Dad and John came into the kitchen. “Well, that’s everybody!” John said. “I think I’d better go to bed before I decide to just sleep here on the kitchen floor.”
Ann nodded. “I agree. Let’s leave the rest of the cleanup for the morning.”
Just then, Alfie realized how tired he was. He sleepily followed his family upstairs and collapsed onto his bed. He had just enough energy to take his shoes off before he fell fast asleep.
The next morning, the two families gathered in the dining room for breakfast and to recap the evening.
“I still can’t believe what an amazing turnout we had,” Ann said. “I saw people I haven’t seen in years!”
“It really was something,” John agreed. “We had some friends and family come all the way from New York and Washington, DC, to support us. And on such short notice!”
“How wonderful!” said Zia. “I met so many interesting people.”
“And it was nice to meet your Italian friends, too, Zia,” Alfie said.
“Yes!” Mom jumped in. “I loved talking with them about Naples.”
“I still wish the woman from the historical society had given us an answer,” Emilia said.
“It’s funny that you mention that,” John said slyly, sipping his coffee. “She already called this morning and said she’d be sending over a draft of the paperwork. She told me that the overwhelming support from the community made it clear that we’ll get our landmark status without any sort of problem.”
Both families erupted in celebration.
“That’s wonderful!” Zia exclaimed.
“Bravissimo!” Dad joined in.
Ann and Emma got up from their seats to hug John. He squeezed them tight. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“But we couldn’t have done it without your brilliant idea, Emilia,” John added. “And your idea, Alfie.”
Emilia and Alfie smiled, turning bright red.
“We had several extra donations from some pretty major families and businesses in our neighborhood,” Ann added. “We far exceeded our fund-raising goal. And we’ve come up with a few more fund-raising ideas. They will be smaller events—nothing as involved as last night, but I think we can get the funds we need to make this hotel as great as it used to be!”
“I’m so excited!” Emma said. “I can’t wait to see it once the renovations are done. And then we can work on making the restaurant menu even better, too. I already have tons of new ideas!”
“You’re a very talented chef,” Zia told Emma. “I have no doubt your new menu is going to be really exciting.”
“Maybe we can send it to you for your tips and suggestions?” Emma asked.
Zia beamed. “I would love that!”
“And not only that, but the newspaper article about Ray Stevens has sparked a citywide investigation into his business dealings,” John said. “Thanks to Alfie’s quick thinking, a few other old buildings just might be saved, too!”
Mom squeezed Alfie into a hug. He grinned.
“We really couldn’t have done any of this without you,” Ann told the Bertolizzis. “Your support has been incredible. How can we ever repay you?”
“Well, I, for one, would love to come back after the renovations are complete, so how about saving us a couple of rooms?” Dad said.
“Absolutely!” John agreed. “You’re welcome anytime. It’ll be our treat. Perhaps we’ll have another party once everything is complete.”
“Oh, can we?” Emma asked.
“I think that’s a great idea,” Ann said.
Alfie sat back and took in the smiling faces of his family and their new friends. It felt great to help Emma and her parents with something so important. And who knows? Maybe he’d add detective to his list of possible careers!
Later that day, Mom and Dad called Alfie and Emilia into their room.
“We thought we’d have a special birthday dinner for Alfie tonight,” Mom said.
“Even though your birthday will still be a couple of days away when we get home, more than a few days have passed here, so we think a celebration is in order!” Dad added.
“Awesome!” Alfie said. He certainly wasn’t going to argue with celebrating his birthday twice. And he remembered that they did the same for Emilia when they were in Rio. He was excited to have his turn.
“Where are we going?” Emilia asked.
“We’re going to my friends’ Italian restaurant in South Philly!” Zia said. “And we thought it would be fun if Emma and her parents joined us.”
“Yes!” Alfie cheered. Even though they had traveled to so many places and experienced so many different foods, Italian food would always be his favorite. And he couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than with their new friends.
When they reached the restaurant, Zia’s friends greeted them. A special large table had been set up in the back just for them. There was some confetti sprinkled on the table and a big balloon tied to the back of each chair. “Wow!” Alfie said, taking the seat at the head of the table.
“Happy birthday, Alfie,” Emma said, placing a card and a wrapped gift on the table in front of him.
“Thanks, Emma,” Alfie replied. “You didn’t have to get me a gift!”
“It’s just something small from a store in the neighborhood,” she said, her cheeks flushing pink.
Alfie read the card and unwrapped the present. It was a music book of songs that featured drum solos. “How cool!”
“They’re all songs that are supposed to be good for drummers,” Emma told him.
“That’s awesome. Thanks, Emma!”
Before long, big plates of pasta, sautéed vegetables, and baskets of bread arrived at the table. Alfie dug in happily.
“Alfie, you still haven’t told us what you want for your birthday,” Mom said. “Your party is coming up fast when we get home!”
“We’ve been so busy and we’re having so much fun here that I guess I really haven’t thought about any other gifts,” Alfie replied. “I just wish Zia didn’t have to go.”
Zia smiled and patted Alfie’s hand.
“But I know you’re ready for some new adventures of your own,” Alfie said. “So it’s okay.”
“Thank you, ragazzo,” Zia replied. “And I promise to visit again soon.”
Dad pushed back from the table and patted his belly. “I’m going to need to work overtime at the gym after this vacation.”
Everybody laughed.
“We have had so much good food while we’ve been here,” Mom agreed, just as a tiramisu cake with lit candles arrived at the table.
The entire restaurant sang “Happy Birthday” to Alfie as he blew out his candles and made a wish.
“We should probably head back to the hotel,” John said once everyone had finished their slices of tiramisu.
“Yes, we should,” Ann added. “We’ve got a lot of work to do! I have a feeling we’ll be taking new reservations in no time.”
“I’m just so glad everything worked out!” Mom said. “Well, we won’t keep you. Thanks again for joining us for dinner.”
“Happy birthday!” Emma exclaimed.
“Thank you!” Alfie replied, brushing cocoa powder from his shirt.
“I could use a stroll around the neighborhood,” Zia said. “I think I’m too full to go back to the hotel just yet.”
“Yes! Let’s walk around!” Emilia agreed.
The Bertolizzis thanked Zia’s friends for the wonderful dinner and then wandered through the neighborhood, enjoying the light evening breeze. They walked down quiet side streets with small community gardens. People were walking their dogs and enjoying the night.
“Look, that bakery is still open,” Dad said, pointing across the street. “Let’s stop in.”
“Mauricio.” Mom gave him a stern look. “We’ve j
ust eaten enough for a small army.”
“There’s always room for a little extra, right, kids?” Dad said with a wink.
“I couldn’t agree more,” Alfie said. “Besides, it’s my pretend birthday!”
Zia and Mom laughed.
“It does look like a classic Italian bakery,” Zia said.
“Oh, all right,” Mom conceded.
They crossed the street and stepped into the small brightly lit bakery. Alfie took a deep breath, filling his nose with the smell of fresh sweet pastries. “What are you going to have?” he asked Emilia.
“There are so many choices!” she replied, scanning the case. “They even have pizzelles!”
“Those are beautiful,” Mom said, leaning in close. “But look at the cannoli.”
“That’s what I want!” Alfie replied instantly, eyeing one with chocolate chips in the filling.
“Me too,” Emilia said.
“That does look delicious . . . ,” Zia agreed.
“Let’s just share a couple,” Mom suggested.
“Three cannoli with chocolate chips, please,” Dad told the baker.
He put the cannoli in a pink box tied with white string and handed it across the counter with some napkins. The family went back outside to a table under the bakery sign to enjoy their Italian treat. Mom cut each one in half with a plastic knife.
Alfie took a bite of his half and let the thick cream settle on his tongue for a minute before crunching into one of the mini chocolate chips.
“I can’t remember the last time I had one of these!” Mom said between bites.
“Maybe around Christmas last year?” Dad asked. “That night we had the neighbors over for dinner?”
“I think you’re right!” Mom said.
“They brought those store-bought cannoli that were not very good, and we had to pretend to like them!” Alfie interjected.
Zia laughed.
Soon, Dad joined in. “They were pretty bad. Not like these!”
Just as Alfie took another bite of his dessert, he felt the air shift around him and his stomach whooshed forward. It was time to go home!
It had been two days since the family returned from their Philadelphia adventure. Mom and Dad could not stop talking about all the fun they’d had. Neither could Alfie, Emilia, and Zia. It really had been an amazing trip.
Now Alfie stood at the picnic table in the backyard, surrounded by his friends from school and his soccer team. The table was piled high with gifts, food, and a big chocolate birthday cake.
He had one wrapped present left on the table. It was from Emilia and Zia. He tore open the paper and hefted out a huge, beautiful atlas. He loved it! He wanted to sit down and thumb through the thick pages right then and there, but he knew he’d better wait until later so his friends wouldn't get bored.
“Wow!” Alfie said. “Thanks so much! This is perfect.”
“You’re welcome,” Emilia said, smiling.
“Use it wisely,” Zia said with a wink.
“There’s one more present,” Mom announced. “But it’s too big to move, so you’ll have to find it in the garage.”
Alfie grinned and ran inside the garage. His friends followed. There stood a brand-new drum kit with two new drumsticks wrapped in big red bows. “Cool!”
“That’s awesome,” Alfie’s friend Daniel said.
“Yeah, that’s a really good drum set,” Charlie agreed, looking impressed.
“Thanks, Mom and Dad.” Alfie smiled from ear to ear. “I love it!”
“Happy birthday, son,” Dad said.
After they’d had their fill of birthday cake and snacks, Alfie and his friends played the new video game he’d gotten from Jackson. The afternoon flew by, and soon it was time for the parents to start arriving. Alfie stood by the front door and thanked all of his friends for coming. When the last friend had gone, he went into the kitchen to find Mom, Dad, and Zia cleaning up. Emilia was busy bringing in the rest of the gifts from the backyard.
“Thank you for everything,” Alfie told them. “I had a great party!”
“I’m so glad,” Mom said.
“I feel like our trip to Philadelphia was enough of a present, but then I got a party and all these great gifts, too!”
“Well, there’s still one last thing,” Dad said.
“What?” Alfie asked. He couldn’t believe there was more.
Dad exchanged a look with Mom and Zia. “We’ve been talking, and we’ve decided to start planning a big family vacation for later this summer.”
“Really?” Emilia asked.
“Going to Philadelphia and spending time with you kids in a new city was really eye-opening for us,” Mom said. “We loved having that time together to relax as a family. It was so great to see you and your sister in a new city. You’re so independent!”
“It also made us realize what the three of you have been saying all along about us working too much,” Dad added. “It’s time to slow things down at the office.”
“And start being more present at home,” Mom continued. “We’ve already started brainstorming where we should go.”
“Where have you been thinking?” Emilia asked excitedly.
“We’re not quite sure yet,” Dad said.
“But wherever it is, it’s going to be somewhere that you can meet up with me out on my travels,” Zia said.
“No way!” Alfie shouted. “That will be so much fun!”
“Will it be Naples?” Emilia asked. “We could see Enzo and Marco!”
“Yeah,” Alfie said. “Or we could go back to the cooking school in Paris. I bet Monsieur DuBois would love to see us again!”
Emilia laughed.
“I think we should meet somewhere none of us have ever been,” Zia said. “How’s that for an adventure?”
Alfie looked at Mom and Dad, expecting them to seem unsure.
“I love that idea!” Mom said.
“I think we’re up for the challenge,” Dad agreed.
Alfie was surprised. Their trip to Philadelphia really had changed Mom and Dad. “This is the best birthday present I can think of!”
They all crowded together in a big group hug.
The next morning, the family was up bright and early to see Zia off on her travels. Dad hauled her two big suitcases out to the taxi.
“Are you sure you have everything?” Mom asked, her eyes misting over.
“Yes, Arianna. I’ll be fine.” Zia laughed. “I’ve done this hundreds of times, you know?”
“I know, I know,” Mom said, giving Zia another hug.
“Your bags are in the car, Donatella,” Dad said before squeezing Zia into a big hug himself.
Zia turned to Alfie and Emilia. Alfie felt a lump forming in his throat.
“I want you two to keep having adventures,” Zia said. “Even if that means discovering new places right here in your hometown.”
“Okay, Zia,” Emilia said. “We will.”
“And keep reading about and researching new places,” Zia continued. “You never know where you might end up next!”
Alfie nodded. “At least we know we’ll be seeing you in a couple of months.”
“Yes, you will! I’ll keep in close touch so we can decide soon where our meeting spot will be.”
Zia smoothed down Emilia’s hair. Emilia lunged forward and wrapped her in a tight squeeze. Then Zia kissed Alfie on the forehead before he did the same.
“See you soon, mia famiglia,” Zia said, turning toward the door.
“Bye, Zia!” Emilia called.
“Arrivederci!” Alfie added.
They stood in the doorway and watched Zia get into the cab. The cab backed out of the driveway, and Zia waved before disappearing down the street.
Alfie smiled. School would be ending soon, and be
fore long, they’d be off on their family vacation. He couldn’t wait to decide where they’d go. Alfie knew their next adventure might not be made from magic, but it would still be magical to them—all thanks to Zia.
A Note from Giada
After so many delicious adventures around the world—from Naples to New Orleans to Hong Kong—I knew that choosing the next great food destination for Recipe for Adventure would be tough. That’s why I launched a nationwide contest with Penguin to give readers the chance to bring Alfie and Emilia to their favorite city! And after I pored over incredible submissions and sampled recipes from around the country, one fan and her hometown dish truly stood out. I was thrilled to send the Bertolizzis to the birthplace of America—Philadelphia!—to meet our winner, Emma, and sample her delicious Italian pizzelles! I hope you’ll try her recipe for yourself and taste a bite of South Philly.
I recently visited Philly with Jade while I was on a book tour, and I was reminded of how much I love the city. From the abundance of history and iconic sights to the fantastic food around every corner, you can’t go wrong with a visit. The city is a melting pot for some of the best cuisine . . . and that includes Italian! Thanks to awesome local farmers who create a fresh farm-to-table food scene, you can definitely get a taste of Italy in Philadelphia. And let’s not forget to mention the Philly cheesesteaks! Besides the food, there was enough culture, theater, and museums in Philadelphia to keep me and Jade exploring for days. May the Liberty Bell keep ringing until we’re back!
Zia’s Steak Sandwiches
INGREDIENTS
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon yellow mustard seeds, cracked
3 (12- to 14-ounce) rib-eye steaks
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
½ cup sour cream
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 baguette (about 2 feet long)
2 cups lightly packed arugula
Philadelphia! Page 7