Italy, Day 4
More Italy, this time with more Lardo!
- Today was a national holiday, so nothing much was open. As such, we mostly lazed around in our villa, ate food, and took walks. Got some photos coming up hopefully soon.
- Pam is the grocery store near us. It’s a big, two story grocery store that is all food on the bottom floor, and all clothing on the top. Pretty swank shit, too. We took our 3rd trip to Pam in as many days yesterday to get more water and to get Gosia a bathing suit. I gotta get a photo of the pool here… it’s amazing. One of those lip-less ones where the water just flows over the edge and pumps back in. Anyway, Pam is amazing. I wish we had them in the US if not solely because of their meat and fish departments. Lucky me, one of the butchers spoke english so I was able to find out whether or not lardo will travel well. Seeing as it is cured and vaccuum sealed, it will. So I’m stocking up.
- Grilled our bistecca alla panzano that we got from Dario Cecchini. It was incredible. To put it simply, you know that flavor we call “beef?” It had more of that flavor than anything I’ve ever had. I wish I could describe the taste any better. And I cooked it myself! On a real charcoal (non-briquette) fire I started without lighter fluid. A proud moment, indeed.
- Italian TV is ridiculous in every way you would imagine it being so.
And that’s pretty much it for day 4. Like I said, national holiday so not much going on. Today, though, is fairly action packed. Off to taste and probably buy some olio extra vergine di olivo (extra virgin olive oil) at a nearby fattoria (farm), then off to Siena.
Comments
im waiting for laziness to eventually reduce your post titles to something like ID7
I can’t wait until John’s return flight and they have to issue him one of those seatbelt extenders because he’s doubled his wedding weight thanks to all the fresh lardo.
I looked at all of your pictures. I like the bidet one the best.
Americans.
Heidi said:I can’t wait until John’s return flight and they have to issue him one of those seatbelt extenders because he’s doubled his wedding weight thanks to all the fresh lardo.
Actually, despite the fact that I had lardo for both breakfast AND dinner yesterday, I think I’m losing weight. All of these cities are built on hills (Siena and Rome were built on 7) so not a single road is straight or even. Lots of walking up and down stairs and very steep roads.
I want to taste real beef. Go ahead, quote me on that, I don’t care!
Keep having fun!
Well, Paris, Gosia and I are now determined to find a real butcher— a good one with some history and passion —SOMEWHERE in new jersey or PA. I dont’ care if I have to drive an hour to get there, there’s gotta be someone. And when we find one, you’ll be the first two know and grilling will happen.
Hutch, are you hearing anything in the Italian press about Obama being the democratic nominee?
Actually, yes! We stopped at a microbrewery in Florence today and we heard it on whatever radio station they had on. It was basically gibberishgibberishgibberish Barack Obama gibberish gibberish gibberish democratica candidate gibberish Hillary Clinton gibberish gibberish. Then something about McCain and Bush. So while I don’t know what they actually said, then mentioned the race and, specifically him, and then looked up cnn italia on my phone and he was on the front page.
John said:Well, Paris, Gosia and I are now determined to find a real butcher—a good one with some history and passion—SOMEWHERE in new jersey or PA. I dont’ care if I have to drive an hour to get there, there’s gotta be someone. And when we find one, you’ll be the first two know and grilling will happen.
Cool, there is a good one in Perth Amboy if I remember correctly, or that might be a baker.
There are probably some good butchers up in the Jersey City/Hoboken/Newark area, you know, still living in the old days.
I keep meaning to walk to the Butcher’s Block down the street. I want to talk to them about the Pollan book… that is, if the butcher working isn’t some punk-ass kid. It looks like a “real” butcher’s shop…
Hey Sammy,
Check it out: http://butcherbloc.com/
They’re right down the street from you and their philosophy seems legit. I suppose a visit is in order to see if their meats stack up. I’m thinking of emailing the dude and asking where he gets his meats as well.
This visit should probably tie itself into our next food day. Scope it out, then we’ll talk.
I want to get another leg cut like the bisteca alla panzano. Or a t-bone to make bisteca alla fiorentina. Or at least, the amerian approximation. I brought back some porfumo della panzano and some good olive oil so we can do it as close to legit as possible. The key is that we can get really really thick cuts like you cant get at the grocery store if these folks do, in fact, cut to order.
Then we just need to get ourselves a decent kettle grill. Natural gas just won’t do.