More food, George Clooney and my night with 6 Italian men
Salumi Salon
When I went to Lake Como in Lombardy, Northern Italy, I hoped to visit George Clooney, no, really, I did…..but he wasn’t home. He has a house on Lake Como if you haven’t heard, and Lake Como was pretty much where I was staying. So, instead I had to go on with the other things that I came to Italy to do ….eating ,drinking and looking at food.
First would you like to see where George Clooney lives for 6 months of the year?
Largo di Como That’s where George Clooneys house is. Yep….
Fortunately there are a lot of other things going on that attracted my attention. The first was Tutto Food in Milano. The 2013 world food show for packaged, frozen, alcoholic, pastry and preserved foods . Euro food shows are big, I am talking 5 or 6 exhibition halls big. You must look at the program and plan your path through the staggering array of exhibitors.
Milano
Duomo Milan
tutto food
Before the rush you must start with breakfast the Italian way. Keep in mind that there is no reason for Italians to take a long drawn out breakfast like say… the British. Bacon, eggs tea… I think not. An Italian favourite when commuting is the Auto Grill. This institution can be found on each and every freeway, which Italy has plenty of . Stop along the way with every one else and throw down a heart starting coffee and grab a pastry. Italians don’t believe in wasting time on breakfast, they are planning ahead to lunch. Auto Grills can also be a place to grab your next meal with a decent choice of Salumi, foccacia , cheese and probably anything else you care to mention. Breakfast, whether at an Auto grill or small coffee shop is quick…………
Auto grill …classy
Auto grill choices!
More food, Tutto food
Breakfast behind us we head for the vast halls of food to have a look at the exciting possibilities from new producers and our favourite artisans. We buy new season oil, truffle pesto, truffle vinegar and have a look at all the Panettone in the “dolce” hall.
Panetone hall with panetone ceiling
Salumi boutique
Salumi
Culatura or Anchovy water
gorganzola
Balsamic bling
Italian cheeses
Amazing Artichokes
Pasta Couture
Dining at the show
The nature of Italians is evident in the style of this show with dining set up on stands, where food is served and guests are welcomed warmly. I’ve never been to a food show where so much food is cooked and served.
After the show, later tonight I have been invited to dinner with my colleague, his hometown is just outside Como so he has a lot of friends in town. We take a bit of a stroll around the old town, in the late afternoon, before my most favourite part of the Italian day…….
” Aperitivo”. We head to Bar Como in the old town and meet up for Negronis and snacks what is not to love?
Como old town
Old Como
Pastry in the old town
Restaurants
The Church in the town square
Negronis
Bar Snacks
We meet at Bar Como
Older than Australia
After Appertivo we head off for dinner walking through the streets of old Como into a sort of compound with parking in the middle. This turns out to be the building where Nicola ( the host, cook and owner) lives. It has a small stone gateway that only just allows a modern day car to enter. The residents park their cars inside where once horses and carts would have tethered for the night . The apartments look ancient from the outside but nothing can prepare me for the actual appearance of the apartment from the inside. Nicola shows me around. He has spent 2 years renovating this place in the middle of town. It is a sprawling masterpiece with a state of the art kitchen. He makes me feel very relaxed and at home……meanwhile the doorbell has rung many times and, as we get back to the kitchen, where my colleague is munching on Antipasti and drinking wine with a roomful of men and realise I have been invited to a “welcome home ” party for him. I hear a bit of chatter, questions about who I am and what I am doing there. Amongst all these Italian men. They are gracious, and I think when they realise my Italian is rubbish they relax. I am a minority. It appears I am also at a boy’s night. Awwww, they let me join in
The apartment building
Trying wonderful gardiniera and all kinds of mushroom pastes,olives artichokes from the jars (with producers names) and wine!
the boys
It’s amazing how much fun you can have when you only speak a few words of each others language. Here are Marco, Alberto, Diego, Nicola, Andrea and Frederico. The boys were poking fun at me taking photos ( most of which were blurry- thank you Lord, I didn’t have to drive home) and were intrigued about my blog. They laughed about what I might write about them. ” What can you write when you are not sure what we are saying?” Ha ha well….
The beautiful table setting
Baked Conchiglie pasta with Spinach and cheese
Some of our selection of wines which include Artisan and Organic
Andrea, Frederico and Diego
Of course this is absolutely nothing like what most boys nights would be in Australia apart from the copious bottles of wine that were cracked. (this was of course in the name of research)….It is surprising how much Italian men like Prosecco, the dry refreshing less alcoholic version of bubbles… I like that. I have also decided that men who can cook, set a table and have dinner, on a boys night are my kind of men. I like that too. Italians are masculine enough to be comfortable but soft enough to have style and their own grace. (And Frederico….you must be a great Dad, cause you are funny in English or Italian). We left before the dishes were done a shame, because in the name of research I wanted to see who put the rubber gloves on and who picked up the tea towel………… I sure didn’t miss George Clooney tonight.
Today we are back at the show for another round. Here are a couple more glimpses. Dinner tonight and tomorrow night could not be more different for us or for Milan and I can’t wait to share.
Prosciutto. We ate lots of prosciutto & parmesan between…olive oil, pasta, icecream, chocolate, truffles, panetone, nougat, salami, mustard fruits, pickled pepperoncini and on …in no particular order
Salame d’la Duja preserved under fat
Yes, that is a display of Prosciutto etc.
Busking Italian style
Coming Up:
What a beautiful trip and stunning photography! Looking forward to your next post to see where the negroni came from!!
Omgosh! What an amazing adventure!!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com recently posted..Peanut Butter Cookies
I find Italian men impossibly charming! One of the most charming I’ve met really so I was intrigued to see what your evening was like! 🙂
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Mr Crackles, Darlinghurst
WOW! I don’t know what I most jealous about… your amazing trip… the sightseeing amongst the beautiful European architecture, the food you are eating (Baked Conchiglie pasta with Spinach and cheese) or that you spent an evening with 6 Italian men… I would be weak at the knees all night just listening to the accent!
I finally did my SABH dish 🙂 How do you find out each month what it will be?
GourmetGetaways recently posted..Tarte Tatin
Love that you circled Clooney’s house!
yummychunklet recently posted..ffwD: Sable Breton Galette with Berries
What a feast for the eyes – the food, the beautiful buildings and scenery – your photos are amazing and I love how you held your own amongst all those men too, go girl!! xx
Thanks so much for this journey with you. As you probably know, I lived in Italy for many years and I always love to see it through others’ eyes. The Duomo in Milan has to be my favourite building in the world – it just takes my breath away. I love the Lake Como area and Prosecco is a special favourite drink. I can see you are having a wonderful time.
Suzanne Perazzini recently posted..Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil – Book Review
Love this post! What a crazy night!
Tan, I’ve been to George Clooney’s house – but before he bought it. Have amazing photographs of his kitchen – and slept many times in the ‘maids quarters’ which was bigger than my apartment … It’s called Oleandra because of all the Oleandra plants … That was in 1996 … House used to be owned by the Heinz family. Each child had their own floor. Huge gorgeous waterfront garden where the digs could roam. My gurlfruend was employed by the Heinz family to walk the dogs – she didn’t even like dogs. She landed up doing some cooking for them I’m that amazing kitchen. It the the biggest open fireplace I’ve ever seen surrounded by about 100 pieces if classic Deruto ceramics – yellow dragon. Great memories. – and you have captured Como beautifully. Great photos and stories …
Wow what a story!! Thats amazing
My goodness how amazing. That food show looked so glamorous. Balsamic bling! Love it.
Looks like you are having a blast, meeting new people and eating wonderful food (and the wine). Wish I was there too.
lizzie – strayed from the table recently posted..Bean Bruschetta Recipe
Exciting! The food and ladscapes are amazing. Heaven.
Cheers,
Rosa
all that Italian cheese – sigh…. I could die happy 🙂
The Hungry Mum recently posted..Brown sugar M&M cookies / biscuits
so what did six men do to you ??
I want a pasta dress to wear out to dinner with George Clooney please? Wouldn’t that be something to write home about! Your trip to Italy sounds so over the top wonderful. Tell us more!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Sweet Potato & Caramelized Onion Quiche and the Food Police
How insensitive of you Tania- here I was looking forward to the Sydney food show and you have to show me this wonderful world of food! If I didn’t already like you I would probably hate you now 😛
What fun to be part of the boy’s night too, my hubby and his mates would dine on chips, chocolate and pizza… And not even think of doing the dishes! Xox
InTolerant Chef recently posted..Haute Chocolate for Mid Winter
Yeah I know a different world, don’t forget to tell me when you come for the food show
This will be my ‘weekend homework’ after a busy [Australian] Friday!! How wonderful!!! What a great tale and terrific photos! All have already been enjoyed in ‘quickstep’ but will be more so just a tad later!!! Don’t particularly like Prosecco, but methinks those Italian guys would have been ‘jolly good fun’!!! Yep, knew where Clooney lived from way back . . . hmm, perchance friends would enjoy also . . . to me this seems for sharing . . . . .
panetone ceiling is just so fun!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Gluten Free Coconut Cheese Bars with Apricots
What a lovely post Tania and I’m so impressed with the table setting and that image with all the men hanging about in the kitchen – that’s not what you find here in Oz. But I think all Aussie women would like their men to be a little more Italian. What a fun night you must have had – good on you for holding your own! xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Almond Biscuits and…Starting School
Wow. What an exciting experience! I’m talking about the men! The food show? Eeehhhhhh… (!)
Mimi recently posted..Spatchcocking
Hi Mimi, i did have a good time
Salami Salon! Balsamic Bling! My idea of heaven! Wow, just…wow.