La Rosticceria
A ‘rosticceria’ is possibly the Italian equivalent of fast food, only this does not mean hamburgers or pizza and the like, but ‘real’ food.
Rosticceria’s are quite common here, some are average, and some are excellent. They are basically shops which prepare and cook a variety of dishes, both cold and hot, ranging from roasted meats and pasta to vegetables, all of which are kept good and hot. You simply choose what you appeals and it is all nicely packaged for you. Then you just go home and tuck in. Just the thing when you can’t be bothered to cook, or even, possibly, when you have unexpected guests.
These really useful places are open throughout the week until the early evening, and often open on Sunday mornings. You can often book beforehand, if your Italian is up to scratch, but watch out at weekends, because all the best stuff goes pretty early.
Yesterday, my other half paid a visit to our local rosticceria which is about 10 minutes on foot from our house in Milan. On our menu yesterday was: Lasagne, ‘Capriolo’ – or Roe dear/venison, cooked in a red wine sauce, polenta, and lentils. It was all extremely yummy, and the venison was wonderful, as usual.
Now, this particular rosticceria does not do venison every day, but that is part of the fun, the ‘menu’ is quite varied. During the cooler months, read, more or less from now on, venison – Roe, Fallow or Red deer, and wild boar dishes become more common. But even if there is no game, there are often roast chicken (and you can only purchase half a chicken if you are not ravenous), ‘lo stinco di maiale’ – pork shin(very good), and veal dishes. All is very well cooked and ready to eat.
All this good food comes at a price, of course, but for around 30 Euros, three people can eat very well, and seeing as this is only about 10 Euros more than good old MacDonalds, well, the choice between the two places is pretty easy. Try finding similar quality food in a restaurant for around 3o Euros in Milan, and you will be hunting around for rather a long time.
Ah, the rosticceria, yet another great reason for living in Italy. And before anyone says anything, I put my diet on hold yesterday – I mean, I don’t get to eat venison that often, and I love it.
This post was written by Alex P Roe
Tags: fast food, good food, Italian, Italian food, life, Milan, rosticceria, slow food
hehhehe laughing at your last comment.
i wasn’t trying to be mean
!!!
anyway i don’t think i’ve ever had venison – is it a bit more tough in texture than beef?
Glad I made you laugh – and yes, I think I was thinking of your last observation when I made it.
I know you weren’t trying to be mean!!
And venison, when cooked well, is very tender, rather like good quality beef, but the flavour is stronger. I like it a lot, but then I’ve always been a great game fan.
Thanks for coming to the new place, and tell me if you like the new look, if you’ve got a mo.
I’ll be linking to you, once I get round to sorting out all the old links.
All the best,
Alex
First impression = very patriotic! The green red white.
Very clean, it’s good! – just wondering if it’s my computer or what, but the side columns/bands are grey-ish …. it’d be better if it’s not grey! Doesn’t go well with green and red. but then again, I’m just really picky with colours ….
Another tiny suggestion – your serif font could be more compatible – it’s very “tall” – with your sans serif one (that one, I do love!)
I Don’t think you expected such a detailed comment, eh?
ps: the google ad I keep seeing on your site is a man sitting on his toilet, reading with his pants down. hmmmmmm. no comment.
Jan, many thanks for the comments.
‘Very patriotic’ – I hoped for subtly patriotic!
You are right about the grey sidebars, although in my browser, Firefox, I do not see this. I’d prefer all white, so when I get a chance I’ll tinker with the stylesheet code.
And thanks for the comments re the fonts, can you give me an example of where things are “tall”, on my browser, things look just about OK.
Nope, I did not expect such a long comment – but it was more than welcome! Thanks again Jan.
The google ad on the left, is not a google ad! It’s a little audio layer, and the chap on the throne is the album cover for an amusing, if rather rude, but jaunty, Italian song. Good for comprehension – just do not ask what the Italian ‘f’ word is :[
If you keep clicking the little button with two arrows on it, you will find other stuff, including Vivaldi – some stuff from the Four Seasons (I know the Four Seasons is somewhat overplayed, but I love it!(If I can find Scheherazade, by RK, I’ll add that too)). Hit the bigger button to listen – and watch out the volume is a wee bit high.
All the best,
Alex