Monday, July 26, 2010

Delicious Italy

From top:
A pastry shop and coffee shop in Argegno...
In Como, I have an expresso macchiato while I read the critically-acclaimed best-seller Non Ti Muovere, one of the books I most loathed in my life. The boring, self-centered, boo-hoo-poor-me confession of a man who remembers a sordid sexual affair while his daughter lies in a coma... The New York Times Book Review called it "Beautiful. . . . The splintered, humanizing observations that constantly animate this novel . . . are exhilarating." Beats me.
And at a tiny ristorante in Tremezzo, where only the locals go, some antipasti (pickled onions, baby artichokes and white flagioli) and a tiramisu. I blush to admit this, but growing up I was convinced that the tiramisu was a Japanese dessert - doesn't the name sound Japanese?

19 comments:

september cottage said...

OHHH - that Cappucino looks PERFECT, just perfect!

Enjoy Italy!!!

Regards


Nicola


p.s Tiramisu - I see what you mean :), funny!!!! (But very glad it is not Japanese as the Japanese cuisine is one I do not get on with at all....)

Kwana said...

Yummy. I want to go!

Mary-Laure said...

SEPTEMBER COTTAGE - you know, I think my confusion came from the fact that very few Italian words end in U (of course there are some words, like VIRTU). Whereas many Japanese words end in U...

Debra said...

M.L. ~ Are you re-resding this? I'm curious if it is worth the read. The food, the wine, just being in Italy~ please share more!

donna baker said...

The cafe and food look divine. That is the way to travel. Me, I was running non-stop; next time I'll relax.

Cat said...

Yum! Looks like you are enjoying yourself :)

carina said...

Oh my God! That tiramisu looks delicious.

Gabbi said...

The book sounds bad... thank you for the heads up! Also, the macchiato looks delicious! I love how you made the foam into a little heart!

Laura in Paris said...

That Tiramisu looks sooo good!

Mary-Laure said...

DEBRA - do you mean, am I re-reading Non Ti Muovere? No, it was my first time reading it. Personally, I really didn't like it and thought it was a disgusting self-centered sexual confession, but it did get very good reviews from excellent papers. It's available in English on Amazon.

GABBI - yes, the heart just killed me!

Susanna-Cole King said...

Oh, pastry shops! I should be banned, I could spend an awful lot of money on sweets, and have a haphazard diet that consists mostly of desserts (or pastries, which I believe to be of the same sweet vein) and fruit. I eat dessert before my meals, sometimes I eat nothing but dessert, and pastries, and anything sweet.

Lovely photos, needless to say, they made me very hungry! ♥

xoxo,
S-C

Kai said...

Yum... Tiramisu.. does sound Japanese. :D

I love Italy, can't wait to visit again. Soon I hope.

Mary-Laure said...

SUSANNA - I feel exactly the same: I could eat nothing but fruit (especially in the summer) and sweets or dolci, as they are called here!

gracia said...

Tiramisu can sometimes sound Japanese depending on how you say... Ti-ra-mi-su... no need to blush at this childhood recollection. It looks so very tasty a serve too.

Giulia said...

Yum. GG & I need a pick-me-up (tiramisu) right this minute. Oof. But I don't feel up to going to the market for ingredients.

I just saw on your Twitter feed that Italian men are wearing Crocs? Pink crocs? No, no. Someone must intervene. I always said that Italian men could teach American men something about shoes. Oh Lord. Sorry to mix up your Twitter & here but more storms approach. I hope this means the power will not go out again.

ciao, M-L

(PS. I finally got to watch my download of MM...yay!)

Mary-Laure said...

GIULIA - yes, I have seen Italian men in pink Crocs. Not teenagers either. It KILLS me. I really think it's one of the 7 signs of the Apocalypse.
MM - don't say a word, I haven't watched it yet!!!!

Giulia said...

Lips are sealed on MM. But of course. Do you think me a heathen:)

Also, I will check in with friend in southern Italy to find out what we can do, as a worldwide campaign, to save the honor of Italian men & their justly-famous (well, used to be anyway) footwear sophistication.

Oof. Big storm warnings & power outage warnings - AGAIN. I cannot take this much more. ciao...I best log off before everything explodes.

xo

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Nicomi Nix Turner said...

Stunning! You have quite the lively blog!