Compassion/ Nurturing:

Orvieto: Written at La Palomba restaurant on May 14th, 2010:
"

La Palomba     14/5/10

Via Cipriano Manente, 16   Orvieto

Wine: 

      Rosso di Spicca

      Orvietano D.O.C. 2008

         Smooth and light.  A much better step up to Roman wine.  This was a taste from the bottle of our neighboring table.

     

      Rosso della Casa

         buono nothing special but smooth and deep flavors

Paste:

   1. Tagliatelle al Ragu di Cinghiale     8,00 euro

      (Tagliatelle Pasta with Wild Boar Ragu)

         Great!  Pasta so fresh it ripped.  Sauce wasn't         overly gamey but could tell it was wild.  Perfect ratio of pasta to sauce.

   2. Tagliatelle della di' Giovanna       8,00 euro

         The lamb had its signature taste and flavor.  Not enough chunks of meat.

Secundo:

   1. Braciola di Maiale ai Ferri          7,50 euro

      (Grilled Pork Chop)

         A bit tough, but the combination of rosemary olio (oil) and lemon created a perfect flavor profile.

   2. Bocconcini di Cinghiale alla Palomba 9,00 euro

      (Wild Boar Stew, Palomba Style)

         Outstanding braised meat.  Tomato and pepper come in to help the boar shine.

Dolce:

   1. Torta Rustica al Cioccolato          4,00 euro

      (Rustic Chocolate Cake)

         Wow.  Almost a lemony cake with chocolate center and hot chocolate served on top.  Crumbly and soft.

   2. Torta con Frutti di Bosco e Panna Cotta 4,50 euro

      (Berry and Panna Cotta Cake)

         An interesting dessert.  Cake had a great consistency and berries were nice.  Panna cotta created an almost ice cream quality to it.  Cioccolato was better.

     Dinner was incredible.  We got there late (9:45) and expected to be rushed.  We were sat next to an italian couple who were just getting their dessert.  After the pasta course, we started a conversation, strictly in Italian.  It focused on food, what California is like, wine...all good things.

     A weird American who had lived there for 16 ears said that America has the best food and that we needed to tell this couple that.  I disagreed and was talking purely ingredients-wise.  We talked about cows getting steroids and how bigger is better; I brought up how they are corn fed rather than grass fed.

     She asked why we were here and what we were doing.  I told her and she recommended Casa Linga for dinner.  We learned that they were from a town near Parma and she has a son and a daughter, 23 and 25.  We tried the last of their wine and enjoyed every sip.  he called over the waiter and said in Italian, 'I want to buy these guys dessert.'  I politely refused but was so happy when she insisted.  I went with her favorite, Torta di Cioccolate.

     It was outstanding but what was better was the conversation and company.  She said, "You are now my children from the USA.  We are your Italian parents."  After many thank you's it was goodbye.

     This is why I came to Italy.  People are wonderfully sincere and open their hearts to you.  Now I have two families."


Satisfied and happy, we leave the warmth of Orvieto.  Carrying on northward, into Tuscany for another scrumptious meal in Panzano (2 cities north of Orvieto)