Mantua Italy (Ethicomp 2008)
4 nights in northern Italy and 4 totally different meals.
Tuesday 23rd. Met a group of 30 pre conference delegates and we meandered to the central piazza and settled in a restaurant. I was in a group of 6 outside. Cold but OK. Restaurant was overwhelmed. 30 covers suddenly arriving out of season. They didn't cope very well. Starters and mains arrived at random. Some dishes were cold before they were eaten. They offered us bread and water which we accepted but later paid 6 euros for bread and 7-50 for water. A bottle of wine was 20 euros. very poor stuff. Attilla the Hun restauration. Paid 37 euros for not much at all. Company however was excellent.
Wednesday 24th. Civic reception. Difficult to judge as you didn't know what you were actually going to get. Could be a breadstick - could be a 7 course buffet. Escaped after an hour and went for a pizza and salad in a local cheap resto with a few friends.
Thursday 25th. Conference dinner. Rather a good event. Started with prosecco then a wonderfully slow meal with many courses including the local specialities of sausage risotto and pumpkin ravioli. Accompanied by dry red lambrusco at 10.5% which was remarkably refreshing. Wandered through the city late at night and had a beautifully warm cognac in bar on the way back to the hotel.
Friday 26th. Conference over and many had left but the survivors gathered ina small family run resto just off the main drag for a slow but very impressive meal. Bresaola with lemon and rocket for starter - air dried beef to you lot - so much meat and beautiful rocket with olive oil and lemon. Mantua local veal stew for mains. Very similar to a south western french cassoulet with beans and gorgeous sauce. A bottle of wine and total bill of £25 euros. Best meal of the trip. Colleague on the next table had horse steak and when asked what he thought of it he replied "Champion". Respect....
Saturday 27th at the airport. Panini and Red wine. Only 6-60 euros. Much better than the rip off merchants at british airports. The panini had mozzarella, rocket, salami, tomatoes, onions and was just delicious. The 18ml glass of red wine was actually served in a tumbler and I had to say "when" (whatever that is in italian) or I would have had 50cl for just 2 euros.
Same day on the A1 going home. Stopped at the american OK diner near Newark. World of difference. Spent £9 on a burger with fingerlickin' USA style and taste. I'm sure it's an oxymoron but it would be hyperbole to say it was anything but Litotes.
Tuesday 23rd. Met a group of 30 pre conference delegates and we meandered to the central piazza and settled in a restaurant. I was in a group of 6 outside. Cold but OK. Restaurant was overwhelmed. 30 covers suddenly arriving out of season. They didn't cope very well. Starters and mains arrived at random. Some dishes were cold before they were eaten. They offered us bread and water which we accepted but later paid 6 euros for bread and 7-50 for water. A bottle of wine was 20 euros. very poor stuff. Attilla the Hun restauration. Paid 37 euros for not much at all. Company however was excellent.
Wednesday 24th. Civic reception. Difficult to judge as you didn't know what you were actually going to get. Could be a breadstick - could be a 7 course buffet. Escaped after an hour and went for a pizza and salad in a local cheap resto with a few friends.
Thursday 25th. Conference dinner. Rather a good event. Started with prosecco then a wonderfully slow meal with many courses including the local specialities of sausage risotto and pumpkin ravioli. Accompanied by dry red lambrusco at 10.5% which was remarkably refreshing. Wandered through the city late at night and had a beautifully warm cognac in bar on the way back to the hotel.
Friday 26th. Conference over and many had left but the survivors gathered ina small family run resto just off the main drag for a slow but very impressive meal. Bresaola with lemon and rocket for starter - air dried beef to you lot - so much meat and beautiful rocket with olive oil and lemon. Mantua local veal stew for mains. Very similar to a south western french cassoulet with beans and gorgeous sauce. A bottle of wine and total bill of £25 euros. Best meal of the trip. Colleague on the next table had horse steak and when asked what he thought of it he replied "Champion". Respect....
Saturday 27th at the airport. Panini and Red wine. Only 6-60 euros. Much better than the rip off merchants at british airports. The panini had mozzarella, rocket, salami, tomatoes, onions and was just delicious. The 18ml glass of red wine was actually served in a tumbler and I had to say "when" (whatever that is in italian) or I would have had 50cl for just 2 euros.
Same day on the A1 going home. Stopped at the american OK diner near Newark. World of difference. Spent £9 on a burger with fingerlickin' USA style and taste. I'm sure it's an oxymoron but it would be hyperbole to say it was anything but Litotes.
posted by Julius Caesar at
8:49 pm
