Mangiamo!!!

Okay, Thomas, this is for you . . .

I write much about food in my Food column at the bottom of every newsletter, so you should feel familiar with some of the terms which you'll use frequently. So, now, it's time to get REAL about food in Italy.

There's a huge pride concerning food in Italy. "Bad" restaurants just don't exist in Italy (unlike those which are actually CHAINS here) - people won't tolerate it over there. Here, we're so ready to be given what we want that we're willing to tolerate mediocre to get it. The food which you'll be fed will be made from what is good right now, which is the best way to do it. Tomatoes are at their freshest, and only fruit in season will be served. If you're a cherries fan, you're in for an amazing treat - I don't even LIKE cherries, and I devour them in Italy. Canteloupe will be great (one of my favorite dinners - prosciutto and canteloupe), as will figs.

In Sorrento, we choose where we're going to eat each night (we're on our own for this). I have a great, cheap pizzeria which I like to frequent on our first night in, but perhaps consider seafood for Saturday night? We ARE in a beach town, after all . . .
Check out this FABULOUS Recipe and Sorrento Restaurant website, given by sorrentoinfo.com:
http://tasteofsorrento.sorrentoinfo.com/

While in Siena, you can eat every night at your homestay if you like. In fact, I'll make it a point that we return even on our touring days to be home in time for dinner every night. However, if you head out for dinner, you can really savor some of the regional delicacies. Grilled meats, pastas with pesto, and the bruschetta with the tuscan spread (a bean mixture . . . kinda like a pate) are all tastes which should be savored at least once.

In Rome, our Friday night dinner is still up in the air. I have an idea of where we might go, but still looking around, and open for suggestions. However, my favorite pizzeria (great bookends of the trip, don't you think?) is the Pizzeria Montecarlo, located just near the Piazza Navona. We'll be there on our last Italian night . . .

Just a few weeks!
HUGS,
Laura :)