gnocchi, gnocchi, and...more gnocchi

Gnocchi.

Are.

So.

Delicious.

A few years back Peggy and Ann drove Kate and I from Opera to what felt like a remote and far away section of Milan. They had found a gnoccheria, a restaurant that serves almost only gnocchi.

Did you know such a place existed?

It's a small place...you definitely want to call in advance.

This past fall we went back.

And I fell in love with gnocchi all over again.

The menu of gnocchi is so impressive. Piles of savory options and even sweet options for dessert.

You can practice your Italian while reading the menu.

Gnocchi made from potato, pumpkin and spinach. All served with a variety of sauces and toppings.

Two whole pages of options!

I don't even know if words can describe how much deliciousness is served in this place.

An antipasti is served...on the house!

This time, I had the gnocchi with pancetta and balsamic. One of us also had the cacio and pepe gnocchi. And the rest are just long lost food memories.

One of our plates of gnocchi...but I can't remember which one!

And another! Again, no idea which dish is which!

Dessert gnocchi! These I remember...
gnocchi with chocolate sauce, gnocchi with kiwi, gnocchi with apples (and cinnamon, obviously!)

So, for your next dinner out...

Head to:
Il Pasto Giusto
Via Bruno Cesana, 10

Pizza from Napoli in Milan

Back in the fall, Caitlin and I went to check out a pizza place she had read about online.

A famous Napolitano pizza maker has opened a shop near Milan's famous Duomo.

The pizzeria, Lievito Madre al Duomo, served only 400 pizzas each night and there's a countdown outside keeping track.

They don't take reservations.

Just show up and give your name and number in your party to the person manning the door.

I'd advise you not to wait til the normal Italian dinner hour of 9:00.

I rather liked the pizza. Chewy crust, fresh toppings.

I wished we hadn't tried the arancini. I was not impressed.

Contrary to the typical Italian style of letting you linger at your table as long as you want, service here is quick to help you keep moving, so the next customers can take your spot.

So, good pizza, yes! Service...ehhhhhh...there's some room for improvement.

Lievito Madre al Duomo is located at Largo Corsia dei Servi, behind the Duomo. Walk down Corso Vittorio Emanuele and take a right down one of the smaller 'alleys' to a small back square, behind The Gap, Mango and Pull & Bear. Open at 7 pm, Monday through Saturday.

#recenthappenings

Let's catch up.

Last week my friend, Brandy, came to town before she started a whirlwind tour of Europe. She spent two nights here in Milan and I tried to get her to all the major highlights.

Those include...the Duomo, Castello Sforzesco, Luini's, and the cemetery! I love taking people there!

I also fed her some classic Milan cuisine...osso bucco with risotto Milanese and pizza from the delicious pizzeria, Pizza AM.

Feeling a bit under the weather, I delved into some of the tea that was gifted to me by one of my students, Jessica, during the holidays.

Thanks Jessica! So delicious!

Reading Pasricha's The Book of Awesome and drinking tea from a favorite mug...
a happy day.

Over the weekend I headed back to one of my favorite places, Le Proposte.

Have I mentioned it before?

This restaurant is located about an hour outside Milan, near Piacenza, in a town called Corano. I love the food here. Fresh ingredients and everything made by the family who owns and operates the restaurant.

They have a menu, but I've never seen it, as the daily offerings are rattled off by those running the dining room.

And when they ask you about whether or not you'd like to start with the antipasti...you always say yes! (It's my favorite part!)

We also had two different pasta courses. So amazingly fresh and delicious.

pumpkin ravioli and ricotta and spinach ravioli

We didn't save any room for the secondi (meat course) but did have dessert. This place...I could go on forever.

strawberry and custard tart

chocolate mousse

Not to mention the views from this place aren't half bad either...

...and neither was the company!

Osso bucco from Osteria dell'Acquabella, in Porta Romana. Reservations necessary.

Information about Le Proposte available at the link included within the post. They're closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations highly recommended. (I mean, you'd hate to drive that far and then not be able to eat, right?)