gastronoMINIs brings together two of my passions: dollhouse miniatures and food. This obsession started when I was 10 years old, on a trip to Arizona with my family. We visited a dollhouse miniatures store, and I was absolutely captivated. When we returned home, my dad built me a sweet shop, which I decorated on and off throughout my early teen years. In my late 20s, I had the sweet shop moved to my San Francisco apartment, and I became obsessed with miniatures once again, albeit only briefly. Life took over, and my dollhouse hobby fell by the wayside.
Around this time, one of my other passions, traveling to Italy, became my primary focus. I found a way to combine this with my love of cooking and my love of photography. The next decade was consumed with publishing my cookbook Flavors of Friuli: A Culinary Journey through Northeastern Italy, as well as raising my son. When disability struck in my early 40s, I eventually turned to miniatures once again.
This site will focus on my current project: a set of seven shops, all with a gastronomic theme. Some are models of actual shops or restaurants that have been significant in my life, recreated with varying degrees of authenticity. One shop in particular is entirely original, merely inspired by various places I’ve visited. All are being constructed using the “Street of Shops” kits by Houseworks. I am therefore rather limited by the shops’ designs. Nevertheless, I am attempting to preserve as many elements as I can of the original locations, while at the same time taking a few liberties in the name of creativity. These are my seven projects:
Pasticceria Penso: This was my favorite bakery in Trieste. In 2005, I spent three weeks living across the street and spending most of my days in the bakery’s kitchen, watching my friends Antonello and Lorenzo prepare Triestine pastries. I was heartbroken to learn that the bakery was forced to close in 2021, after 103 years of business, due to rising costs and the Covid pandemic.
Osteria Al Vecchio Stallo: While doing research for my cookbook, I spent a great deal of time in Udine, using the city as a home base from which to explore Friuli. I ended up eating at this restaurant more than any other, so much so that it began to feel like home.
Gelateria Bocelli: There was once a gelateria by this name in Castiglioncello, a seaside town in Tuscany. When I participated twice in the dance festival Pro Danza Italia, and years later visited the town as a travel writer, I spent much of my free time hanging out at this gelateria, chatting with the owner, Rossano, who happened to be a second cousin of the famous singer Andrea Bocelli.
Cantine del Vino già Schiavi: Also known by the name Al Bottegon, this was my favorite cicchetti bar in Venezia. Even when I was only in the city for a day, I always made a point to stop by for a glass of Prosecco and some crostini with baccalà.
Gastronomia Furlan: This store is entirely fictional, inspired by food shops I’ve visited throughout Italy, especially those in Friuli. It’s sort of a combination gastronomia, rosticceria, panificio, salumeria, alimentari, and produce market. I chose the name “Furlan,” because it is the name of the native language spoken in this region.
Warakubune: This used to be my favorite sushi restaurant in San Francisco. It was located just around the corner from my old apartment, and when my husband and I were dating, we ate there nearly every Friday evening.
Ton Kiang: Located in the Richmond district of San Francisco, this was once my favorite Chinese restaurant. Even when I lived across town, I’d often take the bus here just for their dim sum. And once I’d moved to this neighborhood, it became one of my family’s favorite places for takeout. (Their walnut prawns were the best!) Sadly, they closed in 2020, after 42 years of business.
In addition to these shops, I’ll be posting about various other projects that I’ve been inspired to create, such as polymer clay jewelry and Christmas ornaments.
– Elisabeth