What's it really like to be 8 years old and growing up outside the walled city of Lucca, Italy -- with a go-kart, a backyard full of chickens, and grandparents who make their own tomato sauce every summer? On this special episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol, Carol sits down with her great-nephew Oliviero -- Oli, as the family calls him -- for a conversation that has nothing to do with restaurants and everything to do with what makes a childhood in Tuscany so special. Oli walks Carol through a day in his world -- go-kart racing (red, obviously), taking care of his chickens, the treehouse he plays in with his brothers Leonardo and Ludo, and Nonna's homemade tomato sauce that gets them through the winter. He explains the history of Lucca's walled city like a local tour guide, shares what he loves most about visiting Popsy and Nonna in New Hampshire, and answers a full round of rapid-fire questions -- pizza or pasta, racetrack or playground, gelato or cake. This one is pure family, pure fun, and a reminder of what "beyond the plate" really means -- the people, the traditions, and the everyday moments that make a place home. 🌍 Lucca, Tuscany, Italy -- just outside the historic walled city This episode is sponsored by Belmont Hall & Restaurant. Manchester, NH -- family-owned for over 90 years. belmonthall.net | Instagram: @belmonthallandcatering | Facebook: @belmonthallandcatering 🔔 New episodes drop every Tuesday -- hit SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications so you never miss one! Find Beyond the Plate everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH Carol Erickson ran the Red Arrow Diner for nearly 40 years before turning her attention to Beyond the Plate with Carol, a New Hampshire-based podcast covering food, restaurants, and hospitality all across New England. Every episode, Carol sits down with the chefs, entrepreneurs, content creators, and everyday people with an interesting story to tell -- and once in a while, that means bringing family into the studio too. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond.
