The things we ate in Italy…

After much purposeful procrastination I shall begin sharing my plentiful Italy photographs, starting with FOOD!

(FYI, some of these are cheeky iPhone shots and obviously not as great as my Olympus ones)

The Italy party started in the Airport lounge. As it should!
Red wine and mimosas!

ITALIA!

Let’s talk about the food! It was all about the food.
Eating the food. And then eating more of said food.
Rinse, Repeat. You dig?

Our first meal in Rome…

Tomato Bruschetta…

Caco e Pepe…

Great little spot near our flat…mostly cold items, salads and such.

Rocket with white bean, cherry tomato, mozzarella, and tuna.

One of my MANY glasses of white wine…

Caprese salad…

Gelato and I became best friends! OBVIOUSLY.

Wine and cicchetti…

Mountains of sweets…

And a chocolate festival for Valentine’s Day!

Homemade Caprese…

Spoils from the market…

Let there be PASTA!

And grilled vegetables…

At all times you must have your eating face on!

Ristorante La Spada in Florence…

Chicken Liver Pate…

Mushroom Ravioli…

Happiest little carb loading face you ever did see!

VALENTINE’S DAY FEAST!
Antica Trattoria “da Tito” dal 1913…AKA BEST STEAK EVER CONSUMED. EVER.

Swordfish, pomegranate, and grapefruit Carpaccio…

Raw Artichoke and Parmesan Salad…

The biggest Florentine Steak ever. Served Rare.

Chocolate cake of happiness…

WE DIED that night. We were reborn. I found god. God is a steak in Florence.

Did I mention that I used to be mostly vegetarian?

Look at this gorgeous charcuterie platter!

I even ate TRIPE Gnocchi…that is COW STOMACH.

More Wine!

Stuffed Squid, potatoes, and pesto.

Grilled vegetables and fried seafood yummies…FRITO MISTO!

Fluffy Ravioli with magic thyme butter.

Another outstanding charcuterie!

On our last night in Florence we ordered another breath taking Florentine steak.

We died again. Seriously. DIED. DEAD.

In Venice, the seafood is outstanding and plentiful.
You pick it, they cook it…

Birthday Dinner…

Frito Misto…

And Bellinis!

We found ourselves thoroughly exhausted in Murano, so we ate more Frito Misto!!

I think I ate squid, octopus, or cuttlefish at least twice per day in Venice…mmmmmmm.

I managed to crow bar in as many veggies as I could…

I leave you with our most strenuous feast.
(MY most epic act of sheer Miss. Piggy style gluttony really…)

The night of 5 desserts.

We dined at Piccalo Arancio (The Little Orange)

We ate everything in sight.

I grabbed Gelato ON THE WAY TO THE RESTAURANT like a fat girl.

This counts as Dessert #1.

Then ordered a charcuterie platter, fried artichokes and stuffed zucchini blossoms.

Followed by Orange Ravioli…

Swordfish in a Neapolitan sauce…

Dessert #2 Creme Caramel…

Dessert #3 Tiramisu…

I am a fat happy piggy.

OH NO ALL MY SWEETS ARE GONE!

MOOAARR!!!!!!!!

Dessert #4 Panna Cotta with berries…

I’m starting to feel light headed at this point…

So I ordered Dessert #5 Espresso and cookies thus completing my sinful evening of mostly sugar.

No one can ever say that I’m not a dessert person.

Stay tuned for MANY more Italy postings! xxoo

DINNER @ CITY HOUSE NASHVILLE

I have heard nothing but exceptional reports of culinary wonder at one of Nashville’s newest restaurants City House http://cityhousenashville.com/ and I gave it a whirl last week with saddeningly mediocre results.
I was excited when I walked in, because my friend and I were dining sans reservations and we were seated cheerfully and promptly. I couldn’t help but notice the modern but rustic feel of the decor, it is really gorgeous inside City House.

I started with the Citrus Salad with shaved fennel and was very pleased. It was light, bright, and accomplished everything for me that a citrus salad should.
(I only wish there had been more!)

I had a difficult time deciding between the Painted Hills Tri Tip, with Turnip Greens, Parmigiano, and Lemon, or the North Carolina Trout, with Bread Crumbs, Peanuts, Raisins, Lemon, and Parsley Stuffing.
I don’t eat red meat too often and the mood struck me so I went with the Tri Tip.
Although the meat was cooked a perfect medium rare and beautifully presented, both the beef and the turnip greens were so painfully salty that I emptied my water glass anxiously before I was halfway finished.
I don’t consume a tremendous amount of salt in my diet, so I chalked it up to a difference in preferences, but I wished that I had gone with the Trout after all.
I know I could have sent the dish back and ordered something else, but I didn’t want to waste food and/or cause a scene in front of my friend…so whatever.
I took a picture of the Tri Tip, but it was dark and came out crappy. So, sorry. Here it is and yeah, it’s crappy, but I want you to get an idea at least…

I’m still saving up for a new camera!!!

My friend’s gnocchi was also really dry and super doughy. He only ate half of it, though he said it was tasty. I took a bite, it was uninspired and dry.

Dessert I was super excited for because I’ve been working out a lot and avoiding anything remotely sugar-laden.

I ordered the Olive & Sinclair Chocolate Torta di Biscotti, with Drew’s Brews Zabaglione.
It was good, but the Zabaglione was melted.
Like really melted.
And it didn’t really sing the way I had hoped it would.

Maybe this is how Zabaglione is supposed to be?
I dunno.

I’m planning on going back in a few months when they’ve changed their menu up a bit.
Although I wasn’t really thrilled like I expected to be, based on the roaring cheers of my foodie friends…I always give restaurants second chances.
I’ll be requesting a lighter touch with the salt this time.