Let's EATily

At the risk of multiplying resentment, multiple times, with multiple people, I write this blog post from Liz and Tilly’s BnB in San Daniele, Italy. This is our final Italian stop before jumping the border by train to Italy.  As I go to download the Darryl Kerrigan* meme quoting ‘How’s the serenity’ I am ‘disturbed’ by the ringing of church bells in the distance. It’s not really disturbing much because there is not much noise to begin with- some Italian chatter afar, the odd car going by, but not much. #sopoetic. It makes a welcome change from the hustle and bustle and noise pollution of London.




So this blog finds me on holidays with Mumma and Papa bear traversing mainland Europe. We started in Rome and the gastronomical delights were aplenty.  We were staying in an ‘IKEA themed’ AirBnB around 30 minutes from the Colosseum and 30 seconds away from a delicatessen. Although accepting the fact that I will not be able to sample every single cheese/salami in a deli case, I sure as hell made a good attempt. Gold star for me. Names like Asiago, Grana, mozzarella affumicata, (cheese) meet capocollo, cacciatore, prosciutto (meat)… in my mouth. GAH. Much nomoms.

Oh yeah, we did go see this old thing too. 

Right next to the Pantheon, a delicatessen

Walking home via the Trevi Fountain, freshly cooked chestnuts

Next, we moved onwards up towards Nervesa De Battaglia, the motherland for all things on my Nonna’s side of the family.  To go into every detail would add to aforementioned resentment, but to paint a picture, we were on a farm (aguturismo) in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nonni and cousins aplenty, eating cooked 3-4 course provincial meals for both lunch an dinner. They were made with home grown and caught produce washed down with wine and grappa, all in the warmth of sun.  It was here I tried wild deer, rabbit and pigeon caught by local hunters. Yes. Pigeon and yes it tastes like chicken- a very pigeon tasting sort of chicken. Some of my family work at a local cheese factory, which meant we could further devour fresh untried soft cheeses Rubiola and Stracchino after a BBQ with my favourite wog salad green Radicchio. Did I mention Nonna made Tiramisu, mushroom risotto, lemon steaks, lasagna and limoncello? I’ll stop now. 

During our time we also got to go to Venice ...as you do... because it's only 45 minutes away! At the risk of sounding like an incredibly huge tosspot, this is my fouth time going to Venice, and third this year and it's as every bit magical as the first. If you can over here you definitely must come here and spend days not hours! 

Venice, say no more. 

My Zio's wooden bar table in his cellar. 

The ingredients to a flavoursome Grappa (alcoholic apertif or rocket fuel)- sage, rosemary, rocket, mint.

My Zia's industrial kitchen ready for feeding the masses

Then we moved onto San Daniele …  Oh Lordy. As with my previous trip here the star of the show is the local San Daniele Prosciutto. This time I was able to take the rents through the local delicatessens gorging through delights such as aged prosciutto and parmesean,  Buffala Mozzarella, Pignolo and Rubola Giallo wine amongst other things. We thoroughly enjoyed the hospitality of family friends Tilly, Liz and Maria and her family. We were incredibly fortunate to enjoy their magnificent food and dare I say it, Italy must make these people incredible cooks because everything was had was beautiful. We can’t thank them enough for their love and memories.

When you can't work out which wine to get? Certified alcoholic. Currently in detox. 

The 'fragola' grapes from Tilly and Liz's BnB in San Daniele. Walk under this vine for the smell of sweet strawberries.

The star of the show in San Daniele

So now we move onto Austria, secretly hoping salad and fruit are daily staples, but knowing there’s going to be a whole lot more sausage and sauerkraut..… stay posted for our Austria adventures. For all the photos click here...