A couple events converged last night. First, it is the season for porcini mushroom hunting here in Piemonte. Last weekend there were quite a few people selling them at the Saturday open market in Giaveno. But the main thing, was the going away party for my friend Giovanni. He has elected to leave Italy for more promising opportunities in Germany. So about twenty of us gathered at Ristorante Cantuccio in Giaveno to wish him well. Actually this post is mainly to document the foods served. It one of our better food experience here and I want to make a placeholder of good things consumed...
Antipasti
- Thinly sliced pressed octopus garnished with porcini mushrooms (you'll notice a continuing theme here)
- Warm seafood salad (muscles, clams, some type of large squid, some celery and oil)
- Raw beef garnished with greens, slice porcini's, and parmesan.
- Porcini torta (tort)
Primi (main course)
- For me, Tagliatelle (pasta) with porcini sauce (oil/butter)
- For Queen Bee, massive plate of deep fried porcini (really amazing and altogether too much! )
Desert
- Tiramisu (curtesy or Alberto's family bakery)
And of course the full range of beverages appropriate for the occasion. A very nice evening.
On the way home Queen Bee mentioned that being in Italy has significantly increased the range of things she likes. In the past, she would not have considered eating half the things on the list above.
Raining continuously today (Saturday) should be good for more mushrooms. Yum!
