Lunch at Mamma’s Place


Lunch at Mamma’s Place

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

Franco and I had seen each other at least three times since I came to Bologna despite his ever changing schedule. But he does sometimes have some days off during the week so he invited me to lunch at “the best restaurant that I know, the kitchen of my mother”. I’m not sure where it was but it was north of Bologna in the middle of nowhere. There were several houses together and Franco said that they pretty much all been there a long time and all supported each other.  I belatedly thought to take some pictures but mostly descriptions will have to do.

The beef carpaccio and potatos  for antipasto

The beef carpaccio and potatos for antipasto

The carpaccio starts with beef cooked very rare and then dressed with olive oil, lemon and salt and pepper if I remember correctly. The potatoes were simple and tasty. The bread I suspect was not done at home. Franco brought a bottle of Chianti though he doesn’t drink but his mother and I were not shy about how we like taste of wine with food.

She followed this with homemade tagliatelle and ragu. She used much the same ragu recipe that I do so I’m glad to know that I’m doing it right. Then for desert there was a tasty cake and a chocolate salami, at least I think that she called it that, that was made from left over Easter chocolate. Waste not want not.

Franco's mother

Franco’s mother Lucia

A very interesting part of the meal was about stories of WWII and just after the war. Italy really suffered, especially after the war because a lot of stuff got destroyed either by the Germans of by the Allies chasing the Germans. However she said that people in the country didn’t suffer too much because they were largely self sufficient. They had animals for meat, eggs, milk and cheese as well as crops that they grew and shared back and forth, including, of course, wine. She said one of the family homes was in fact occupied by Germans that they sometimes even took the risk of mocking them by speaking in dialect which they certainly didn’t understand.

There are a lot of cats around including Franco’s cat that continues to live in the country. They were all over the place so I’m sure that there is no mouse or rat problem there. Franco grew in the area and would like to get back to it. It seems boring to me but we all have our own lifestyle preferences.

Franco and his 14 year old cat

Certainly it was an enjoyable and interesting afternoon that was a wholly different perspective on Italian life than the one that I’m familiar with in Bologna. Thanks Franco and Lucia.

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