As you can imagine, the local grocery stores here are like gourmet stores in the US: exotic pastas, wines, olives, meats, and cheeses. The pastas are both dried and refrigerated.
Today we walked to the local Carrefour (a French grocery chain by the way). I asked Nathan to go have a cappuccino in the store's coffee shop so he wouldn't rush me through this fantasy land of epicurean delights. I found ravioli stuffed with Gorgonzola cheese and almonds (dinner later this weekend) and my favorite pasta shape, "radiatore" or radiators. They are barrel-shaped with ridges and hold sauces well. All kinds of goodies!
But perhaps the most amusing pasta name here is "strozzapreti" which translates as priest stranglers or priest chokers. The name supposedly comes from using this shape to feed the always big-appetited priest when he was invited over. This pasta was sure to choke even a hungry clergyman.
I finally got to see and try strozzapreti last night at Il Sorcetto. Roberta, our friendly waitress, recommended it "alla Gricia" which is with pancetta or bacon. The shape of the pasta is like a worm or very thick spaghetti. The dish was delicious for dinner and leftovers for lunch.
Nathan got the tortelloni filled with meat and served with a truffle cream sauce. Very rich dish. It takes is awhile to order with our phones' dictionaries in hand.
Tonight was Friday night and we made sandwiches and a caprese salad at home. The fresh buffalo mozzarella was delicious and cost $2. So cheap compared to the US.
Dessert was a delicious and perfectly ripe cantaloupe drizzled with Balsamic vinegar. Yum.
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