Eatalia!

Just wanted to share some pics of the food Im eating while in Italy:

My buffet breakfast plate at my hotel in Rome that I eat every morning- no silly British bacon here- this is Italian Pancetta cooked American style with scrambled eggs.



Margherita pizza and a liter of red wine in Rome:





Quite possibly one of the best desserts Ive ever eaten in my life. Gelatos in Rome are to die for but this beats anything sweet Ive eaten in the country by a mile!



Now that I left the gun, its time to eat the cannoli!

PoS said:

Just wanted to share some pics of the food Im eating while in Italy:

My buffet breakfast plate at my hotel in Rome that I eat every morning- no silly British bacon here- this is Italian Pancetta cooked American style with scrambled eggs.

Margherita pizza and a liter of red wine in Rome:

Quite possibly one of the best desserts Ive ever eaten in my life. Gelatos in Rome are to die for but this beats anything sweet Ive eaten in the country by a mile!

Now that I left the gun, its time to eat the cannoli!

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I certainly think Italian in Italy rivals French at its best.

Abbodanza eh Pos.

Heya Pos have ya tried the Braciole yet.....my Aunt use to make an awesome Sicilian Braciole. Steak Braciole too.

Checking url.....Nope, not instagram, what's going on here?












:mrgreen:

MMC said:

Abbodanza eh Pos.

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LOL I have to be careful, James Gandolfini died in this very city (RIP JG, we miss you). Ive been eating out every day after breakfast but it seems Im not gaining weight since Im pretty much walking 10 hours daily.

MMC said:

Heya Pos have ya tried the Braciole yet.....my Aunt use to make an awesome Sicilian Braciole. Steak Braciole too.

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Hmm, I havent really noticed that dish in any of the menus. Is it Roman?

azgreg said:

Checking url.....Nope, not instagram, what's going on here?












:mrgreen:

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LOL are you implying that those arent my pics? O ye of little faith. :2razz:

PoS said:

LOL I have to be careful, James Gandolfini died in this very city (RIP JG, we miss you). Ive been eating out every day after breakfast but it seems Im not gaining weight since Im pretty much walking 10 hours daily.



Hmm, I havent really noticed that dish in any of the menus. Is it Roman?



LOL are you implying that those arent my pics? O ye of little faith. :2razz:

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Nah not really Roman. Although, I am sure they have their own version. Originally Nabladon, naturally we Sicilians spiced it up some.

joG said:

I certainly think Italian in Italy rivals French at its best.

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You know Ive been here for a week now and I have yet to eat a single bad meal in Italy, its just that good.

MMC said:

Nah not really Roman. Although, I am sure they have their own version. Originally Nabladon, naturally we Sicilians spiced it up some. :wink:

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Ah, OK. I think its the tomato sauce that threw me off- most of the chefs in Rome prefer to broil their meats in just a little olive oil and herbs. Ive eaten something similar called saltimboca which I will post pics of later. :mrgreen:

PoS said:

You know Ive been here for a week now and I have yet to eat a single bad meal in Italy, its just that good.


Ah, OK. I think its the tomato sauce that threw me off- most of the chefs in Rome prefer to broil their meats in just a little olive oil and herbs. Ive eaten something similar called saltimboca which I will post pics of later. :mrgreen:

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Saltimbocca is one of my favorites and something I make at home with some regularity though I'll usually make it with chicken instead of veal because it's harder to find decent veal around here.

Rome:


4 cheese risotto.


2nd course. Grilled lamb in olive oil with potatoes.


Burp.

Restaurants always serve a basket of crusty Italian bread with every pasta or meat/fish plate. However I didnt even touch it nor did I order dessert since I was so full.

Ive been to Naples about 3 times now and I just cannot like the city. Beyond the facade of the waterfront the place is just a dump- unlike Rome where there are wonderful restaurants or hidden gems behind every street corner over in Naples there seems to be hoodlums hanging around and abandoned/closed storefronts everywhere. Granted I havent been to much of the city but it just doesnt feel like a nice place to stay, unlike Rome.





One exception is a little kebab place just outside of the Napoli central train terminal: its more of a kiosk than an actual restaurant but they serve quite simply one of the greatest sandwiches Ive ever eaten- its a kebab sandwich that you can have on an Italian roll or pita bread- I prefer the roll and it is heaven: slices of mouthwatering beef slow roasted along with lettuce, tomatoes and onions plus yogurt and hot sauce. The two times I went to the train station there I had to eat it. Really cheap at around 3 Euros for a footlong sandwich too. Its called Aladdin Kebab- if youre in Naples youve gotta go and order that sandwich, believe me you will love it! :mrgreen:

Another night in Rome and more food:



First course is pizza. They just put the toppings on after it was baked in the oven. Still delish.



Second course is mussels cooked in its own juices with white wine and olive oil. Could barely move after eating all of that.

Im in Bologna right now and today I went on a foodie tour in the Emilia Campagna region. I visited three major sites.

The first was the Parmagiano Reggiano facvtory, where they make the best Parmagiano cheeses in the world. This isnt the Kraft Parmesan cheese that you find in supermarkets, this is the real thing!



I was told by the tour operator the day before not to eat any breakfast and she was right. As soon as the tour was over they treated us to some very fine cheese tasting as well as wine and salami sandwiches to go with it.

The second leg of the tour was the Balsamic vinegar tour, it is unlike anything you buy at groceries either. They dont use vinegar at all, just fermented grapes and let it ferment for years. The real balsamic is sweet and pungent and has no vinegary aftertaste. I bought a bottle...

And then we went to the Parma ham factory. Needless to say we got a free tasting for the 25 different varieties of Italian hams they were making- as much as we could stuff ourselves with.



And then finally we went to an organic farm and had a multicourse pasta and meats feast. I had seconds and even thirds and I practically stumbled back into my hotel mid afternoon just to sleep it all off- I drank like almost two bottles of wine too.

These pics arent that good because I was already drunk and stuffed when I took 'em:

Though Ive left Rome I'll post pics of my best dinner there!

Complimentary bruschetta with tomatoes, parsley and olive oil.



Then a pasta dish with zucchini and salmon, very pungent and good:



And finally the best- steak tartare (raw meat with egg and spices) with fries.



I was so full I didnt get dessert. :mrgreen:

PoS said:

Now that I left the gun, its time to eat the cannoli!

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I once asked this Italian guy from New York what a cannoli was. Holy moly I think I actually offended the guy. :lol: In my defense there are not too many places that sell cannoli's around here.

americanwoman said:

I once asked this Italian guy from New York what a cannoli was. Holy moly I think I actually offended the guy. :lol: In my defense there are not too many places that sell cannoli's around here.

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Same here actually, I didnt know what a cannoli was myself until I was around 12 after I tried it for the first time but its hard to find the real thing, there's plenty of imitations or substitutes (Ive been to some places where they used whipped cream instead of real ricotta fillings or just use a puff pastry instead of a real cannoli). And the sad part is that a number of pastry shops here in Italy also do the cheap version.

Sadly I havent seen a pastry shop that had authentic Sicilian cannolis since that first one I stumbled into.

This was a pic from my last night in Rome, bought a cannoli from that place at the last minute just as they were closing. All they had left was the chocolate version but I didnt mind. Ate it in my hotel room. :mrgreen:

americanwoman said:

I once asked this Italian guy from New York what a cannoli was. Holy moly I think I actually offended the guy. :lol: In my defense there are not too many places that sell cannoli's around here.

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<<<<< snaps fingers in drab-nab-it sort of way. Damn it, now where was I and why couldn't I answer that question.

Fricken Cousin Karma I'll bet.

OK, a quick summary of food specialties in Italy that you need to try: Rome is known for its pasta, Naples for its pizza, Bologna for its Prosciutto and Parmagiano-Romano cheeses and balsamics and tortellini.

The city of Florence, on the other hand, is known for Bistecca. Thats Italian for steak!



Over 700 grams or about 27 ounces of pure beefy goodness! Yummy! Tuscan beans is the traditional side dish but I went for thick cut steak fries and spinach with garlic and olive oil.

PROTIP: when you order this any Florentine restaurant worth its salt will not even ask you how you want it done. If you dont like your steak bloody then dont order it! I actually went to Florence twice just to eat this all over again for two consecutive days! :chew:

More food in Bologna:


Tortellini filled with ricotta and spinach and the sauce is tomato with speck (Italian pork) and basil.


As if that wasnt enough: cotoletto (veal cutlet) with ham, buffalo mozzarella and cheese sauce- yes I accidentally ordered two similar dishes but I ate it all anyway lol.

The food looks terrific! Tell me, is it expensive? What were you paying for a 3-course dinner, excluding wine?

Andalublue said:

The food looks terrific! Tell me, is it expensive? What were you paying for a 3-course dinner, excluding wine?

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I just usually order a two course dinner which is pasta and then meat/fish- I just dont have enough of a stomach for a third course- seafood costs about 30-50% more. I would say if you eat it in Rome its about 30-40 Euros (say about 12-15 for the primi pasta course then about another 15-20 for the secondi) minus the wine and in other regions around 20-25. My wine is usually the house wine which is cheap say between 4-8 per half liter. Also I try to eat where the locals eat so I always ask around- the hotel staff is usually pretty knowledgeable about where to go- again, Rome is a big exception on this because pretty much every place is geared towards tourists- same as with Venice.

Obviously the most expensive lunch I had was in Florence because of the bistecca- that was around 60 Euros for the steak and everything but the dessert- and that was the most expensive meal Ive had.

My eating has not only improved in quality but has gotten cheaper now that Im in Bologna. Found a real good local place that serves around 7 Euros for a pasta dish and 8-10 for the secondi so its well below 20 euros without even the wine. :mrgreen:

PoS said:

I just usually order a two course dinner which is pasta and then meat/fish- I just dont have enough of a stomach for a third course- seafood costs about 30-50% more. I would say if you eat it in Rome its about 30-40 Euros (say about 12-15 for the primi pasta course then about another 15-20 for the secondi) minus the wine and in other regions around 20-25. My wine is usually the house wine which is cheap say between 4-8 per half liter. Also I try to eat where the locals eat so I always ask around- the hotel staff is usually pretty knowledgeable about where to go- again, Rome is a big exception on this because pretty much every place is geared towards tourists- same as with Venice.

Obviously the most expensive lunch I had was in Florence because of the bistecca- that was around 60 Euros for the steak and everything but the dessert- and that was the most expensive meal Ive had.

My eating has not only improved in quality but has gotten cheaper now that Im in Bologna. Found a real good local place that serves around 7 Euros for a pasta dish and 8-10 for the secondi so its well below 20 euros without even the wine. :mrgreen:

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Hmm, not quite as expensive as I expected, althoug 60€ for a bistecca seems ludicrous. There's now direct flights Malaga to Bologna, I've heard great things about the city and its food. I might have to make a return to Italy that I vowed I'd never do.

Andalublue said:

Hmm, not quite as expensive as I expected, althoug 60€ for a bistecca seems ludicrous. There's now direct flights Malaga to Bologna, I've heard great things about the city and its food. I might have to make a return to Italy that I vowed I'd never do.

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Well in regards to the bistecca it was about 5.8 Euros per 100 grams and I had about 700 grams and then the glass of good red merlot plus the side dishes cost about 7 euros each so the steak itself was around 45 euros.

Now if youre going to Bologna youve gotta take the foodie tour. Alessandro's tour is rated tops in tripadvisor and he's a character- it costs about 150 Euros per person but its worth it since you get unlimited sampling of the parma hams, parmesano-romagno cheeses and the multi course meal at lunch with wine. If youre into food you will be done around 3pm but you will be a zombie and need to sleep it off at the hotel till the next day.

Food experiences Bologna | Italian Days

PROTIP: skip breakfast before you take the tour- that will give your stomach more space.

Now onto the the best restaurant Ive been in the Bologna region. This is a family restaurant and you will need reservations before you can go in, its almost impossible to get a table without a reservation. They are rated as one of the best restaurants in the region, they dont have a menu because everything is seasonal and its all about traditional Bolognese cuisine.



Very good spaghetti dish made with local olives and tomatoes.





This one is a traditional Bolognese fare: fried bread with assorted hams and salami and very tangy cheeses- a great way to spend the evening just munching away and sipping wine.

I got to know the family that runs the place and they charged me no more than 25 Euros for a multi-course meal with unlimited house wine- of course this was ridiculous so I always insisted on paying more. If youre in the area do not miss this one!

Osteria Tato e Vino, Bologna - Borgo Panigale - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - TripAdvisor

Wrapping up Bologna.



Eating as much tortellini as I can since this is their specialty. This one is made with cheese sauce.



Sausage with fries and grilled veggies. Simple yet delicious!

Now that I am in (Im too sexy for) Milan, Ive finally ordered their ossu buco- its very different from the Roman version- this one doesnt have tomatoes and they serve it with a very pungent risotto made with saffron.



And another unexpected surprise: near my hotel was an Ethiopian restaurant run by a kindly old man and his wife- had my first taste of Ethiopian food ever!



You dont use utensils, what you do is take a piece of the spongy Ethiopian bread and use it as a shovel to grab the meat and veggies and eat it like a Peking duck roll. Brand new experience for me and it was delicious.

Also, I have been to Italy for around 4 weeks now and now I think Im getting sick. My body isnt used to eating so much rich food with all the wine, cheese and meats that now Im feeling pretty weak and nauseous- when I do something that I shouldnt my body usually rebels and it looks like its happening now. Ugh. :2sick1:

PoS said:

Now that I am in (Im too sexy for) Milan, Ive finally ordered their ossu buco- its very different from the Roman version- this one doesnt have tomatoes and they serve it with a very pungent risotto made with saffron.



And another unexpected surprise: near my hotel was an Ethiopian restaurant run by a kindly old man and his wife- had my first taste of Ethiopian food ever!


You dont use utensils, what you do is take a piece of the spongy Ethiopian bread and use it as a shovel to grab the meat and veggies and eat it like a Peking duck roll. Brand new experience for me and it was delicious.

Also, I have been to Italy for around 4 weeks now and now I think Im getting sick. My body isnt used to eating so much rich food with all the wine, cheese and meats that now Im feeling pretty weak and nauseous- when I do something that I shouldnt my body usually rebels and it looks like its happening now. Ugh. :2sick1:

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Ah! That's the Osso Buco I'm used to!