Seventeen Courses in Twenty-Four Hours

There is no doubt, Italians can eat. 

Growing up with an Italian grandmother, I have great memories of hours and hours around the dinner table, with plates and plates of endless food being passed, each plate-full somehow even better than the last. 



The vineyards of Langhe and Roero, just outside of Torino



Within just an hour of arriving in Italy, we were whisked away to the Italian countryside where food that seemed so familiar awaited.  Lots, and lots of it.  So much that even a Fong or a Tuttle would be intimidated.

Don't let the cute face fool you...
When I confronted Julius about
his flirtations with Amy, he replied:
"I don't want to marry her.  I just want to kiss her."

Dave’s friend, Ritzu, her husband Peter, and the cutest kid in Italy: their son Julius have been living in Italy over the past 6 years.  They graciously invited us to the Italian countryside for the weekend- showing us some of their favorite places and feeding us some of their favorite Italian dishes.  Many, many dishes.



The church in Guanere



Our first stop was Mira Langhe, a quaint agriturismo (a sort of rustic bed and breakfast with farmland), in the small village of Guanere.  While we enjoyed the sweeping view of the surrounding vineyards our meal started, as in my mind all meals should, with a platter of prosciutto, salami, and cheeses.  (my prosciutto and cheese intake since arriving in Italy is quite impressive, I must say) Then the meal continued with 6 more courses.  Each one somehow better than the last, just like Gram’s.  The next day we travelled down the road, just a bit, to Agriturismo Cascita Veron just outside of Canale with 6 more courses.

And just when I was sure I was done eating for a few days, we stopped by another friend of Dave’s, Malcolm and his partner Patritzia, swimming with Julius and of course being offered 4 more courses of irresistible appetizers followed. Malcolm is not only a gourmet officinado but also a gourmet chef in his own right.

That's no poster behind Amy and Julius...
that's the surreal view from Malcolm and Patriitzia's pool.

I was so excited by our first and second Italian meals that I felt the need to take pictures of each and every plate.  Peter says it perfectly when he calls it “Food Porn”  Bon Apetit!