cibo. solo cibo.

Today was a serious day of food.

Indulge with me, if you will.

Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6-b7CONDI

(figuring this was a day of some Italian food-stereotypical Italian song.)

Read:

Because it was my last full day in the mountains with my host family, we decided to try and do everything.

So we woke up, and ate from the breakfast buffet-type which is much more generous than the typical US or Euro-style continental…complete with a espresso drink machine that uses fresh milk from the mini fridge beside it…it is done well here. Normally, at this time, we make sandwiches from the various meats that are present for those who want a lunch-style breakfast, and we take it with us on the whichever hike we do, along with chocolate and a juice-box (hearty juice).

 

But, today, we skipped robbing the hotel of a lunch we didn’t pay for and after breakfast, my host sister and mother and I went on a walk much less fatiguing then we have been doing lately, and decided to eat a proper lunch at the “rifugio”-refuges that are interspersed along every trail–Italians know how to hike.

So, maybe 2 1/2 hours after we ate a lovely breakfast, we were inside the small little country house-like refuge, where the kitchen was just a little bit bigger than the rabbit enclosure outside. However, never underestimate a small Italian kitchen. If anything, that means that the food will be even better. We had our drinks, specialty of the region: beer/sparkling lemonade, and bread while we waited for our food. In my case, it was a frittata with eggs the color of the sun with fresh cheese, ricotta, tomatoes and a type of prosciutto, served in the pan it was made in. There just aren’t words to accurately describe such a taste.

Then, as though that wasn’t enough, we got desserts. Each something different: strudel with apples, ricotta, and walnuts. Yogurt with fruits from the woods that surrounded us. A pear muffin, served upside, covered in home-made whipped cream and fruit.

ahhhhhhhh.

The walk back helped the feeling of obscene full-ness pass, but after walking in the rain for about an hour, coming home and changing, going to a chocolaterie seemed like a good idea.

 

So. We went. We ate. We conquered. Shared a fondue fountain with fresh fruit. ahhh

aaand after

Oh it’s not over. About two hours later, after an hour in the wellness center, with and abundance of hot tea and two types of sauna, rooms to lay on water beds or go in a whirl pool, we went downstairs for aperitivo. You eat little things, and drink alcoholic things. All good. That could have served for a meal, but right after, dinner started.

 

Then, pasta, meat/cheese, all amazing things that were all a bit different for all of us. Desert with cinnamon gelato.

 

Sadly, I have to leave this paradise. But tomorrow I start at Padova!

A dopo Dolomiti!