Foodtopia Moments

 For much of this summer, I cooked my own meals. I didn't go out nearly as often as I have at times in the past. So yesterday, for my last big Italian meal, I decided to have the penne all'amatriciana. It's a spicy tomato sauce with chopped up bacon pieces, and it is delicious. The one I had yesterday was good, but not the best I've had. It was great having that dish again though. 

I also had the costoletto Milanese, which is a pounded out veal cutlet usually serves on the bone. It's a traditional dish in Milan, and I've yet to have a bad one. I love squirting some lemon on top for added flavor. It was served with arugula, and I'm beginning to wonder if meat should ever be served without arugula. It's the perfect addition. 

Everybody Hates Delays

 For the second time on my long trek back to New Jersey, my travel plans have it a snag. First there was the train cancellation from Milano Centrale to the Milano Airport where my hotel is. That was an easy fix, as I just got into a taxi and headed to the hotel. I woke up this morn ing to a text message, email, and notification from the United app that my flight was delayed three hours. Looking at the bright side, I was able to drop off my bags, go back to the hotel and have a proper breakfast and enjoy some more time in the room, and they even gave me a $14 voucher to use in the airport restaurants.  Everybody hates delays, but thankfully I booked the hotel connected to the airport and don't need to sit by a gate for five hours. I did shell out the extra $19 for Premier Access. Throws me into boarding group 2, and I had no wait to check in my bags. The regular line was 25 people long, so the money was well worth it already.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the mid 80s. It was a national holiday here in Italy called Ferragosto. I spent the day walking around Milan, visiting the park in back of the Sforza Castle, then heading to the Piazza del Duomo. I then went to the fancy department store la Rinascente to do some last minute shopping for gifts. I walked about 14,000 steps then had lunch and the first gelato in weeks. I literally hadn't eaten gelato since my cousins returned home on July 24. 

I'm about to straighten up the room, do a last once over (not sure where I'd put anything since my luggage is already checked), and freshen up a bit. Hopefully no further delays.

Foodtopia Moments

 Last night in Milan, I stopped at Caffe Dante. It's a little sidewalk restaurant with a view of the Sforza Castle. I ordered one of my favorite dishes in Italy, spaghetti carbonara. It's a dish that features egg yolks, cream, cheese, and a bacon type meat. It was delicious, one of the best I've had in Milan. I also ordered the large Aperol Spritz. Initially the guy tried to sell me the extra large, which essentially was a fishbowl drink. I didn't realize how large the large size was. Definitely too large, but it was delicious. 

 

On the Long Road Back

The road back to New Jersey is a long one each year. Yesterday morning, I woke up, finished closing the house, and boarded a train for Milan. It was about five and a half hours on the train, and the trip was going smoothly. In the Milano Centrale train station, I purchased my ticket for the train that heads to the airport where my hotel is, and made my way toward that binario (track). As I was walking over to the train I looked up to double check the departure time. That's when I saw that the trains to the airport were canceled. 

In the Trenord company office, they suggested I take my three bags onto the subway to a different train station. Not wanting to walk around Milan and head into subways with all of my luggage, I decided to hire a taxi. It was much more comfortable, quicker, and better air conditioned. I was able to use the ticket I had purchased later in the day.

My last day in Campomarino on Saturday was bittersweet. I'm looking forward to heading home, but it's always sad to leave the house. I had a good summer there this year. I only saw the beach on Saturday during my morning walk. It was tranquil and beautiful. But within a couple of hours we had clouds, strong winds and rain. So I didn't miss a day at the beach working in the house closing things up. 

Today my plan is to head into Milan to walk around and have dinner. I was going to eat at the hotel then go right up to bed. But I found out yesterday that a lot will be open in Milan even though it is Ferragosto, a national holiday here. Tomorrow I fly home. 

Foodtopia Moments

 Tonight I went to Ristorante Netti for the last time in 2022. We had a table full with 11 people (counting my 10-day-old cousin Arianna), and a really nice evening. I ordered my favorite pizza, the Scorpion. It has sauce and mozzarella, plus salsiccia piccante (pepperoni), olio di pepperoncino (hot pepper oil) and caciacavalo (a type of sharp provolone). I had them add zucchini and fresh arugula this time. It was the perfect match of flavors. The little bit of heat paired well with the fresh arugula. I'd get it again in a heartbeat. 

Summer Winding Down

 My time in Campomarino is quickly coming to an end for 2022. What seems like a long time beforehand, has flown by. I've started packing my suitcases, and also started the procedure of closing up the condo. Saturday will be a heavy work day getting the house closed up for the offseason. 

The past few days have seen a few visitors come to town. the other night, my cousin Roberto came for a visit with his friend Massimo. The pair had traveled to America together twice in the mid 1990s and we had all hung out a bunch then. It was like we picked up right where we left off. Here's a photo of Me and Massimo from 1995 and one of the three of us this week.

My cousin Valeria is also in town for a few days staying with Zia, who is her grandmother. We've only been able to hang out a little since she's been here, but it's always great to see her. 

Tonight, Zia, Valeria and I met up with my cousin Renato, his wife Dorette, their son Mario, his wife Cassandra, their 2-year-old daughter Rosella and their 10-day-old daughter Arianna, along with Cassandra's parents. We went to Ristorante Netti for some seafood and pizza. The food was great, but it was really about the first time meeting Ariana and saying goodbye to family for another year.

Yesterday, we had the annual condo association meeting. Every year they talk about the repairs that are needed. And every year the old people block up and vote to suspend doing anything for another year. Zia was the President of the association again this year.

Of course my days here wouldn't be complete without some beach time. I've been hitting the sand in the mornings and afternoons, coming home in the middle of the day for lunch. Sadly, the past few days have been extra windy, and the water has been way too rough to enjoy fully. Hoping tomorrow, probably my last day at the beach, is calmer waters. 

Foodtopia Moments

One of the easiest meals of the summer was today's pranzo (lunch). Tonno e caperi (tuna and capers) in a tomato sauce is a classic Italian dish. It's fast to make, doesn't break any budget, and tastes amazing. You start by opening and draining a can of tuna. Here in Italy I use tuna in oil because it's tougher to find tuna in water. In America I use tuna in water. Either one works fine. Put some olive oil in a small pot, throw in the tuna and cook it over medium high heat. After a few minutes, add a drained bottle of small capers. After about five minutes, add a bottle or can of crushed tomatoes, and some water. Then a
dd a few sprinkles of salt, and let it cook down while you heat the water and cook the spaghetti. It'll splatter, so lower the heat once it starts to boil. Make this easy pasta dish and you'll have people definitely asking for seconds. 

Fun by Day and Night

 The past few days here in Campomarino Lido have been beautiful. The sun has been shining, the water has been refreshing even when it's a little rougher than normal, and I've been getting some screenwriting done. I've also taken a trip to Termoli, and spent an evening in town with good family friends. 

By day, I've been spending most of my time at the beach. Umbrellone 122 Sud at Lido Ritz is my daily spot. I usually head into the water for a bit, then head back and hang out on the chaise lounge or in a chair under umbrella reading, watching videos or just resting. This morning, however, I decided to hop aboard the bus and head to Termoli. I wanted to get a few things like a luggage tag, a couple of groceries at the supermarket, and the number for a taxi in case I need one sometime. I walked both the old and new parts of Termoli, even eating a focaccia breakfast with a view of the Adriatic Sea.  The city was alive with people spilling out of coffee shops and heading to the beach. I ended up walking more than 18,000 steps before lunch. 

Most nights, Zia Carmelita will come by my place. We'll talk, come up with lists for the different markets, and have some pizza. One night, she hosted a "pre-condo association meting" meeting with the guy who should probably be the head of the condo association. Last night, I went into the center of town with a good family friend, Antonio, his wife Anna and their daughter Doris. It was a great evening. We walked past all of the street vendors, and grabbed a slice of pizza. 

 I'm in my final week here at the beach, so my plan is to soak up the sun over the next few days and begin packing. Kind of crazy how quickly the time is flying by this year. 

Foodtopia Moments

 For people who haven't looked at a map in a while, let me refresh your memory. Italy is a peninsula, so fish is a big part of the culture. Yesterday, I cooked pranzo (lunch) for Zia and I, and went strait to the sea for the menu. The fish marked in town had some beautiful gamberi (shrimp), calamari, and persico, which is a type of white fish. After cleaning and copping the fish, I added it to some special type of meter long squash they have over here. I added some tomato paste and broth, which made a nice sauce for the little bit of pasta that I added. If you like fish, this was a dish for you. 

A Morning in Termoli

 For the past few days, I've been mainly heading to the beach for a couple of hours in the morning, and a few hours in the afternoon. I've been returning home for lunch in between, usually reheating something i cooked the night before, or trying some new ideas. 

Monday, however, I took a break from my routine and trekked north to the bustling metropolis of Termoli. In no way is this actually a metropolis, although it seems like one when compared to Campomarino. I needed to do some banking, pay some bills, and look for a second suitcase since it's prepaid already and I have bought a few things. 

After handling the banking and my cell phone bill, I stopped at a paneficcio (bread bakery) and picked up a slice of focaccia. Topped with burrata, mortadella, and crushed pistachio, the only thing better than it was the view I had of a nearly 1,000 year old castle kissed by the Adriatic Sea. 

Following the snack, I set off for a couple of shopping malls to look for a suitcase. I had seen one in the center of Termoli that was just about right for me, but wanted to make sure I was getting the best deal. While at the mall, I went to the supermarket for a few things, but id not find a suitcase I liked for the right price. I ended up walking back to the center of town to get the one I had originally seen. I threw my groceries in, then moved on to the pet store. All of the times I'm criss crossing the town, I had to travel through the tunnel below the train station. People waiting for trains saw me going back and forth a few times were probably wondering what I was doing. I even stopped by a pet store to get some gifts for the dogs back at home. The suitcase was filling up by the time I got the bus back to Campomarino. Once I got off the bus, I had. mile and a half walk back to the house. Really tested out the suitcase wheels. 

Aside from the excitement of a trip 6 km up the coast, I've been mainly relaxing and writing some screenplay scenes. I had a whole script mapped out, and then had a much more exciting idea, so I've started writing that one instead. Jazzed to get the words on the page. 

Foodtopia Moments

 The wonderful thing about summer for me is the time to try new things. My lunch today was one of those moments when I think of how I can make something and it comes out better than I dreamt. The pancetta (pork belly) is something I make for my business often. I cooked it along with some ribs the other day, and just reheated it for today's lunch. The pasta, however, was new. I stopped at a local market and picked up some fresh tagliatelle pasta. While the water got up to a boil, I mixed a few tuorli d'uovo (egg yolks), grana padano cheese, olio d'oliva, sale e pepe nero (salt and black pepper) in a large bowl and whipped the ingredients together. As soon as the pasta finished in the boiling water, I drained it, and immediately tossed the hot pasta in with the egg yolk mixture, being sure to toss it vigorously to coat the pasta and heat up the egg mixture. It was outstanding with the consistency of sunny side up egg yolk.