Still busyish, but managed to find the time to brunch

December 6, 2007 · Filed Under Italian Food, Life in Italy · 6 Comments 

Well, I managed to pay my taxes. The on-line system finally got itself together and let me make my advance donation to the Italian government. At least I won’t have to pay any fine. Now all I need is for someone to get round to paying me. Oh well, such is self-employed life.

At least last weekend I managed to get (lots of ‘gets’ in this post…) on down to the 442 for a full English brunch last Saturday, and it was good. I really had forgotten just how much I missed this tasty plate of unhealthy goodness.

On Sunday we went out with a group of our son’s school friends’ parents, and assorted kids for, wait for it. Yep, another ‘brunch’, except this time the brunch in question was nothing like the English breakfast, nor was it one of these imitation American brunches either. It was more like a buffet, in fact it was a buffet. Although only a brunch by name, it was not at all bad, but at €22 a head for growed-ups and €12 per little one, it was not exactly cheap.

The venue was the UTZ (info in Italian) restaurant in Via Solferino, which is slap bang in the middle of the posh, and pricey, part of Milan. Despite the highish price, I’d still recommend checking out this brunchy sort of meal. The buffet was excellent, and worthy of particular note was the asparagus mousse I tried, which was delicious. The best, as they say, was yet to come, for there was also a dessert buffet, and boy was it good. About ten different puddings to tuck into, and this being a buffet, it was OK to go for seconds, which I did. Diet on hold. Well, it was the weekend.

If you do decide to wander on over there, then try to book a table downstairs. This area is very attractive, it being a converted cellar, and you will be a couple of steps away from the buffets. This means that you can stuff yourself to your heart’s content. Oh, and there is also an area where you can leave the little ones, who will be looked after and kept occupied, thus enabling mum and dad to have a moment’s peace. In all, not a bad place.

Other things to report? Not really, apart from the continuing sausage saga. I now appear to have a regular Wednesday afternoon appointment to supervise sausage production, although I don’t really think I need to be there. However, I have noticed that the, very nice, chap who has been assigned to banger making has a tendency to make the said sausages a little bit on the long side, so my presence is required to curb his enthusiasm. I think he thinks he’s making Italian bangers, which are a little longer than the British variety. I dare say I shall manage to overcome this slight hiccup.

And guess what everyone is going to get for Christmas from me? Yep, that’s right, a kilo or so of finest English-style bangers! Although the portions of sausages will be presented in a festive fashion - read mini-hamper. Can’t wait to see the reactions.

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Milan

November 3, 2007 · Filed Under Milan · 4 Comments 

Milan has been deliciously quiet for the last three days. All on account of the odd Italian ‘ponte’ or bridge, which occurs as a result of having a public holiday in the middle of the week.

Indeed, it has been ‘Sunday’ since Wednesday here. Everyone, just about, has headed off for the sea or the mountains. My other half has left me here with the destructive pooing puppy, while she has gone down to Genova with our wee one to see her parents.

I’ve been making the most of these few tranquil days to catch up on some work and to just unwind a little - lots of films from Blockbuster.

Sunday evening will be hell on Italian roads as everyone heads back to Milan, Rome, Turin, Florence, etc.

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The joys of dieting

November 2, 2007 · Filed Under Italian Food · 1 Comment 

Are there any joys that can be associated with dieting? Well, yes there are, at least I think so. Firstly and most obviously there is the pleasure of knowing that you have rid yourself of some extra baggage. I tend to feel lighter, both physically and emotionally, as I often did when I was into one of my cycling phases.

But there is another joy, one which, perhaps, is not so obvious. This joy is the pleasure of eating interesting food after having passed many a day restricting yourself to ‘diet friendly’ dishes. I noticed this ‘joy’ on two occasions recently. The first time was while I was having lunch with my other half on Friday.

I had ‘faraone’ - which is ‘mature’ chicken, in an orange sauce, which was accompanied by some Italian mashed potato - purè. Oh how I relished this food! It was almost as if I had not eaten decent food for ages. The feeling was so wonderful that I did not want the lunch to end. Indeed, I threw my diet to the wind once more and ordered a tiramisu with amaretto pudding. It too was delicious.

Then, last night I was invited by our charming neighbour, Anita, to dinner at her house. On the menu was a sort of fusion between northern and southern Italian cuisine. The starter was a dish made of aubergines wrapped around a breadcrumb and cheese filling, and somehow a few tomatoes managed to get involved too, not to mention a hint of chilli. Very tasty, and when offered a second helping, I wasted no time in accepting.

After the aubergine rolls, the main course was ‘La cassoeula’, a traditional Milanese dish. I think this was possibly the first time I had eaten a ‘home-made’ version of this dish. When you know that it is made from cabbage and pork, you may not think that it could be all that appetizing, but I can assure you that it is very good, and Anita’s, our neighbour’s, version was extremely good. La cassoeula was served with polenta, not the quick cook stuff, but the ’spend hours attending the saucepan and stirring’ real thing. The combination made for a hearty winter dish, even if winter hat not yet arrived in Italy just yet.

All this delicious food was washed down with copious amounts of good red wine, and we had Tiramisu (again!) for pudding. After a coffee, a few glasses of grappa were passed around. It was a very pleasant evening, and I’m still feeling rather bloated.

I shall continue with my diet, in fact I may never stop, because it has led me to really appreciate good cooking once more. You eat so well in Italy, you tend to become a bit blasé with regard to the real goodness of what you are eating. Well, I’ve found this to be the case, and my diet highlighted this effect.

I suppose, in conclusion, one could say that there is not a lot of truth in the old saying ‘You can’t have too much of a good thing’, because you can.

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