The Fruits of Italy

A little while ago, I decided to take a day trip to Stresa. It's another small town on Lake Maggiore and about a 20 minute train ride from Sesto. I wandered through all the cobble stone streets and found some unique gifts to bring home. Just as I was about to head back to the station, I happened upon the most original wine shop/bar that I have seen. From Milan to Rome to Florence, this is by far the best.

It's called La Cambusa and from the front you would not think much of it. The store front is overflowing with spices, pastas, and souvenir bottles of limoncello. It's overcrowded, overstuffed, and overpacked with a million little Italian treats. But, you walk in and realize there is a little bar in the corner that is hidden by olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Then, you turn another corner, and discover that this little shop probably has more wine than any bar, restaurant, or hotel. Next, you ask the owner, Rosaria, to help you pick out a good red wine to take home. And this is where the true adventure begins.

Rosaria and her family have owned this shop for 52 years. It started off as a small store where she sold breads, fruits, veggies, sandwiches, and a few bottles of wine. Then, she decided that that was not enough. So, gradually, she improved her wine collection and now has over 800 different labels. As you can imagine, choosing just a few bottles to bring home in your suitcase would be quite difficult! But, do not worry, they ship all around the world!

We sat in the back of the store where she holds her wine tastings and chatted over a glass of red wine. She brought out some slices of bread with olive oil and some special spices from the south of Italy. If you like, you can do the "Taste of Italy" with Rosaria. It is a very special tasting that is unique to this shop. How do I know this? Because, Rosaria said she does not let anyone else in town see the tasting because then they will copy her! So, you know you are getting a one-of-a-kind experience.

Rosaria knows good wine and is not afraid to tell you what she thinks! Red is her specialty and she will not drink a bottle that is less than 8.80 euros. Why? Because then it is not wine. Wine, she says, must be able to breath. So, she prefers bottles with an actual cork. And, she will not try to sell you the most expensive bottle in the shop. She will tell you the best wine to buy for the best price.

From the smells, the sounds, to the entire family, it truly is a memorable time. You walk in as a tourist and leave as part of the "famiglia". Plus, Rosaria and her 3 children all speak about 5 different languages. So, translation is not a problem!

Come in for aperitivo around 5pm. Sit and drink whatever wines they have open that evening and feel right at home.

Check out the video!

Buon Appetito Ya'll ;)

Demons in the Icebox

I must say, that is a clever title to a blog post. And, sadly, I can not take credit for it! A friend of mine gave me the idea ;)

One of the many wonderful experiences about traveling is the food. For me, food is what brings people together. No matter where you come from or where you are going, it is through food that you make some of the best memories and meet some of the most unique people of a culture.

And, what would Italy be without it's amazing food? The pastas, pizzas, and pastries are why so many people travel to this country. And, unfortunately, it is here that I have discovered that I have a gluten sensitivity. Of course. Me...the foodie...allergic to the product that binds all of Italy (and most of Europe for that matter) together. However, I would rather live without it and feel great then eat it and regret that decision later.

I know what you are thinking...

"You are 24! How did you JUST now realize this??"

In truth, I have always longed for a cast iron stomach. But, it has always been sensitive. However, in Dallas, I rarely ate bread. Things like pasta, pizza, burgers...etc just were not in my daily diet. But, try getting by in Italy without bread for 24 hours. Trust me, it's next to impossible. So, my body was in gluten OVERLOAD and just flat out did not like it. After doing a lot of research, I discovered that gluten was (or could have been) in so many of the foods that was eating! Hence the stomach always being slightly sensitive. Foods like: canned soup (no I am not above it), peanut butter (read the label first!), sauces (soy, BBQ..etc), salad dressings, gravies, processed lunch meats, sausages, seasoning, candy, chocolate, ice cream, herbal teas...you get the picture. 

Needless to say, my life and my diet have both drastically changed. Now, in the states, it is quite easy to find gluten free foods. After all, being gluten free is kind of the "cool" thing to do now right? With Whole Foods, Central Market, and Market Street, eating gluten free is pretty easy. Plus, a lot of restaurants even offer gluten free dishes. However, in Italy that trend is not so "cool". Sure, there are options and there is one gluten free bakery here in Sesto. But, it is much more challenging. Not to mention, a little tasteless. Here are a few (or all) of the gluten free options I have found within walking distance:

Naturally, unsalted rice and corn cakes leave something to be desired. So, for some flavor, I made some trail mix with cashews, almonds, dried grapes, and some pumpkin seeds that I roasted with olive oil and salt:

Then, I decided to get a little more creative and satisfy my occasional salty/sweet cravings. So, I roasted the rest of the pumpkin seeds with olive oil, honey, cinnamon, and a dash of salt:

Of course, fruits and veggies are always an option. After all, I don't want to load up on carbs simply because these are carbs that don't make me feel "bad". So, this is the current state of my refrigerator:

All organized and ready to go! Everything has been washed, peeled, chopped, sliced, diced...and believe me...it took a while!!

I also am a fan of pre-made salads. Or really anything that is pre-made is a luxury for me these days. The whole grab-and-go concept hasn't caught on here either. So, I made a Greek inspired salad with green olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, chick peas, carrots and grilled chicken that I marinated in lemon juice, salt, and pepper:

So there you have it! My gluten free diet...in Italy.

Buon Appetito ya'll ;)