122 Corson Spring 2026 After 17 days in Sicily, Italy, we are ready to get back into the groove and we’re looking forward to starting our 11th season at 122 Corson. We can honestly say, that Sicily is a place to experience; from the friendly people, very good food and wine, to the dramatic and beautiful landscapes, we highly recommend Sicily as a place to visit. A few of the highlights: Without question, the backdrop to all eastern locations was Mt. Etna. At 11,000 feet, it changes daily due to growth or discharge, and its snow-capped peak is often shrouded in steam and cloud. It is a magnificent active volcano. We lost our hearts to the uphill town of Taormina where we spent the first 6 days. Taormina has stunning views of the Ionian Sea and Etna, Roman and Greek ruins, historic buildings with impressive architecture, and a pace of life that makes one slow down. The switch-back roads are rather terrifying, but the drivers seemed to take the slower pace in stride, and they were noticeably courteous drivers. We settled in to our daily routine of coffee around 10 a.m. while Mary painted or drew a daily sketch of something of interest, while Bob took a stroll or relaxed in the sun. We walked miles daily as our apartment was at an altitude that was either a steep walk up or an easy walk down. Of interest, Taormina was frequently visited by notable literary figures such as Oscar Wilde, Hemingway, and D.H. Lawrence. Lawrence lived and wrote for 2 years in Taormina, and unexpectedly for us, resided in a house across the road from our lodging! Not to bore you with our travels, but the highlights beyond Taormina were the Greek temples in Agrigento, a short excursion over to Malta, and the Good Friday processions in Palermo. There were many very good meals, one which was located on a family farm where all the food and wine was produced by family members, and two really good wine tastings from a very professional tasting location south of Etna at the Gambino Winery, and another in downtown Palermo. But the best part about traveling, is knowing that home awaits, and as we always say at the end of a trip, “Let’s go home!”. Traveling makes us appreciate where we live and the fact that 122 Corson is located in a quiet, beautiful setting far away from the maddening crowds. As we move into the culinary season, Chef Kat has created menus that celebrate Spring and Bob has been selecting wines that will pair very nicely with the food. And no doubt, Nathan will be imagining cocktails that will pair nicely with the atmosphere of the evening. Mother’s Day dinner is full, but there are open tables for the 3 remaining Saturdays. June menus are in the works and they will be posted shortly. Bob is particularly thrilled that his bees made it through the winter and are looking strong. They are bringing in pollen right now and we know that the nectar will be following as the flowers get into high gear. The garlic is about 6” above ground, the fruit trees and herbs wintered well and the vegetable starters are beginning to germinate in their controlled flats. We’ve been repairing fencing in the apple orchard while the ground is soft, and Joe Dembeck, our orchardist, pruned the trees a few weeks ago. As you can tell, we hit the ground running after our return, and we’re excited for the new season. We’re looking forward to welcoming you back to 122 and hearing all your stories, and isn’t that what makes life grand, sharing our stories with our friends over a meal? Mary & Bob |
