Some food pics from Spoleto, Umbria, Italy

Today we had a lovely tasting/lunch at a new wine/cheese bar in the historic center of Spoleto:


Yum, yummer, and yummier, and yummmmmmmmmm! Yes, I am lucky I got to eat all of this, but I will be the one going on a diet when i get back to the US next week!!!

Pecorino and artichoke puffed pastries:


Prunes and smoked panchetta (this was a match made in heaven, with the panchetta thinly sliced! Very rich and satisfying!


A very interesting salad that I actually enjoyed: radicchio and fennel salad topped with trout salami (never had this before!), pine nuts, pomegranate and mustard sauce:


Melted rabiolo cheese that was earthy and sweet, and fabulous!



Assorted local salamis, and a delicious garlicky salami from Le marche:



Some more pictures and wine info here: http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/vil ... php?t=5713

All the dishes look terrific, especially the melted cheese and the salami. Good to see you enjoying the gastronomic high-life again. Any sign of Pavorotti or Muti?!!

All the dishes look terrific, especially the melted cheese and the salami. Good to see you enjoying the gastronomic high-life again. Any sign of Pavorotti or Muti?!!

Thanks, Bob! The diet will resume once I get back home!!!

No sign of them yet - they must be hiding in some olive grove somewhere!!!

[James Roscoe]

That Ch. Bonnet shows up everywhere. It's a great white Bordeaux at the entry level. It goes for around $10 around here. I am going to have to get a bottle this weekend. Maybe it's a white bordeaux open mike weekend?

That Ch. Bonnet shows up everywhere. It's a great white Bordeaux at the entry level. It goes for around $10 around here. I am going to have to get a bottle this weekend. Maybe it's a white bordeaux open mike weekend?

I did not pick this wine, it was brought to me to taste; as I am presently in Italy, I said "sure!", so to also learn more about Bordeaux. My notes on this wine are in the wine travel section.

Good idea James! Fond memoriesof some white Graves from my youth.

Paulo, can you explain 'Trout Salami`. Thanks.

Paulo, can you explain 'Trout Salami`. Thanks.[/quote]

A salami made out of trout, the fish. At first I thought I would need to pass, but I gave it a try and it was quite delicate, and went well with the radicchio and fennel, and mustard. It was not fishy at all, just ever slightly seafood-ish and quite earthy with all the flavors. Umbria has a lot of trout in her rivers.

Mmm... pecorino.

I recently honeymooned in Tuscany and can honestly say that the wine and food were the highlights of the trip for me. Looking forward to more updates.

I always suspected that I should have gone into opera--is that envy you hear? You bet!

I recently honeymooned in Tuscany and can honestly say that the wine and food were the highlights of the trip for me.

Ryan, we promise we won't mention this to your wife!

[James Roscoe]

I recently honeymooned in Tuscany and can honestly say that the wine and food were the highlights of the trip for me.

Ryan, we promise we won't mention this to your wife!

Cyntia you are terrible. I wonder if your sarcasm comes across on the internet

Cyntia you are terrible. I wonder if your sarcasm comes across on the internet

As a sarcasm connessieur I can say it comes across loud and clear!

Mmm... pecorino.

I recently honeymooned in Tuscany and can honestly say that the wine and food were the highlights of the trip for me. Looking forward to more updates.

Where in Tuscany were you? Last summer I got to visit Montepulciano and Pienza, town of pecorino!!!! Hope you had a great honeymoon!!!

I always suspected that I should have gone into opera--is that envy you hear? You bet!

Every dog has his day, Tommaso!!!!

Last summer I got to visit Montepulciano and Pienza, town of pecorino!!!! Hope you had a great honeymoon!!!

Monteplciano is delightful, isn't it? We had a fun week there a several years ago. It was a good jumping off point to visit some of the other hill towns.

And more about the radicchio/fennel salad -- were they shaved, chunked, steamed or fresh? I was thinking of making some sort of salad using these two items (without the trout salami of course), but was not sure how to combine. I thought to maybe grill both and combine with a light dressing.

They were shaved, Martha - very fresh and naturally crunchy. Your grilled idea sounds fabulous!!!

We were in Montepulciano for 3 days, actually, and ate at the cafe with the view.

[Jenise]

Maybe it's a white bordeaux open mike weekend?

That would majke a great Focus topic come summer. Not that I can wait until summer to have another White Bordeaux, in fact I am going to pick up some today, a 05 Chateau Magneau that I was SOO impressed with. Was $13 here, should be less where you are--it's worth seeking out.

[Jenise]

Great pics, Paulo. Very impressive. Descriptions of food are tantalizing, but pictures of food are inspiring. It really puts the dish into perspective. I'm suddenly tempted to copy that salad presentation for a dinner I'm doing tonight.

[James Roscoe]

Maybe it's a white bordeaux open mike weekend?

That would majke a great Focus topic come summer. Not that I can wait until summer to have another White Bordeaux, in fact I am going to pick up some today, a 05 Chateau Magneau that I was SOO impressed with. Was $13 here, should be less where you are--it's worth seeking out.

I will look for it. I love the pics of the presentation too. We are doing Asian tonight here. A friend has promised to come over and introduce us to the world of real curries. I figure some Auslese Riesling or a nice Gruner might doe the trick. We a re all wine geeks.

That melted robbiolo looks really attractive !!!

Francesco

Great pics, Paulo. Very impressive. Descriptions of food are tantalizing, but pictures of food are inspiring. It really puts the dish into perspective. I'm suddenly tempted to copy that salad presentation for a dinner I'm doing tonight.

Thank you, Jenise. I am trying to write more and sing less!!!! I also think pictures are crucial, plus, it's fun and colorful!!! Glad the salad inspired your creativity!

We were in Montepulciano for 3 days, actually, and ate at the cafe with the view.

Was it Caffe Poliziano -- the art nouveau style restaurant with the two tiny balconies out back that overlooked the valley? Did you go to the little enotecca/agriculture shop Zazzeri that was located just down below the canonry (cononica) to the Madonna di San Biagio? They had a picnic table outside overlooking the valley, also. What a delightful town. I would love to go back there again, and again, and again.

We were in Montepulciano for 3 days, actually, and ate at the cafe with the view.

Was it Caffe Poliziano -- the art nouveau style restaurant with the two tiny balconies out back that overlooked the valley? Did you go to the little enotecca/agriculture shop Zazzeri that was located just down below the canonry (cononica) to the Madonna di San Biagio? They had a picnic table outside overlooking the valley, also. What a delightful town. I would love to go back there again, and again, and again.

Martha and Ryan:

I did go to Caffe Poliziano when I was in Montepulciano last August! I was able to get a table on one of the balconies! It was truly lovely! Had a glass of prosecco there!!!