As this year comes to a close, I gratefully remember the wonderful things it has brought. Lots and lots of changes, and some transitions that went along with it, but all in all a really prosperous and rich year that I would never take back. I look forward to what this new year will bring, and can already feel the food adventures bubbling up, but before we go on, let me remind you of the big 2011 milestones that affected Fooditka.
1. My Big Name Change - Of course the most significant thing this year for me was my big name change from the Foodista to Fooditka. As you may remember, my new name ties in closely to my heritage and allows me to stand out more. I happily unveiled this new site name and re-launch at a big party, graciously hosted by my good friends at 5 Napkin Burger.
2. My Big Travels - I've been fortunate to travel the world this year, living the dream of participating in a cooking program in Tuscany, where I learned about the wonders of clean, simple and delicious Italian cuisine. But the fun didn't end there, as the year also brought exciting food adventures in Paris, London, Munich, Slovakia and Mexico. I couldn't be happier to explore the cultures of these beautiful countries, and hope to take it to the next level in 2012. Fooditka goes international again!
3. My Big Love of Astoria/LIC - No matter where I go, what I see, and the fantastic things I eat, my passion continues to rest close to home. And although this year has been fantastic when it comes to international food adventures, what keeps me going are the fabulous food-things percolating at home. I love that this year has brought on exciting changes to the nabe such as new restaurants, cafes and more. Some of the most notable ones that come to mind are The Queens Kickshaw, Sugarfreak, Bear, Veslo, Alobar, Astor Room, among others.
It's been an absolute pleasure Astoria...thanks as always for your support, and I can't wait to do it all over again in 2012. Hope you had a happy, healthy and delicious one as well!
La Vena di Vino - Via Don Minzoni, 30. 56048 Volterra, Italy.
+39 0588 81491
www.lavenadivino.com
I’m going to reminisce about Italy one last time before I completely veer off the topic. Here I want to recall an awesome day trip we had with Paolo, our first in fact, to a Medieval Tuscan town called Volterra. Established in the 11th century by the Etruscans, Volterra is located in a hilly region close to San Gimignano and Lajatico, the birthplace and still home place of famous tenor, Andrea Bocelli.
While in Volterra, Paolo showed us all around, taking us to ancient squares, cathedrals, and most interestingly to artist’s shops that sell alabaster works. Alabaster, a mineral, discovered by the ancient Etruscans, was and still is the most popularly used element to make art. We were enamored by the versatile uses this stone had – from musical instruments to mirrors, jewelry, toys and more.
After some great sight seeing and absorption of history, we stopped for lunch and a wine tasting at a local restaurant/pub called La Vena di Vino. Paolo is well acquainted with the owners, boisterous, good-natured Italians who extend their hospitality with gusto and like to share their passion for wine. We dined in their quaint wine cellar at the only communal table, which felt both intimate and special.
Atmosphere:When you first walk into Vena, it feels very much like a bar – a casual pub actually or a dive bar as us Americans would say. What classifies it as a dive? Well the myriad of bras hanging up all over the ceiling and walls in the main room, for starters. This gave us a good laugh and broke the ice quickly, at the same time making us wonder, “Where did Paolo take us?” But like everything else we experienced that week, what you first saw was not what you really got.
We proceeded downstairs to their cellar, where we’d have lunch and a proper local wine tasting. I loved the cellar immediately because it emanated with history and old, cool-looking things. Gone was the kitsch from the upstairs room and in came the tasteful vintage décor such as an old scale, shelves of what looked like precious wine and also an antique dentist chair that was used to surf the web (OK…I guess not all the kitsch was gone).
Food and Wine:As it happened, the menu was in Italian so Paolo graciously ordered for us. But I had a feeling this would’ve been the case regardless of the language on the menu. Despite meeting him just the day before, we trusted him to order something good – I guess last night’s dinner he cooked proved to us that he understood good food.
Ribollita (Zuppa Volterrana) – Since it was still pretty chilly outside (the only cold day we had, luckily) we were delighted when the ribollita, a steaming bowl of thick soup arrived. Packed with vegetables such as zucchini, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and bread as its thickening agent, it absolutely hit the spot. It was deliciously hearty and flavorful, making me think of an Italian version of chili. Paolo described it as the epitome of peasant food because it used simple ingredients and really stretched them to the max.
Cured Meats and Cheese Plate – Now this is how I like to eat lunch – a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and some crusty bread to go along with it. The plate of goodies we received was impressive, boasting 4 types of meats, 3 cheeses, spicy red pepper jam and a crostini with chicken liver. I adored everything and especially the fennel salami that proved to be as earthy as it was primal. The red pepper jam was lovely to spread onto the crusty bread, which was then further topped with a rustic slice of fresh sheep’s mozzarella cheese. As you can see, the portion was quite generous, and even though my eyes are usually bigger than my stomach, I managed to polish off the whole thing. I think you would’ve done the same.
Wine – We had a great time tasting three types of local red wines, one was a Chianti (most commonly known in Tuscany), the other a moltepulciano and the final a Francesa Romana Terenzi. The pairing was perfectly matched with what we were eating – full bodied, red wines with full bodied feel-good food. Our bellies were satisfied and our psyches, needless to say, were relaxed, producing laughs and ridiculous tangents that turned into more laughs.
Service:Since we were with Paolo, a native Italian, we received wonderful treatment and lots of detailed explanations about the wine and the food. Bruno, Vena's gracious owner, recited an interesting history of where the wines came from and also about the cuts of meats we were enjoying. I felt really happy and lucky to be where I was at the moment, enjoying the good things in life and being in the company of genuine, interesting people who shared my interests.
If you ever find yourself in Volterra, I couldn’t recommend this place more – just ask for Bruno or mention Paolo. You’ll get the red carpet rolled out for you.
3 full bellied Mmmms
Image by tastytuscany.comJust because I like to keep you informed about my latest and greatest food adventures, I thought you should know that I'm currently in Palaia, Tuscany. Spending my time in a bed & breakfast cooking school, run by an Italian couple, Pat and Paolo, I hope to bring you up to speed about my Italian food adventures. Here's a little taste of what you can expect in my future posts.
Foodista in Tuscany - What I'll Learn to Make:
- Fresh tagliatelle- Stuffed and baked zucchine
- Brutti e Buoni (not yet sure what this is - can you guess?)
- Risotto with pumpkin and mushrooms- Chicken alla Toscan- Crostata with figs and rosemary
- Stew with mushrooms- Potato rolls with saffron and more!
Depending on how much of a digital connection I'll get, I'll try to report each day about the wonderful foods and customs I'm experiencing. Until then...I hope I've whet your appetite. Ciao!
