Carnevale and the gem: Locanda Amordivino

Where to start...i guess the start should be what is a carnevale...its music...a festive time...people dressing up in costumes....from clowns, to princesses, to Peter Pan, Snowhite....you name it...it is there...let your fantasy go wild...hahaha....so yes, in Italy there is also carnevale time...and the time depends on Easter...so because Easter is early this year, it means that the carnevale season is early....all villages are decorated in little carnevale figures...let me share a pic....

Carnevale season
Let me give another small description....Carnevale also know as carnival or madri gras, is celebrated in Italy and many places around the world 40 days before Easter, a final party before Ash Wednesday and the restrictions of Lent. Carnevale in Italy is a huge winter festival celebrated with parades, masquerade balls, entertainment, music and parties. Children throw confetti at each other....let me share a pic of what confetti is....
Confetti...basically looks like punched paper pieces
In Coop (our local supermarket), we saw a poster advertsing the carnevale in Asciano (24th Jan, 31st Jan and 7th Feb)....so we decided to go and explore...firstly Asciano and secondly this Carnevale thing....at 12:00 the little stalls selling local lunch items opened...there was Vin Brulee (hot wine, as i explained in my Christmas blog), panini (sandwiches), zuppe (soups) and carnevale pastries (these you can also buy in the supermarkets), i think time to share some pics.....
Asciano carnevale posters at the entrance to the old town
Carnevale pastries
Carnevale pastries
Vin Brulee
The clock tower in Asciano
When we arrived we realised the festives would only start at 3pm and now it was 11:30am....so we decided to explore the old town and find a place to have lunch....and look at what we stumbled across....
Locanda Amordivino
We made a reservation for when they open (12:30) and explored the rest of the old town...we definitely thought we would come back and visit this old town when shops are open, because of course lots was closed on a Sunday. Time to chat about the restaurant and the foodies....but first a pic of Sofia and me at the entrance of the divine restaurant and of the inside...
Sofia and me at the entrance
Inside
I just love these wine bottles....of course its like a wine menu.....cool....the food menu was amazing....it was on a wooden wine box...with the paper pinned on it...great idea. Menu items looked delicious...but.....and a big BUT....there was this huge piece of bistecca as we entered, so we were sold on the main course already.....let me show you this....
Beautiful fire with bistecca
The bistecca piece was about 80cm long...amazing...and the fire behind it...just breath-taking...knifes ready to slice bistecca for customers who would order it.....so...starters...we shared...a salumi platter (cold meats), a tarta di melanzane (aubergine tarte) and a pate nero with crostini.......the presentation was immaculate...and the taste...simply delcious....we all LOVED it.....let me show you....
Salumi
Pate nero
Tarta di melanzana
I mean...your mouth must be watering...i am sorry...yet i am not..cause i am telling you...when you come here...you need to try this place....now for mains...well no question, bistecca fiorentina al sangue (rare)...with some roasted potatoes and spinach.....wow....the owner came and axed off our bistecca piece..a real show...it was so cool to watch...and what a piece we would get....oh my word....
Bistecca before being cooked
Once it arrived my mouth was just like wow...it looked amazing...perfectly cooked...and it looked like a huge portion for four of us.....but guess what, we ate it all...and it was truely spectacular...and i can now officially say, the best bistecca fiorentina i have ever had....5/5...most definitely....now i need to take my husband here...he will absoloutely love it.....oh my word......let me share a pic....
Bistecca Fiorentina
And yes....we did manage to squeeze in a dessert...only one option...a deconstructed tiramisu...and guess what...what an original idea....but what a good idea....loved it...
Deconstructed tiramisu
What can i say....the food was top class....pure delicousness...and i would most DEFINITELY go there again...in fact when are we going again?
After that it was just after three...we walked back through the town, the festives had begun, children throwing confetti, loud music playing...people dancing, chatting....quite an atmosphere....we however were quite full and thought time to go home.....not before some local photographer took pics of Sofia.....hahaha.
Sofia and me: confetti being thrown on us
Music being played
We really had a fab Sunday out...unexpected treasure found.....now back home...relaxing in front of the fire place....and soon bed time....so from me cheers...goodnite...we chat soon...let's see about what.....
 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Wedding time.....my baby sister's wedding

Image
Oh my word....my sister, who wanted to be a nun (inspired by the movie Sister Act), is getting married....and to a guy that suites her perfectly.....we started getting reAdy around lunch time...make up artist, Victor Ortega, was flown in from Manila. He did my sister's, my mom's and my makeup....but now a few steps back...this wedding pre- celebration started on Wednesday night with a Swiss family dinner, Thursday night a pub crawl and Friday night a close family (Aboitiz and Bucher) at a Spanish tapas place (where the food was amazing...first time i tried nero paella)....but to the pub crawl we get later..... Nero Paella Lechon So....the make up artist was fabulous.....he did an amazing job, he also did the hair for the three of us...the other brides maides' make up and hair was done by his entourage.....here a pic of us getting ready for the big event.... My sister and Victor Victor and me I loved how subtle he did it...and then time for pics with t
Read more

Another cruise in Western Caribbean

Image
This is the second week....we started the journey in Tampa and this Tampa we decided to take Sofia to the aquarium...I was quite interested to see whether she would be fascinated with the fishes or not....and she was....certain ones...certain ones not too much....but she definitely enjoyed going there. The aquarium had 8 sections: Wetlands Trail, Journey to Madagascar, Bays & Beaches, No Bone Zone, Coral Reefs, Dragons Down Under, Ocean Commotion and Splash Pad. We visited all except for the Splash Pad (that is outside for the kids to play and it was closed at the moment). It was nice also because there were areas where you could touch the sting rays...I enjoyed that, Sofia did not want to touch them, and nor did Kim. Sofia Enjoying the Aquarium Sofia Enjoying the Aquarium  Sofia in the Playground at the Aquarium Kim Enjoying the Aquarium The following day was VIP and unfortunately Sofia and I did not make it as Sofia was just way too tired....but that'
Read more

First few days in our new home- Dallas TX

Image
So we have arrived in Texas....yay for us....and we have been doing quite a lot...so yes, we have been keeping busy. We arrived on Friday 23rd June in the afternoon at 2pm....after doing immigration, we went to the hotel, dropped off the luggage, literally, and went to fetch our new car....a white Jeep Cherokee....it is so nice....we are soooo excited to have it...beautiful...have a look.... Sofia in the Jeep Kim and the Jeep Cherokee Friday night we had some Sushi take-aways because Sofia was jet lagged, and so were we, so we did not make it to a restaurant with her.  Saturday there was also quite a few admin things to get done...but it was a rainy day....it rained almost the whole day...so we got a bit wet, but it is warm rain......so never mind. We started off by driving past our new home (could not go inside as the current owners were packing up) and then we made our way to McKinney where we have a friend who has been so kind to receive and store all of our post,
Read more