Interesting Gorgonzola

July 28, 2008 · Filed Under Italian Food · 2 Comments

UPDATE 2

I have spoken to Lorenzo of La Via lattea, the award winning slow food company behind this this delightful cheese, and a whole host of other interesting cheese products as well, as I have discovered. Full contact details have now been added to my original The Gorgonzola of the Gods post, and they do speak English too. The company can export pretty well anywhere, if requested. However remember that La Via lattea’s products are natural, and will suffer if travel times are excessive. Read more

Tags: Cheese, Italian food, Italy

Omelette & Baguette

July 6, 2008 · Filed Under Italian Food · Comment

We keep on returning to this cute new little eatery which has only quite recently opened around these parts in Milan.

It’s easy to see why we keep on finding ourselves there - it’s charming and the food is highly original for pizza and pasta fuelled Italy. Not that I’ve got anything against pizza and pasta, but sometimes, a change is a good as a rest, as they say.

Apart from the fact that this place is open until late at night, 7 days a week, which in itself is unusual for Italy, the food is very good.

As you may expect from the name and the logo above, the menu is egg based, although there is plenty for non-egg lovers too.

However, those expecting eggs will not be disappointed. This evening I went for the Brick à l’oeuf with mozzarella. Just what is this brick thing? Some may know, but for those who don’t, the Brick is a particular way of cooking what I believe is egg white. I’m not sure how it’s done, but it’s cooked on the underside of the pan, I am told. Despite an odd cooking method, the result is lovely. It’s a sort fan shaped thin and crunchy shell, a little like batter.

Inside the Brick à l’oeuf, there is another egg, which oozes egg yolk when the crunchy shell-like covering is penetrated, and, just for good measure, there is some mozzarella. This is served with either a small salad of tomatoes, lettuce and grated carrot, or chips. Should oozing eggs not be your thing, you could go for the curious and lightly spiced Brick Patate e Carne (Brick potato and meat), which has the same crunchy shell, but square, this time and it’s filled with a spicy potato and meat mix. Again, this can be had with salad or good old chips.

There are plenty of other tempting treats, such as salads and baguette based sandwiches, not to mention lots of other egg based dishes, such as the Mele and Zola (apple and Gorgonzola), omelettes.

To wash everything down you can even order a nice bottle of red or white wine, or some beer. The puddings are not bad either, especially if you like rice pudding, which is very hard to come by in Italy.

Am I wrting this little post to garner this place some publicity? Nope, not at all. Word has already spread, and the place is choc a block most weekends. Indeed, booking is not a bad idea.

Omlette & Baguette is on two floors. Around the entrance there are a few tables, but upstairs, there is a spacious area with around 15 tables. Service is good too, as indeed are the prices, which are probably about the same level as good old MacDonald’s (if you exclude wine!), only the quality and atmosphere are in an altogether different league.

Bad points? Only one - the portions could be a wee bit more generous, but I’m probably nit picking.

You’ll find this place right at the start of the end of Via Paolo Sarpi which joins up with Via Canonica, and not, as their ‘in-progress’ website and menu confusingly mentions, at Via G B Bertini, 6.

Like to book? Give Omlette & Baguette a ring on 02 8738 8885. It’s well worth checking out, especially if you are looking for something a little different.

As far as I know, Omelette & Baguette is not part of a franchise, but it very well could become one, in my not so humble opinion. Good place. Oh, and there is no service charge.

Tags: egg, eggs, food and wine, Italian food, Italy, Milan, Omelette & Baguette, Paolo Sarpi

Coda di Rospo in Il Quadrifoglio

April 20, 2008 · Filed Under Italian Food · Comment

We’re pretty lucky really. There are quite a few interesting restaurants dotted around the area of Milan in which we live.

Indeed, there is an excellent little place literally two minutes walk from our house.

This place, for it is not big, goes by the name of Il Quadrifoglio, and we’ve been there several times now. In fact, it was my other half’s birthday on Saturday and we went there to celebrate. Read more

Tags: good food, Il Quadrifoglio, Italian, Italy, Milan, restaurant