Eating Things in Italy

Cream puff towers at Kristin's wedding. So creamy, crispy, light, perfect. 

Stephan's frutti de mare spaghetti, sitting right on the ocean after a long hike in Cinque Terre.

My fantastic risotto version, filled with calimari, clams, mussels, shrimp, among other fresh from the ocean, succulent ingredients.

They say atmosphere has a lot to do with how much you enjoy something. I say, give me gelato just about anywhere, especially really really good pistachio.

This next meal almost deserves a post unto itself. Gorgonzola and pear stuffed purses in a cream and black sesame sauce with shrimp straight out of the ocean. This place in Marina di Massa was the best food I ate in Italy.

Steamed seafood platter.

The best oyster this mouth has ever encountered. It had substance, a beautiful, delicate flavour, and the sauce, ohhh the sauce. Too bad I could only have two!

The most beautiful raw seafood platter, done with a twist of Japanese flourishes.

Juicy and cooked perfectly. Steak is a wonderful thing.

Oh yeah, and here's dessert.

And more dessert.

And tiramisu. Thank you universe, for tiramisu.

Sadly the meal had to end, but it made me wonder: why don't North Americans eat more meals family style like this? You can try so much more!

And, onto pizza. Spek (kind of like prosciutto) and marscapone is now firmly in my new top 3 pizza combinations.

One can't really go wrong with a cheese and meat platter. Creamy, nutty, strong cheese with salty cured meat.

The most perfectly made risotto in Burano, near Venice, at Da Romano. Recommended by Anthony Bourdain in No Reservations.

Strawberries and marscapone with balsamic glaze in Venice.

More gorgonzola, this time with fresh bread sticks, pecorino, walnuts, and honey in Florence. Unreal.

Followed by the most hearty, feel-good lasagna.

This is creamiest, most flavourful gelato in Florence, we came back here 3 times :D Chocolate ganache, black sesame, and marscapone.

Bistecca, a Florentine tradition. A beautiful rare steak the size of two of my own heads. 

And to finish Italy off? The biggest meatball I've ever seen. 

There was so much more food than this. I gained 15 glorious, worth-it pounds and don't regret it. Especially not after looking at all these pictures again.

Farewell perfectly cooked spaghetti, freshly made sauces and cheap wine.  You were beautiful, once.

Awaiting more space!

Just a quick update, I would be posting glorious pictures and wonderful food posts except that my computer doesn't have enough room for my pictures. I am currently awaiting my new portable hard drive so I can upload my ridiculous amount of photos :)

Super windy day on the Cliffs of Moher!

I look so comfortable!

I also had this amazing quad of salads at Lurve at Lucy's in Dublin the other day!

Cashew potato salad, bean and corn, spinach and carrot, and tabbouleh.

Afternoon Tea in Edinburgh

If you're ever in Edinburgh, looking for something to do one afternoon, you could do what I've done.

Climb to Arthur's Seat.

Then walk all the way to the Royal Botanical Gardens for afternoon tea (at a very reasonable price!)

It has a really gorgeous view.

And an amazing tea.

All for me. Yum!

There's ham, smoked salmon, and cucumber finer sandwiches, a scone with jam and clotted cream, and three (THREE!) desserts including Scottish shortbread.

I am a happy Wendy.

Scotland, Land Of My Heart

Nayyy!

Nayyy!

Nayyyy!

Shrieks a kid between giggles as his Dad tosses him up in the air again and again.

Noe, yer no'

Noe, yer no'

Says the guy next to me at the Mexican place I've decided is appropriate for my first meal in Edinburgh. (If you don't count the strawberry shortcake.)

These are the sounds of Scotland. And I love it with all my heart.

I often spoke about moving here for a masters, or to work, or to be a nomad.

Pardon me, my dinner has arrived.

Chicken in a spicy savoury chocolate pablano sauce with cilantro, avocado, salad with magical Mexican dressing, and tortillas to wrap everything into an amazing, sensual mouthful.

It may not be Scottish, but it was fantastic, and it was in Scotland so...

Actually, my first time ever having Thai was in Edinburgh 9 years ago. 

Holy crap. I'm saying things like "9 years ago" and it's still having to do with my adult life.

But back to this Thai. My sister said, have you ever had coconut rice? Have you ever had pad thai? And it changed my life. It was the first time I dove into international cuisine and fucking LOVED it. To this day, Thai is one of my favourites. 

But it showed me that being fearless makes life worth living. Korean, Ethiopian, El Salvadorian, Japanese, heck, I plan on trying haggis tomorrow. Haggis. And I plan on loving it. 

If you offer it to me, chances are I'll devour it with relish.

Oh, I'm currently enjoying this guy at The Royal Mile Tavern. He's superb! This is him playing Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. I took some video earlier and I'll attach it when I get home. His band is called The OK Social Club.

So, tomorrow, Arthur's Seat. Hopefully there are a few moments of sunshine :)

P.S. I just departed from Nottingham, which was properly relaxing and spent with my great friend Kayla and her partner Tom. Lovely town, and Lincoln was an adorable place to spend a day. 

Tragically, My Last Day In Barcelona

"Mixed Seafood" at a Kiosko Universal in Boquera Market, Barcelona - MESSY GOODNESS!

View from halfway up Montjuïc

Me after climbing half a mountain (pics after full mountain in 2 weeks :P)

Afternoon snack across from Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral at Sagardi.

Last visit to the beach + mango margarita.

Goodbye Barcelona!

Austinians, Flamenco, Rain.

Yet another day has passed where I am completely stoked to be in Barcelona. Partly due to two awesome Texans who have become my new best friends, Austinians if you will.

We went to a beautiful flamenco show tonight at the Palacia de la Música Catalana, which was brilliant, gorgeous, passionate, just wonderful. Then we devoured a fantastic meal at Teresa Carles. My second there today. Yep, that´s right, I liked it so much I went back the same day - and brought reinforcements.

This aft I ate their ceviche made with young coconut and avocado, the best gazpacho of my life (with cumin!) and the Catalonian cheesecake topped with prefectly roasted candied pecans, fresh cherries and honey.

Top that off with a gorgeous beetroot, apple, and cucumber juice and I was in Barcelona heaven.

Tonight we went a little heavier and I ate the smoked tofu and truffle spaghetti, and we shared some mushroom, pumpkin, and spinach croquettes. All were perfectly rich - enough to feel spoiled without feeling guilty ;) That is, until the warm chocolate lava cake with perfect vanilla ice cream came. Luckily we shared one dessert tonight instead of three like last night :P

Apart from the great food, I walked over to the Sagrada Familia cathedral today, which was stupendous. Full of marvellous architectural feats and beautiful touches by Antoni Gaudi and those who followed him. I continued on to the Gaudi designed Park Güell, which was great until the rain started to pour and I got soaked under my insufficient umbrella.

Insufficient Umbrella

Other amazing random things from today: happening upon about a hundred swing dancers of all ages in a square grooving out (some with legit skillz,) and then finding myself in the middle of Barcelona´s huge Filipino Independence Day celebration being forced to eat glutenous coconut rice by a friendly woman and watching little girls do an adorable job of their traditional dances.

Great day :)

Park Güell in the Rain