My Dinner at Gambero part 1

This is Costa, a 2 inch thick veal chop breaded twice and pan fried slow in butter. The butter is basted during the entire cooking time. The potatoes are cooked in the oven with butter and rosemary until brown and soft. The tomato is slow roasted and very tasty. I think you should get more than one. Most of the people don't even eat them, GO FIGURE.
This is Baccala, cod cooked in butter on a bed of mashed potatoes and on the side slow cooked onions in broth and butter. They are sweet and go very well with the cod.
Chocolate Semi Freddo with an fresh orange jam. If you like chocolate you would love this dessert. It melts in your mouth. Kinda like a frozen mousse.
This is Stephanie, she is my friend and local pastry shop owner. I invited her to eat with me at the restaurant. We both enjoyed our evening very much. I did her hair color and curls for the event. When she left me she went to her boyfriends and she said he just stared at her when she walked in the door. The staff was very on top of making it a great night. The food was cooked perfect and presented beautifully. When it came time to pay, NO CHARGE. It would has cost 200 euros. I thought they would comp mine but not hers. Gambero deserves it Michlin Star, not because I ate for free but for everything else.

I sent another blog before this one to show you the people in my life for the last 2 months. I have just found out that friday is my last day. 3 more days to work then I will pack and leave Sunday for Colorno and my test. I know it sounds silly but Sarurday the day on my paperwork, Its just one day. I WON THE LOTTERY, at least that is how I felt. I got up today and finished cleaning my space and packing. I will walk over to my favorite pastry shop and have a caffe. More to come on my move to Colorno. The countdown has started, 5 1/2 days and I am home.
Signing out from Italy, Yvonne

My Dinner At Gambero

This is my crew I work with everyday. They are a pretty good group of guys. I think they wish I was younger and cuter. I bet if I was, they would not mind if I could speak Italian.
These were my wait staff. These two are always nice to me. They actually go out of there way to make things easier. During dinner service they clue me in on the people served. This is a hugh help.
Gino and His mom, He owns the place, been in the family for years. This is his mom and my favorite person here. She loves me. I enjoyed her so much even though we did not understand each other.
Paola and her son Johnny, he went out of his way to make mr feel welcome. He spoke English and always stopped and would chat a minute. When no one speaks to you all day it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nice to hear someone talk.
Yvonne

My Trip To Franciacorta

Well like I told you yesterday I'm back. I had a hard time but found someone to take me to Franciacorta. It is a bunch of little cities and they are not all connected by train. The vineyards are no where near the train stations. He picked me up outside my room and delievered me to the same spot. I know they say the trains are easy but wow this was heaven. When we got there the large vineyards were closed for holiday. I was getting sad, I had put alot of time into this trip, and things just seem to be going wrong. My driver was great he got on the phone and worked. I ended up in the SOLIVE vineyard. They gave me a private tour. This first picture is what I saw when I first walked into the production area. They collect types of tiny antique transportation. My driver spoke English so he translated. I was happy because I understood alot of what she said. Her accent was more like at school. He told them I was a cooking student and was doing a stage at Gambero. They had heard of my restaurant and school and treated me very special.
This was a table set up for my private tasting. I wish I could convey the stature of the whole place but it is impossible. In pictures it just shows a room. I got to taste the Rose and Satin Sparkling wines and she told me I would have the brut at lunch. I did not know they were feeding me. My favorite was the Satin, It was like magic in my mouth.
This is another car and the vats for storing the sparkling wine before it is bottled.
She drove us down to their farm area and this country style building. They grow everything they serve, from the cows to the vegetables. It is organic and safe. There idea of organic is a bit different from ours. They don't just say all natural because some natural things are not good. They have very strict rules. She sat me down and food and my brut franciacorta showed. This is a grape and balsamic risotto. It was very different but in a very good way. She explained they came up with it because they had plenty of grapes. The cheese was a very strong cheese but I never could understand what kind. The sweet and the sharp taste with the balsamic went together so well. Next they brought me polenta with lots of pepper, potatoes, and slices of steak with olives and grapes in a brown sauce. This was tasty but the risotto was the best. The brut was good but the satin was the winner. I was to full for dessert and was ready to buy some wine. When I went to pay the girl said 15 in Italian and I thought I misunderstood. So to be safe I took out a 50 and she handed me change. I could not believe it 15 euros for my tasting and my great meal. I brought wine to give as gifts when I go back to take my test. I leave here for school in 5 days. I was so content I almost slept the way back to Calvisano. This was a very very very good day.
Yvonne

My Unexpected Vacation

I was told on Friday the 7th I would be off Monday thur friday the next week. I really don't know why everything is so last minute here. It is not as if they just decided this, it is in the guide books. I knew we closed but I did not know if I had off, I asked and asked but no answer. So I needed to decide what to do. I decided on a trip to Franciacorta, there was a guide in Bergamo who could take me thurs. I thought I would just go and enjoy another city. It was a beautiful double walled city. The upper city was really almost all intact. I hired a guide for the day and we explored the upper city. The first picture is my lunch spot, A Tuscan Irish Pub. I loved all the writing on the walls. My Irish coffee was pretty good. So was my lunch of Parma Ham sandwich. Not so Iris but Still good.
This is a tower, they called the tower of the poor. If you were without money and couldnot afford tp pay taxes you got to live here for free, AND STARVE TO DEATH. A little exteme, I think!!!!!!!!!!!
What is very funny is this is not but 25 feet away. It sit outsde the city council building. The little men are the same size to show equality to all. I guess the poor were not equal.
This was a symbol of a great fighter. He acquired masses of money. He built a shrine to the Virgin Mary. The Church is very beautiful. His creast is everywhere. They say he had 3 b---s. In color 2 are white and one is red. He was very proud of the distinction.

My trip to Franciacorta was cancelled and I returned to my apt. I reworked my trip and went the next day right from my apt. It was a GREAT day. That is for tomorrow
Yvonne

Verona, a Beautiful City

I arrived in Verona about 11:00 am and walked from the train station to center city. Of course I went the long way. I did not mind because the walk was so beautiful. I checked into a hotel in the center of town, nothing special but GREAT LOCATION. My room was ready and I threw my bay in the room and went to investigate. Everything was still decorated foe christmas and people were ice skating in the center square. It looked like a postcard. I followed the route the hotel gave me and found the bell tower. You could take the elevator or walk. I thought, I am no wimp I will walk, half way there I looked up and thought NO WAY. Walked back down anf took the elevator. I could of had a heart attack and no one would have found me. No one was foolish enough to walk. Later I read there are 387 steps. Everything is in Italian so sometimes I don't bother looking at the signs. This picture is of the bell. I was lucky my trip was over before they rang on the hour. Could you image being up there when they rang? The view was breathtaking. The pictures do not do it justice. The lady suggested I do this first because it gives you an idea where everything is located and easier to find. I really am not to sure about that but I loved the view. All those steps I was hungry. Went back to the main square and sat in a seat by the window so I could watch the skaters. People who cannot skate can be very entertaining. I had Stuffed fried olives, and bread that they just brought to the table. I ordered some sea bass and vegetables. We are never fed fish or very many vegetables at family meals. They were really good not fancy just good. I had a glass of white sparkling wine a coca cola light. A very well rounded meal.
I followed the river wall and this is just one of the many beautiful scenes I photographed. Every corner the view was prettier. The water you see is not very deep about 2 feet in spots maybe more. Crystel clear water you could see every peeble.
Time to detour off the wall and visit Giulietta's house and the famous balconey. Here it is folks. For a make believe story it sure looks real. Then Romeo's house, not really a big deal. Outside Of Giulietta house there was a large Christmas tree with letters to Giulietta. The wall was not used during the season. Through this tunnel there were phones you could call and talk to Giulietta. The wall behind the phones were covered with hearts and so and so loves so and so. It was totally covered. Pretty cool but did not show up well in a picture.
Next stop the castle. So big, so strong, so exactly what you think a castle should look like. The moat, the well, ( picture here, a little girl was throwing a coin into the well. I was not fast enough), the bridge with cannon holes. It was really special. It takes up 2 blocks. Well more sightseeing and I noticed it was getting dark. To my room to change and eat. The front desk told me about a place anf off I went. Pasta with cheese and white truffles YUM YUM YUM. A filet with Amorone wine sauce YUM YUM YUM. The dessert was a very wet muffin with vanila sauce on top. It was the only thing not chocolate. I was not settling this dessert was great. The presentation on all the food was nothing special. I did not bother to take picture. Back to my room and I was looking forward to the sat tv. I have no tv or radio in my room in Calvisano. The tv was broke. I could not believe it. They never did get it fixed. The next day I ate my free bread and coffee and went back to my apt.
Verona is a very magical place. I had a great full day there. Everyone should go at least once.
Bye from Italy, Yvonne

New Years Eve

On New Years Eve we all worked even the owners. The Menu was set so it was a very different night. It was fun to help plate and actually know what was going on in the kitchen. The antipasta started with a Baccala' Crudo e tartare di tonno al profuma d'arancia, ( raw cod and tuna tartar with a flavor of orange ).
Scampi con pure' patate e caviale, ( shrimp with creamed potato and caviar )as pictured here.
Then Capasanta crema di topinambur, ristretto di vitello, ( scallop with a cream of Topinambur A root vegetable, with veal sauce), the creamed root was very good. I need to find out what exactly it is. Everyone recieved all three of these.
Primo was two dishes first picture was Ravioli di carne in brodo di cappone, ( ravioli with meat in a chicken broth). The second dish was Risotto al tartufo d"Alba, ( risotto with white truffles from Alba), turely heavenly. I was sooooo busy I did not get a picture of that dish.
The secondo was Controfiletto di barbina, salsa madera e tartufo nero di Norcia, ( A beautiful filet with madera wine sauce anf black truffles from Norcia. Then Robiola di capra con cotognata, ( Robiola cheese is a goats milk cheese served with a fruit pate). The dessert or dolca was Mousse al caramello profumata al rum e cialda croccante di mandorle, ( Carmel mousse with a rum sauce and a little disc of, kinda like heath bar, but not).
Then coffee and a pastry tray, cookies, and chocolates. The pastry tray was like the ones I prepared in another blog.

It was a fun night. Everyone was in a good mood and the owners had Spumante and some dolca for us at the end of the night. We left about 1:00 and walking back I took pictures of the city and fireworks that people were setting off. I wish all nights were like that. I understood what I needed to do all night. Some nights I feel lost.
I will write about my great trip to Verona in a couple days.
Bye from Italy, Yvonne

Christmas

In Italy everyone gets together on Christnas Eve for a family party. Nori and I were invited to Gino and Paula's family gathering. It was his family and hers sisters and kids and us. Try getting out of that. They know you work the next day and you were there till 5, so where else would be? We were told to arrive at 7:45 and not be late. We left the apt at 7:44 and were there on time. No one but Nonna was there at the restaurant. So we looked around and I took a picture of the table set for our dinner. It was beautiful. They put us with the kids, all ages 4-28. This was not as bad as I thought. The older boys spoke some English, and the 8 year old tried to use her English. She is learning it like our kids are learning Spanish. The oldest son Johnny is a lawyer and I am sure turns lots of heads. He really likes to practice his English, asking lots of questions about the US. He was an extremely good host. Made sure we had Spumante in our glasses and ytied to make us try everything. Our dinner started with cheese, mustardo pears (candied in a sweet mustard, great with cheeses), and apple pate. Then we sat down and the cured meats and bread, with butter or olive oil (this area uses alot of butter). Our primo was pumpkin ravioli with grana padana (very similar to parm cheese not quite as strong, made from this area), Snails in the shells served with olive oil, and eel that was salted and dried then boiled. Secondo was steamed Gamberi rossi( shrimp that are very red, very sweet), scampi (prawns), and smoked salmon. The dolce was Panettone (a bread served at Christmas time from Milan), nouget( a candy from Cremona), and cheese. All in all the evening was very nice. I expected it to be alittle weird but it was not. The snails were just ok, not good not bad. The ravioli was great, alittle sweet for a entire meal but really good. They feel strongly about using the products from Lombardy. But they love Parmigiano and feel it is one of the best cheese. It is just too strong for their Ravioli. The gamberi rosso were very tasty and different from our shrimp. The scampi was a cross betweer a lobster and a shrimp. The eel was YUK YUK YUK. I really don't understand salted, dried and then boiled to make soft. I understand why it started, to preserve food. We have freezers and refrigation now so we don't need to that anymore. These people love it. The texture is stringy and smells fishy almost bad. I ended the meal with coffee and a slice of Panettone ( raisan bread). At about 11 I made excuses about working and left.

This is a picture of all the single malt scotch they have. I took this for Steve. It looks very impressive at the bar.

This is my room . I rearranged it so my computer can be on that desk. If I move it an inch I lose reception. I am ok with that. I am just glad I found this spot. It looks more crouded but I am happy to have internet. It is my only entertainment beside the kindle. I used up all my books so I had to bye a few. Not much selection in English. I really like reading from the Kindle, much better than a book. The type is large, clearer, the page doesn't pull back, its lighter, and best of all I never lose my spot. I thank all of you everyday when I am reading.
This is my sorry excuse for a bed. They tell me the girl before complained about the bed and they did not understand why. I just look and smile. They don't understand anyway, so I am saved from saving IT'S NOT A BED IT IS A COT WITH A OLD COT MATTRESS. If you were my guest I would not let you sleep on this. All my joint pain from the snake bite is gone. My ankle is doing great. Now my back will be doing great in 4 weeks.

All in all my Christmas was not good and I was lonely BUT it was better than I thought and I got to have some conversation. On Christmas I was able to talk to Steve, Caitlin, and Frances. I saw what they got for Christmas and saw that my Mother- in- law did not put up a tree. Steve said no one noticed. Caitlin looked good, she never writes so it was nice to see her. She got stranded at the house on Sunday with all the snow. I talked to Lindsay she was going into work that afternoon. She was kinda sad not to be with Steve and Caitlin. She loves all the family stuff. Next year I will have my tree and all the trimmings for the holidays.
Getting ready for a New Year Yvonne