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Published: September 17th 2006
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The interior courtyard
Beth and Daniela looking relaxed. This is the first food post I've had an opportunity to submit. I did remember to take notes at other locations we've visited and I will do a re-cap on those. Before I begin writing my thoughts on our last foodie outing, a few words about the dining experience in this part of Italy. First, there seems to be a quite a bit of pizza consumed here. Take out pizza places are quite abundant. The pizza comes in the thin crust or thick crust variaties (we prefer thin). Both types are not caked with cheese as in the US, nor loaded with toppings. The sauce is also not heaped on the pie. Instead, a healthy balance of sauce, cheese, and toppings is the preference. Pizza may be an item of choice as the Brindisi area is not exactly affluent.
Restaurants do not open until 8PM unless it is a touristy place. We avoid those places not because we want to prejudge their food, but because touristy places the world over tend to be crappy. We are also here to enjoy the cultural experience and want to go to where the locals go to eat - which coincidentally also tend to be
What a handsome couple!
Beth and Israel looking more relaxed. the best places to eat. We have had positive experiences at every place that we have been to thus far. I think that places that serve good food exude an aura about them and I usually look for that. I also look at menus to see what kind of cool stuff they serve. Those of you that know me know that I will eat virtually anything that ever was planted, flew, swam, crawled, or flew :-) I also look for those places that offer food prepared in an interesting manner.
The only observation that I have about most of my dining experiences here and throughout Italy actually, is the unfortunate habit of playing blaring techno or pop music as background music. I don't mind it in a pizza joint, but when I'm out at a nice restaurant that has an equally nice setting then I really dislike it. It is like people smoking next to me - aaaccck! I can only recall one place in Florence that played some soft classical music in their restaurant. Otherwise, every place thus far insists on playing techno or pop - yuck!
Ok, so Friday night we went out to dinner with the secretary
Where is the food?
Beth and Daniela looking a little hungry. It was about 8:30PM of our school. We went to her uncle's ristorante and pizzeria "Il Boccone di San Paolo." It is definitely the best food and setting that we have dined at thus far. As you can see in the photos, they have this cool interior courtyard (garden) that is very quiet and comfortable. It is the ideal place to come unwind after a busy workweek. The only two things that marred that experience was that one person lit up a cig. This is against the law in Italy; smoking is not allowed in public places. Unfortunately, it is permitted outside even if it is a dining area -Beth tried giving them the stink eye, it didn't work. And the other was the music, although to their credit it was softer pop. As you look at the photos you know that this place needs some Marvin Gaye, Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble', Tony Bennett, Roberta Flack, Norah Jones etc. etc. , perhaps some jazz in the vein of Coltrane, or classical music. Food and wine should be accompanied by music that soothes the soul.
Daniela's uncle suggest that we try a sampling of their dishes. I was wowed. We started out with approximately 14
I'm thirsty!
Italy - where wine is like water :-) little dishes of anitpasti. There was a cold calamari salad with slivers of carrots and celery, a cold polpo salad in vinegar lemon water with a sprinkling of rucola (or other herb), fried stuffed peppers with some kind of cheese, slices of eggplant that were folded over (like a little taco) with a creamy savory interior, little deep fried balls of light bread (sort of like donut holes) that were light, light and tasty, thin slices of turkey in a type of light thin gravy, and other dishes that were equally tasty and savory. Each dish was unique and interesting. I enjoyed each and every one and couldn't find fault with any of them.
Next up was a main dish (small portion) of black tagliatelle pasta - I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Damn that was freakishly good! I believe it is prepared with the ink of the squid in oil and herbs. It actually more dark green than actually black, by the way. Next up was another main dish, a gramigna pasta prepared in a lemon, butter (?) with rucola herb accompanied by a tasty prawn. Next up was the last main dish of lagane pasta
Keeping a good grip on things
Italy - where wine is like water - really! in butter cream and California walnuts. That was very rich and sweetly nutty tasting. Beth threw up the white flag at this point, although not entirely. Daniela said that this is what she would have ordered if we had just ordered a main dish. We were on our second bottle of house wine - excellent by the way.
The dolci came next. I had a layered chocolate cake that was made with just the right amount of mousse-like confection and light, light, light. Accompanied of course by the obligatory red wine. Daniela had a panna cotta topped with a heavy chocolate syrup. This dish is like a custard and very very sweet! I'm not a sweets person so I'm not fond of that dolci.
I've devised a 4 star system to rate the places we go to so I can remember whether I want to eat there again or not. This place is a 4 star with emphasis :-)
Well there you have it my friends. For those of you that decide to come and visit, this will be a place that we take you to.
Ciao - Ciao for now
Israel
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Judy and Stephen
non-member comment
Looks inviting
Our lives have been sadly vacant of full tilt, multi -course meals, with the exception of Mark and Darin's extravaganza. The black (green) pasta is intriguing. We hope to see it all in person!