want to fully immerse themselves in local cooking.”
Their guests are always eager to return, as if they were returning home after a long journey. With her cooking classes, Andrea, a patient teacher and keen listener, assists participants in discovering the local area, introducing them to local producers and their products, and sharing food preparations, ideas, and daily activities with them. With her sense of style and infectious energy, Ruth creates the perfect atmosphere for an intimate, relaxed, and informal experience, sharing every day the cozy love nest where it all began.
