Chow...Italiano-style

Some folks have inquired about the type of food we've been experiencing here in Italia. After all, it is famous for it's superb cuisine; whether it's a four-course meal (antipasti, primi, secondi & dolce) or pizza on-the-fly. Admittedly I have been less concerned about the gastronomic repasts - especially since most Italians don't even start thinking about dinner until 19:30 or so! I mostly have a cappuccino 

or two :-) for breakfast and/or grab a slice of pizza or panini sandwich for lunch on my way to some museum or hike. Occasionally Cindy and I have enjoyed a delicious evening meal, but mostly we've been making salads in the apartment or filling up on happy hour bruschetta.

Some favorite memories: a 'menu touristico' four-course lunch on a lovely little canal in Venice one sunny day (bread, olives and basalmic vinegar/pasta carbonara/sautéed sea bass/tiramisu with strawberry topping); ravioli stuffed with pumpkin filling at a local restaurant called Casa Bianca; the best pizza ever at a small hole-the-wall in the nearby village of Polcenigo; and countless deli sandwiches hauled along on our many lunchtime hikes.

Pasta Carbonara

Recently though, we have been branching out (meaning we're a little tired of pasta, et. al.) and having Middle Eastern "kee-babs" and even Chinese food! Such decadence, eh? There ARE quite a few opportunities for burgers at McDonald's but we've thankfully been staying away from those. I do however, wish I could find a Popeye's every now and then.

In closing, the food here is 'squisito' (exquisite), If a bit short on the fresh greens and salads. That could be because it's still winter; cold rain today, snow in the mountains. But everywhere you look you see a small backyard garden waiting for the growing season. One thing that Cindy and I have noticed - that's far different from the U.S. - there are NO obese people here whatsoever! Everyone seems quite fit and height/weight proportionate for their ages. I guess that's what bicycling well into your 80s does for you, si?

Chiao, arrivederci and buon appetito!