Between Maranello and Bologna, there is this town named Vignola with a little medieval castle and famous chocolate-coffee cake Torta Barozzi (http://www.tortabarozzi.it/). It was one of the possible locations for our future house (when we were considering the school in Bologna) so we decided to visit it to have an idea of what could be awaiting us.
There was an agricultural fair going on that Easter Sunday. Not a big one, but the asparagus, blood oranges, artichokes, strawberries, Parmesan cheese, fresh pasta, mortadella ham, olive oil etc that we bought there were really good, among the best we have ever tried. We also saw, for the first time, Cream of Balsamic Vinegar. The culinary possibilities are quite interesting with this product, I can't wait to try them out after we move to Italy.
We bought some gelati from one of the shops outside the fair and the different flavours were excellent. I look forward to tahpowing styrofoam boxes of the good stuff in the future.
Then we walked around (really small town) a little and decided to look for a place to lunch in. We came across this small restaurant Osteria/Enoteca di Via Selmi and decided to give it a try.
The restaurant is divided into 2 halls with the kitchen in between. The one at the main entrace is a little dark and small. The other one leads to another street and has some sort of a terrace/garden. This one has high ceilings (with wooden beams and orange drapes) and is much brighter. Quite lovely, actually. The waiters are young and friendly.
There was an agricultural fair going on that Easter Sunday. Not a big one, but the asparagus, blood oranges, artichokes, strawberries, Parmesan cheese, fresh pasta, mortadella ham, olive oil etc that we bought there were really good, among the best we have ever tried. We also saw, for the first time, Cream of Balsamic Vinegar. The culinary possibilities are quite interesting with this product, I can't wait to try them out after we move to Italy.
We bought some gelati from one of the shops outside the fair and the different flavours were excellent. I look forward to tahpowing styrofoam boxes of the good stuff in the future.
Then we walked around (really small town) a little and decided to look for a place to lunch in. We came across this small restaurant Osteria/Enoteca di Via Selmi and decided to give it a try.
The restaurant is divided into 2 halls with the kitchen in between. The one at the main entrace is a little dark and small. The other one leads to another street and has some sort of a terrace/garden. This one has high ceilings (with wooden beams and orange drapes) and is much brighter. Quite lovely, actually. The waiters are young and friendly.
Hubby and Eldest Son started with a specialty of the region, Tortis in a clear Broth. I had Grilled Prawns. The babies looked at us eat. Then the 3 kids shared an Oven-roasted Rack of Lamb (it was Easter) with Oven-roasted Potatoes, Hubby had Beef with Balsamic Vinegar Sauce and I had Spaghetti with Seafood. All very good, if a bit too salty. And I am not a fan of roasted potatoes. I usually prefer French Fries or Potato Purée. We skipped dessert as Hubby actually was suffering from Gastric Flu (though, ahem, still eating), while the Babies were doing their social rounds in the restaurant (and bothering the other diners, needless to say).
They do 5-course Meat or Fish menus for 27 and 32 Euros respectively and we would certainly go for them the next time we dine in.
Modena and Bologna are the culinary hotspots of Italy so we're in for a good time food-wise. Just imagine Parma Ham, Parmesan Cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, the best Italian wines etc all just next door to wherever we'll be staying. Though I still prefer Lim Chee Guan sausages and my much missed fishballs anytime, man.
They do 5-course Meat or Fish menus for 27 and 32 Euros respectively and we would certainly go for them the next time we dine in.
Modena and Bologna are the culinary hotspots of Italy so we're in for a good time food-wise. Just imagine Parma Ham, Parmesan Cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, the best Italian wines etc all just next door to wherever we'll be staying. Though I still prefer Lim Chee Guan sausages and my much missed fishballs anytime, man.
Update : Hubby went back there last week with a colleague and had a Beef Tartare to start followed by a Bisteca alla Fiorentina. He said that the latter was succulent, really excellent.
Osteria di Via Selmi
Via Selmi, 3
Vignola (MO)
http://www.osteriadiviaselmi.it
Tel : 00 39 335 13 36 227
2 commentaires:
Hi Serene!
With all the fishball talk, u're making me miss the food back home even more :(
You don't get it here in stuttgart , do u? Anyway, welcome back!
Su, did you meet up with Pheng?
Just talked to a mother in my son's Kinderhaus this morning, she's from Indonesia (as I've suspected) and is here coz her hubby's doing his PhD at Hohenheim U. But my Malay damn rusty and German koyak, so chicken and duck talking.
BTW, you can find frozen fishballs in almost any Asienladen here in Stuttgart. Made in Thailand and somemore Halal. Not fabulous like back home, of course, but better than nothing. Umami has a blog posting on how to make fresh fishballs though. But looks lehcheh.
I see you maybe next week ah, I have too many ends to tie up just a week back from the hols.
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