Last night we had dinner with some Italian friends at their apartment overlooking the Swan River on a beautiful, still autumn evening in Perth. When we arrived the table was set, a carafe of wine breathed on the table and kisses were abundant.
Our contribution was our favourite Australian dessert wine, the rest was pure Italian.
Our hosts, who are about to launch a new magazine, Excellent Gusto focussing on lifestyle, food, travel and philosophy and promoting the Italian way of life, had spent hours preparing a four course meal for our enjoyment. We had prepared by not eating much during the day!
Anitpasti was pear, cheese, honey and lettuce arranged on a board accompanied by a bowl of buffalo mozzarella cheese. Delicious!
There was plenty of pane (bread) to accompany this first course.
Primi Piatti followed with a simple pasta with tomato sauce, a little bacon and lots of taste! The obligatory fresh parmesan cheese was on the side.
Piatto Principale was a hearty Sicilian eggplant dish. At this point we were bursting, so we sat and talked while our stomachs adjusted and looked forward to the sweet end to the meal
Tiramisu was the dolce, made by the team of three with precision. The light marscapone, the best they could find in Perth, was beaten within an inch of its life to just the right consistency to make it lighter than other tiramisu I’ve tasted.
The dessert wine was just what was needed at the end to finish us off.
Our hosts love good food, talking about food and the philosophy of food. Their generous hospitality was filled with laughter, talking and love—so typical of a great shared meal anywhere in the world, but with that Italian flavour it tasted even sweeter.
Massimiliano told us that he believed the longer you sit at the table, the longer you live.
In our rushed culture of eating for fuel, hurrying to the next appointment and worrying about weight and nutritional goals, this meal was a pitstop, a reminder to slow down and savour life. To eat like an Italian is to enjoy every taste and experience.
I’m so looking forward to my next visit to Italy and to sitting at the table with friends, drinking Tuscan wine and enjoying la dolce vita!
(By the way what does on serve to the Italians when they visit? We did an Aussie barbecue with sticky date pudding for dessert. A brava from Mama was high praise indeed!)
#365adventure is a book lover’s year of adventures. Adventures in travel, friendship, family, soul, heart and, of course, book stores!
