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| Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Milan and Bergamo, Italy  Doorknocker in Cittá Alta, Bergamo We spent the other week in Bergamo, Italy, which is 45 kilometers outside of Milan. It was excellent to visit our friends Donatella and John and their daughter (who is good friends with my daughter), catch up, sightsee, and of course, eat.  This is what I'm still dreaming about. When we were in Milan, Donatella took us to an unassuming little bakery called Luini where they have a classic version of Italian street food: panzerotti. It is basically a yeast-risen dough, filled with mozzerella and tomato, then fried til crispy. It is so simple and unassuming. And yet, I am totally obsessed with it.  And, as you can see by this line, I'm not the only one obsessed with it.  We spent most of our time in Bergamo, where one famed local dish is casoncelli alla bergamasca. It is a pasta stuffed with meat, folded into half moons, then served in a butter, bacon and sage sauce. Oh, and then topped with Parmesan cheese. Okay, how can you go wrong: pasta? butter? bacon? For the love of Mario Batali, this was so delish, we had it at least three times.  The town is also famous for the confection called polenta e osei, a spongecake typically filled with apricot jam, rolled in sugar, and topped with a tiny chocolate bird. This is meant to resemble polenta, which is an essential Lombardian staple dish. Donatella is a wonderful cook, so she made us risotto alla milanese, so simple and delish, and then an excellent shrimp dish with saffron. We ate way too much pizza. Yes, it is not overrated: pizza in Italy is way, way better than pizza anywhere else. It was like, every time I had pizza it was better than any pizza I've ever eaten. That's saying something! Oh yeah, and ice cream: We naturally had ice cream every day, but the two best gelaterie that we went to were Grom in Milan and Verderosa in Bergamo. Both use organic ingredients and are artigianale, which means all-natural ingredients and made on site. I was too distracted by the lines and the deliciousness of the gelato at Verderosa to snap any pictures, otherwise I would have tried to participate in Ms Adventures in Italy's Tour del Gelato.  The baby snacking on what's left of a cone outside of Gelateria Verderosa in Bergamo  The kids at the Piazza Santa Ana (with the little guy rocking-- what's that?-- a Crispy Waffle shirt!)  Lions at the fountain, Piazza Vecchia, Bergamo I came back armed with dried porcini mushrooms, so next post: mushroom risotto! Links Gelateria Grom Ms Adventures in Italy: Tour del Gelato Labels: travel posted by sheryl | 8:43 PM | Hey, I randomly found your site - you were in "my" town - glad you found Luini's...yum panzerotti. Hi there-- glad you found my site. Next time we find ourselves in Italy, I'll have to get your tips on gelato!
You have such a wonderful blog, and great pictures. I was in Italy just last summer and you're making me jealous that I'm not going back! hey Sheryl! The panzerotti looks absolutely delish!! Would you happen to have a good reliable recipe of this??? I really want to make some here!!! =) PLease email me if it isn't too much of a bother!! I think I am now obsessed with panzerotti. And I've never had it before!
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Welcome to Sheryl's site dedicated to the humble waffle, among other sweet, savory and delicious things. I'm based in The Hague, Netherlands, and post recipes and travel (food, of course) photos, so enjoy and smakelijk eten! Top Posts Categories Recent
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