Food Pics from Italy - Pasta, Risotto, Pizza

This is a tribute page to the many wonderful Primo dishes during my trip - pastas, risottos and pizzas. This trip really renewed my fondness for pastas, and as I recall the luscious tastes and smells from the trip, two most enjoyable pasta dishes come to mind.



One is the signature dish of Trattoria Mamma Gina - the Cannelloni Mamma Gina. Situated at the other side of the River Arno, this trattoria was quite crowded on Friday night. This dish was the perfect combination of the alluring aroma of the melted cheeses and the melt-in-the-mouth softness of the meat stuffing, served sizzling fresh from the oven. Surely a dish of fats and cholesterols, but what is life without such pleasures?



The other is this plate of seafood pasta in white wine sauce at Ristorante Le Lance at Fiesole. I think this was the best pasta dish I've ever had, as the flavor of the seafood permeated each strand of the pasta. The clams and mussels were fresh, and the huge crayfish was just incredibly juicy. See my Nine-Course Feast page for a better description of this meal.



Ravioli in a meat sauce, also at Le Lance.



Pici(?) in a tomato based sauce, also at Le Lance.



Ravioli in a truffle sauce at Osteria All'Antico Mercato in Firenze.



Risotto ai Funghi, also at All'Antico Mercato.



Ravioli in Porcini sauce at Ristorante Semidivino. This was quite good.



More ravioli in Porcini sauce, from Trattoria Mamma Gina.



Linguine with salmon and lumpfish caviar at the restaurant inside Novotel Firenze Nord Aeroporto.



I forget what this pasta was called - please tell me if you know. Baby mussels and artichokes accompanied this wonderful chewy pasta.



Risotto alla Milanese - the famous risotto of Milan with its signature saffron sauce. This was at Castello Ristorante, just a few blocks from the castle of Sforza in central Milan. The flavoring was too weak for my taste.



Pizza ai Funghi, also at Castello Ristorante. The pizza dough was better than the toppings.



Finally, an anchovy pizza at Ristorante Porta Renza near the Repubblica metro station in Milan. Sometimes I just can't help making bad decisions on culinary adventures.