Tuscan delights

[Seiben 0]

(OOC: This log takes place during shoreleave, and before the crew was recalled back to the Excalibur. Also made a good cover story for my shuttle naming mix-up B) Source used: http://www.epicurious.com/e_eating/e06_tuscany/wine.html)

 

The Tuscan sun now begins to rise over the Mediterranean, giving a display of beautiful colours of orange, red, and yellow over the water. Tar'Mok briefly pauses his morning meditation to look out the window at the rising sun. This was the first time he'd seen a sunrise since his time in Starfleet Academy, when he would meditate alone at dawn in his Academy quarters. After the sun rose, Tar'Mok continues his meditations for another hour before venturing off to the kitchen for breakfast. The Terran cooks had made a breakfast of eggs, sausages and bacon. A traditional Terran breakfast, he is told.

 

Tar'Mok delves into the meal, which he finds 'quite exceptional'. A maid fills Tar'Mok's glass with a black smoking liquid. The maid called this 'coffee'. She also sets down a bowl full of a white powdery substance called 'sugar', and a small pitcherof a white liquid called 'cream'. The maid instructs Tar'Mok to pour in the 'cream' and 'sugar' into the 'coffee' to make it stronger and taste better. Complying with the maid Tar'Mok does so. The liquid is very hot and almost burns Tar'Mok's tounge. He blows on the liquid, and consumes it. Instantly, Tar'Mok feels this sudden burst of energy. He now sees where humans get their enthusiastic energy.

 

After the meal, Tar'Mok's mother, T'Krit informs Tar'Mok and his wife that they will be leaving shortly. They will be visiting some local tuscan vineyards and sampling the locally made wines. T'Krit booked a wine tasting seminar where they would learn the proper way to consume wine. Tar'Mok didn't know there was a proper way to consume wine. Observing his fellow Excalibur crewmates in Ten Forward, they probably did not know how to drink wine properly as they simply drank the liquid down in one gulp. Tar'Mok would have to teach them the proper way the next time he sees them in Ten Forward.

 

The family leaves the house, and walks over to the hanger area containing the shuttles. Tar'Mok walks over to the Excalibur shuttle Eternal Vigilence, and takes out his bag containing a holo-camera, and removes it from the shuttle. Interestingly enough, on his way back to Earth, Tar'Mok received a sub-space transmission telling him that there was a mix up in the shuttle renting procedure. The Excalibur recently procured 20 shuttles including the Eternal Vigilence from the USS Arnold Schwartzenegger -- the United States' first foreign born President.

 

The 'Ahhnold' as it was known by the Fleet, was sent out to meet the Excalibur to deliver the new shuttles to them from the Utopia Planitia shipyards. However, the Excalibur Security crews hadn't yet registered the vessels in the Excalibur's shuttle inventory. Thusly having not yet re-named the shuttle into the Excalibur shuttle's traditional Native American tribe callsigns. "Sorry, Tar'Mok. You were supposed to get Shuttle 42, the Algonquin, but there was an error in processing" said the security officer who approved the request. At least that answered Tar'Mok's question of why the shuttle's seats were still wrapped in plastic.

 

Tar'Mok asked the man if he should return the shuttle, but the man said it was okay, and let him keep it. Shrugging, Tar'Mok walks over to his family loading their belongings into another shuttle. Tar'Mok placed his bag in the cargo hold, and sat in the back with his wife, whilst T'Krit and T'Val sat in the front. T'Krit piloted the shuttle out of its bay and headed out towards the town of Sienna, where the seminar took place. Traffic was light in the early summer morning. T'Krit lowered the top of the German made Mercedes land shuttle, and sped faster towards their destination. Tar'Mok was once again treated to the splendid green fields and open blue skies of the Tuscan countryside.

 

A half hour later, they reached Sienna. The historic town was crowded, and Tar'Mok looked around at the medieval castles and buildings surrpunding the landscape. The family walked towards the vineyard, where the seminar took place, while Tar'Mok took some pictures of the castles. There, they saw several other people of various races. They were seated behind a large table, covered in cloth. Tar'Mok sat next to his wife and a Bolian tourist. "This is going to be great! I always wanted to try Terran wine" said the Bolian. "Indeed" Tar'Mok says and nods.

 

Just then, a tall Terran man with an olive complexion, walked to the front of the table. "Welcome to Tuscany. I am your guide Antonio Giordano" he said. Some waiters came in and set up some wine glasses and plates on the table. They then placed various bottles of wine, cold cuts, fish, shellfish, crackers and cheese on the table as well. "First off," said Antonio, "we will try the Bianco di Pitigliano. A dry white wine, made in Southern Toscana. You'll find that it is a delicate wine. It is served best with fish"

 

They were served a small plate of salmon, and a little bit of the Bianco di Pitigliano. Tar'Mok was about th drink the wine, like the Excalibur crew would, when Antonio spoke up. "But first, we must examine the wine before we taste it. The first way is sight. Swirl your glass in the sunlight to see for clarity" Tar'Mok did so. "Next, smell the wine. Notice the strong grapy aroma" said Antonio. "What is the point of this?" said the Bolian. "Ahh, the piont is to not only stimulate your tastebuds, but your other senses as well. A good wine not only is good to the taste, but also stimulating for your sight and smell. Satisfied, the Bolian nods and smells the wine.

 

"Now we will taste" Antonio said. "Sip the wine, with some of the fish. You will notice that the wine really brings in the flavour of the salmon". Tar'Mok does so. Afterwards, the Bolian taps tar'Mok's shoulder. "Hey! This stuff isn't half bad, eh?" he asked. "No, Mr. Bolian. This 'stuff' isn't bad at all". Tar'Mok replied. When they finish the wine and fish, Antonio moves onto the next wine. Next up, was the Galestro, a summer white wine made from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes. This wine, Tar'Mok learns is served best chilled and accompanies fish, vegetable and pasta dishes. The Monte Carlo, another white wine followed. According to Antonio, it was considered one of Toscana's finest wines. This wine was served with fish in all courses. All the while, the Bolian exclaiming how delicious each wine is.

 

Antonio then moved onto the red wines. "Red Wine is said to be good for you. One should try to drink one glass a day" he said. "And I don't mean that synthehol garbage either. Anyways, now we will try Carmignano. An elegant red wine". Tar'Mok swirled the glass, and tried it with some ham and crackers. Which he found difficult to spear with his fork. "You Vulcans.. why don't you just pickit up and eat it" said the Bolian. Tar'Mok raised an eyebrow. "Vulcans do not touch their food" he said. The Bolian chuckled at him and shook his head.

 

Tar'Mok tried several other wines, until they were at the last one. "In my opinion, we have saved the best wine for last, the Brunello di Montalcino. It is made South of Siena with either the Brunello or Sangiovesse Grosso Grape. It's a full, harmonious red and one of Italy's finest wines. It is served best with meat, fowl, game and mixed grills" the class was given a plate of roasted duck to accompany the wine. They tried the wine alone, then with the duck. The Bolian judging by his emotions, really enjoyed it.

 

Afterwards, Antonio took the group to the giftshop where they could purchase some of the wines they tried, and more. Tar'Mok decided to purchase some bottles of the Brunello di Montalcino,Galestro and Bianco di Pitigliano white wine for himself and his crewmates. He places them in his bag. Tar'Mok and his family spend the rest of the day sightseeing in Siena, Florence, and other regions of Tuscany. Soon, the sun sets, and they depart home. Tar'Mok devides the wines he bought to give out to his friends, and Chief Xiang saving two bottles of each for himself. tar'Mok meditates for an hour before heading off to bed. Though this day's activities was rarely done by Vulcans, and felt it was an illogical use of time, Tar'Mok still enjoyed the day's activities, the wines, and the meals.

 

Tar'Mok though only here for a few days, is fond of Tuscany and wouldn't mind settling down here when he retires. it has it's own distinctive characteristics, and beauty. He will feel regret when he is forced to leave. But for now, Tar'Mok opens the window to allow the cool Tuscan wind breeze through the room. Young tr'Con, who spent the day with the house staff, stirred softly in his sleep. Tar'Mok touched the baby's head, then went to sleep, wondering what tommorow had in store.