A lazy day at Murano

It was a beautiful but chilly day so we piled on the warm clothes and headed off to Murano. Sarah & Paul were sensible and sat inside on the vaporetto to Murano, Jules, Rob & I didn't and took a while to thaw out :) It wasn't as warm here as last year and we kept coats etc on.

We have always been lucky with the weather at Murano, it was a beautiful day and we strolled around checking out many glass shops finding many beautiful things to buy.  As usual the things that we liked best were thousands of euros and there is always the likelihood of stuff being broken in transit. After watching the DHL guys throwing packages on to their boat we were glad that none of them were ours :)

We had lunch at a favourite restaurant,
Ristorante ai Pianta Leoni - Murano, Rivalonga 25, telefono +39 041 736794.

There is something very relaxing about Murano,  it is a beautiful place and the pace is slower. Jules took some fantastic photos but you'll have to make do with mine until he downloads his.If you go to Venice make sure that you visit Murano - Burano is great as well.

This piece of public art always impresses and over the years we have taken many photos of it.  Such a shame that the fence is needed as it detracts from the beauty of the glass.

Lunch in a restaurant on the canal. We had a meal here last year and came back because it was so good -it didn't disappoint.

Tagliolini neri con gamberni e zafferino

Gnocchi di patate con prosciutto e montasio

Seafood antipasto

Spaghetti and mixed seafood

Grilled Branzino and white polenta

Fried mixed seafood

Tonno

Frutte di mare alla griglia

Paul, Jules and Rob enjoying the sunshine

We all want this boat :)

How cute!

Another beautiful piece of public art.

The colours and shapes are exquisite

There only needs to be a little bit of sunshine for the glass to glisten

Around the world there must be so many photographs of the main canals in Murano with almost everyone taking similar shots

Not too many tourists -which must be a worry for the local people

    

Food in Rome

Many of the kilos that I'd lost before we left Australia have managed to find me :(  I'm not too worried though, we're enjoying the great food here and I'll diet when we get home.  We have been very lucky and have had some great meals and tried heaps of different things -more so than other times. Restaurants can be a bit hit and miss -places that you've been to before can have gone off or those that others recommend are not quite to your taste.  We have been to old favourites and have tried new places.  Our favourite place in Rome is still Taberna Recina in Via Elvia Recina 22-24-26 Roma
tel 067000413 

http://www.tabernarecina.it/

The only problem with this restaurant is that we eat too much - the food is fantastic and everything is always freshly made. We decided to not have dessert last time we went but just had to try a chocolate and ricotta crostata which had just come out of the oven :) -it was beautiful.  We hope to be able to go one more time before we leave.

Pasta and broccoli in brodo di arzilla (a type of fish), very tasty

Fettucini guanciale e carciofi -not sure who had the best pasta, both were delicious

Carciofio alla romana - so good

Brasato di chianina al vino rosso (braised chianina beef filet) -Very tender beef in a tasty wine sauce

Abbacchio al forno -the best roast lamb on the planet

Insalata mista -baby salad vegetables including fennel, rocket, lettuce and radichio -just perfect

Chocolate and ricotta crostata -so delicious

Yesterday we had lunch at 'Gusto Osteria which is just near Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus.  It was  a busy time to be there -a lot of people out for Sunday lunch. We tried fairly typical Roman dishes and enjoyed our meal.

Frittata di cicoria e pecorino -very nice too!

Tonnarelli 'cacio e pepe' -one of Rob's favourites

Scarola con uvetta e pinoli - endive with sultanas and pine nuts. A combination which works well.

Maccheroncini alla carbonara - really tasty and well made but with hindsight it was probably a bit too rich for me for a lunchtime meal

Rob also had a tiramisu -quite a robust version.  Over all a very nice meal in a bustling environment -the Roma v Firenze game live on  TV was a bonus ;)

Today we bought some bread, cheese and prosciutto from "La Differenza di Paolo Stramaccioni" Largo Magna Grecia,4 Roma.  The prosciutto was beautiful, the nicest that we've ever had.  It was so sweet and nothing like the excessively salty prosciutto that we get at home -Italy keeps its best food for Italians whereas we export ours, we have got it all wrong!!

http://aziende.virgilio.it/19746547/stramaccioni-paolo

While I'm mentioning favourites, I may as well add our regular coffee places:

Alex Cafe Via Magna Grecia, 101/A Roma.  The guys that run this place are really friendly and make good coffee, a regular stop off on our way to the metro.

The Gallery Cafe, Via Del Tritone, 36 Roma

http://it-it.facebook.com/pages/THE-GALLERY-CAFE/267823803234736?v=info&sk=info

Another place for good coffee and spremuta. They also make great panini and are next door to the Gallery Art & Fashion

Tourists always head for Tazza D'oro 

http://www.tazzadorocoffeeshop.com/

and San Eustachio Caffe 

http://www.santeustachioilcaffe.it/it/

because they are mentioned in all of the travel guides.  They are there for a reason, they both make great coffee.  When tours turn up at these bars it can be really crowded but otherwise they are fine.  They each sell other coffee related stuff -snapped up by groups of tourists.

Our favourite pizza place is at Piazza Re Di Roma 19/20. Pizzeria  (Alvasis S.R.L.) make the best suppli, arancione, calzone, pizza etc.... I love their pizza bianca stuffed with spinach - can't remember what it's called but it's great.

http://www.ccnitalia.com/portale/13313/Roma%20IX%20Via%20Appia/pizza%20Alvasis%20Re%20di%20Roma/?q=dove%20mangiare&comune=Roma%20IX%20Via%20Appia 

Il mangiare di Piemonte

Rob & I have tried heaps of different food while we have been in Torino and have had some great meals, plus a few ordinary ones but generally the food has been really good.  Neither of us like offal so we haven't tried many of the local specialties but we have tried lots of the others -like chocolate :)
 Below are a few of the meals that we've had.  We walk all day long (at least 5 hours) so are really hungry by the time that we get around to eating.  It is cold and dark at 7.30pm when the restaurants begin to open.

The highlight has been the fabulous chocolate and white truffles.

I've had a few requests for food pics so here they are:

Pasta with broccoli & salsicce

La cruda della Granda (raw minced meat with white truffles)

Insalata mista

Ravioli with sugo from roast meat

Pasta with ragu

Insalata del giorno -a new salad each day at Eataly

Cottechino with lentils (tastes way better than it looks :) )

Paccheri con vellutata di spinaci e scamorza affumicata

Discovered Eataly - part of the slow food movement -and became regular customers.  The food is very good and the menu changes daily.  They have had fresh white truffles for a few nights this week so we have had them a few times

Eggs with white truffles

At Barrati & Milano -famous for their Bicherin, hot chocolate and gelati

Bicherin -a layer of hot chocolate, espresso coffee & cream

Cioccolata calda con gianduia and panna :)

Delicious apple pastry

Walnut pastry

Tagliatelle with carciofi

Spaghetti with asparagus & speck

Porchetta at the marathon :)

pasta alle vongole con pesto