Walkabout 2013 Day 11: Faenza to San Marino

When you have one of the world’s smallest countries just a short drive away, it would be silly not to visit it.

Walkabout 2013 Day 11 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Inventing Second Dinner

Sometimes the food options are too numerous and the only alternative is to have a second dinner.  That was quandary presented in Faenza.  After having had an amazing lunch at Manueli’s we were presented with the opportunity of eating at both Spinetta and at our hotel.  So why not both. 

First dinner was at Spinetta and was only a plate of local salumi and cheeses.  I forgot my camera so no pix. 

Second dinner back at the hotel.  It was BBQ night.  They fired up the grill and served an assortment of meats.  Is there a better phrase in English than “an assortment of meats”?

Bolangese.  Seeminly everyone at Manueli’s was getting a big bowl of Bolagnese and it made me want some.

Obviously some kind of stuffed pasta.  But I don’t remember much of them except they were delicious and had a strong rosemary flavor.

Homemade sausage, pork belly and pork loin.

Steak, medium rare.  At this point I’m about to explode.  A glass of grappa helped ease the pain but I could eat no more.

To celebrate winning the day food and wine-wise, the day was finished with a bottle of local sparkling wine. 

Eating Santa Lucia: Manueli’s

Practically the whole town was here for lunch in this very large restaurant.  They must be doing something right with the whole town there and dish out great dish after great dish.

Veal scaloppini with asparagus.

Zucchini ravioli with stuffed zucchini flowers.

Coffee semifreddo

Lemon gelato

Espresso

I have no idea why Bill Gates was eating here.

Walkabout 2013 Day 10: Faenza

I may have found my new favorite place on Earth.  The food and wine here are amazing and amazingly cheap. Wines I could easily see paying $30-40 a bottle for are selling here for 8-10 €. 

Wineries Visited

• Spinetta – fabulous wines. (5 bottles bought)
• Ancarani – they were ok, nothing special.
• Leone Conti – also very good (3 bottles bought)

 

Walkabout 2013 Day 10 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Walkabout 2013 Day 9: Düsseldorf to Faenza

Since I’m working during the day in the ‘dorf, I haven’t had much of a chance to take pictures and explore.  It’s also been very rainy and dreary here.  It seems my power to bring sunshine and blue skies to Seattle does not also extend to Düsseldorf.

We got into Bologna too late to take any quality pictures on the ride from Bologna to Faenza.  But we did get to the hotel in time for yet another great meal.

A nice Albana made by the hotel/vineyard for the starter of pasta in broth.

Main course Sangiovese also made by the hotel.

The above mentioned pasta in broth.

Ridiculously good pork and radicchio.

Local salumi and cheeses.

Veggies.  Those tomatoes were the shiznit.

Berries and gelato

with biscotti – all homemade.

Cool picture.