sagasimasu
As usual, the appetizers were delightful. They served panelle, which are chickpeas (cecina) crushed and fried into dice-shaped pieces, alongside crispy and salty grissini. In Italian, appetizers like these are called stuzzichino. When they arrived, it felt comforting, a taste unique to this restaurant. I savored it with the joy of being able to visit again. They recommended a Fontarollo, a light-bodied Sangiovese wine from Tuscany, revealing my age, I fondly recall my youth when I grew up drinking Chianti, wrapped in straw (slightly illegal, but approved by my parents). My father, a bit of a wine enthusiast, used to say in France or Italy, unlike Japan, where you can't drink water, you drink wine instead, and he was delighted to let me indulge. Tuscan wine has always been my favorite.
The marinated beef carpaccio, made from beef from the northern region preserved in salt, was served beautifully sliced, red and juicy, a perfect appetizer for this season. The chickpea accompaniment complemented it perfectly.
Next came the porcini mushroom omelet with black truffle topping. I believe there's cheese in it as well, but the combination of flavors is superb, as always. The aroma of truffle and porcini is irresistible; it's a dish that becomes addictive.
For the main course, instead of spaghetti, they recommended tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce, and it was the right choice. The wide noodles absorbed the sauce well, resulting in a moist and flavorful dish.
I hesitated between the grilled horse tenderloin cutlet and the grilled version, but this time, I went for the former. The horse meat is so tender that it can be eaten raw, reassuringly rare. It paired perfectly with my beloved Tuscan wine.
Considering time constraints, I initially planned to skip dessert, but they kindly served delicious chocolate raisins. However, I think I'll make sure to take my time and enjoy dessert and grappa next time I visit. From the stuzzichino (appetizer) to the dolce (dessert), everything is always delicious without fail. Grazie mille!