My Tuscan food and wine journey

My venture into the Italian eating and drinking culture happened as soon as I stepped off our bullet train.  Strapped with whatever little Italian I could speak, we stumbled into Parione Trattoria around the corner from our apartment.  With a couple bottles of simple Chianti Clasico riserva, my first experience began.  Then came the fresh prosciutto, burratta (a sinister creme-filled mozzarella), and balsamic.  My traveling companions finally got their first taste of burratta and were hooked for the remainder of our trip.  The entree round came and there was lobster risotto, fresh ravioli in a Parmesan creme sauce, tagliatelle with fresh tomatoes. . . I sought a riskier approach and ordered the wild boar with polenta.  The boar was braised for hours and the polenta was so creamy it had the texture of ice cream.  From that moment on, I was convinced to eat unconventional dishes I could not get in the states.  Dessert was decadent, yet refreshing.  The tiramisu came in a martini glass. . . the creme brulee was flamed to perfection and accompanied by tart passion fruit and sweet mangoes.  The perfect balance for a dessert!!

The next day approached and an espresso was in order.  We went to the store and I was in awe at the fresh ingredients and how many aged pork legs were hanging from the rafters.  I spent at least ten minutes surveying the prosciutto, the endless amounts of cheeses, and the fresh breads.  This was our typical antipasta spread. 

Salami, provolone, prosciutto, burratta, a cheese with 50/50 of marscapone and gorgonzola, balsamic with grated Parmesan, mini Roma tomatoes tossed in olive oil and parsley, and a baguette!

A typical line up of our wines.  A 2002 Brunello, 2007 Chianti Classic Riserva, Chianti, and another 2005 Brunello.

Below is a Rosso di Montepulciano.  The little brother of the Brunellos above.

As our days were packed with typical tourist activities, it was refreshing to be able to kick back on our terrace and enjoy these wines and antipasta.  With every meal we consumed, I was amazed at all the fresh ingredients.  The markets were constantly bustling with locals and tourists alike.  One of my favorite meals was the ricotta gnoochi with tomato creme sauce.  My girlfriend's cousin and I prepared this blockbuster meal for an early dinner.  The ricotta was so fresh it barely shed any water, which is a crucial step before one combines it with the flour and parmesan.  Below is a picture of this rich masterpiece.

On Sunday, we ended up going to a private wine tasting at the below Enoteca.  Tony Sasa, the shop owner, was kind enough to indulge us into a foray of his wonderful wines.  After tasting through five incredible wines, we moved on to the aged balsamic vinegars and olive oils.  I was impressed with the versatility of the olive oils; some were kind of sweet, while others had some spice.  The balsamics were inky and viscous like nothing I have ever seen.  Not to mention, delicious! 

The evening of our wine tasting, we decided to treat the mothers to a Mother's day dinner.  We secured a table at Trattoria Gargani, which was conveniently located down the street from our apartment.  With no real expectations besides seeing a hand written menu in the window and an amazing aroma of decadence every time we walked by, we were eager to dine.  The Trattoria did not disappoint.  The wine proved to be silky and the food was simple, yet elegant.  The most interesting meal was the veal and avocado creme sauce, but I think mine was far superior.  My breaded veal was cooked to perfection and the gorgonzola creme sauce provided a savory finesse to dream about!

The lighter side of Amsterdam

A view from a running trail in Vondel Park.  It was bustling with bike riders, runners, and people walking their dogs.  I was immediately sold on Amsterdam after walking through this quaint part of town.  No tourists, just fresh air. 

The courtyard of Begijnhof.  Used for the English Reformation Church.  Built in the 1400's and used by the English speaking church since 1607.



A clock tower.

A gorgeous corridor of restaurants and coffeeshops.



Heavenly window shopping!!





The central train station is even breathtaking.  The trams you see in the picture make getting around the city so efficient and easy.  For seven Euro, one can navigate the city on these trams for twenty-four hours!



Canals and Gondeliers

Piazza San Marco

This was above one of the doors at the St. Mark's Cathedral.  Unbelievably ornate.

A picture of our lunch spot in Venice.  Veal liver with onions and a nice Valpolicella, a perfect combination.

A little reprieve from shopping.

Uffizi Tower & Santa Croce

The Uffizi holds masterpieces by Botticelli, da Vinci, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio.  These amazing buildings were so ornate, words cannot describe.







Piazza Santa Croce was completed in 1442.  The Franciscans used the piazza as a headquarters around the 1200's.  This Gothic church is extremely important now because it holds the tombs of Machiavelli, Michelango, and Galileo.






Looking at the Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi.  

Roma, the two hour snapshot

When we arrived in Rome, we checked our bags at the train station.  I found a nice taxi driver and we were off to do a quick tour of some sites in Rome.  Alessandro, our cab driver, was nice enough to give me plenty of time for pictures.  The Colosseum was breathtaking, even though it was for ten minutes.  It is sad to think that long after the bloody battles, the marble facing was stripped and used to build churches and palaces.









The Spanish steps.which get its name from the Spanish Embassy, is bustling with azaleas in the spring.  The shopping around here is a women's dream!




"According to legend, the ashes of Nero were enshrined here, until 11th-century residents began complaining to the pope about his imperial ghost.  The Egyptian obelisk dates from the 13th century B.C" (Frommers, 166, 2011).

Breakfast in Frankfurt

This was on our four hour layover in Frankfurt.  I was exhausted and needed something.  Why not have a pretzel and a tall boy pilsner?!  Sorry to disappoint, no vino for this breakfast!!

The mistaken identity of pink wine

As the weather approaches “white wine drinking season”, why not have the luxury of both in one glass. The solution, Rosé.


Pink wine is not as White Zinfandel advertises, it is more complex. White Zin is made from "less than desirable" juice that is fermented to a medium sweet style. This is to hide their countless flaws and cheap juice.  Unfortunately, when most people see pink wine, they immediately think White Zin. I'm here to tell you that there are numerous amounts of pink wine that will blow your mind, let it happen! I know this because I thought the same thing until a year ago. My boss, at a local wine and gourmet store, was mildly obsessed with dry Rosé. From the first sip of a Heidi Schrock  Rosé, I was hooked. I found that the versatility of these wines is what I enjoy the most. It tastes like a red, but drinks like a white. One can pair Rosé with anything from hot dogs to turkey to oysters, which I can successfully attest.



Proper Rosé wines are made with the best of both worlds. Depending on the desired outcome, the winemakers pick a red grape and crush them. After one presses the juice, they let it sit in the skins, stems, and seeds for hours or a couple of days; instead of days or weeks like red wine.  Then, the juice is separated from the solids and goes through a fermentation period that is usually at a low temperature and slow like white wine. The result is a harmonious blend between juicy red fruits and a crisp clean finish.

So in the future, do not let the color of wine deter you from opening up new taste buds. I can promise you, it is well worth it.


The above wine was a perfect match with raw oysters.  It had lucious red rasberries and a great amount of smokiness to offset the salty freshness of the oyster!

Away we go

Alright, here's the dirt. . .

I'm doing this so my friends and family can follow my ridiculous stories. Stories that usually stem from drinking too much wine and eating copious amounts of delicious food. This was how I was raised and why I can value fresh herbs, decanted Cabernet, and the sense of family brought about by a dinner table.

By no means am I a world class chef, nor a wine expert; but, I have an insatiable craving for both. I learned to cook from my mother, who was one of six children. She taught me to abide by one basic rule: USE FRESH HERBS! This rule has been abused since day one and I quickly discovered that this one simple guideline adds another dimension to cooking. To me, there is nothing more relaxing than putting on some blues music, drinking a glass of wine, and prepping a meal for friends, family, or a significant other.

My wine knowledge has grown some roots in the past year. I made the decision to get back in the food and beverage industry with aspirations to secure myself somewhere in the wine business. I've worked in a retail store with a knowledgable boss, taken a CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) class, and am currently working in a four-star hotel as a bartender.

Stay tuned for pics of some of my favorite wines from the past six months and my travels to Florence, Italy. There will no doubt be some shenanigans to share!!

When in doubt, pour yourself another glass.