New Year

New Year....in the beautiful Tuscany...specifically we decided to celebrate in Montefollonico in a place called La Botte Piena....but before i talk about that...let me show you how ready Sofia and I were for our New Year's Eve out....

Sofia and me

She was ready to go...Such a happy camper....arrival....the venue...restaurant....what a beautiful setting...wow...we walked in and it took my breath away....I guess i need to share a pic so that we are all on the same page....but just to set the scene a bit...casual yet cosey....full of wine bottles, wamr feeling, intimite and the decoration with all the wine bottles....BEAUTIFUL

As you enter restaurant
Downstairs
The owner told us that he has 1200 differnt wines and 6000 bottles all together...quite impressive...and i just loved the whole atmosphere....i was truly hoping that the food would be as great as the atmosphere...and i can already tell you...it definitely did not dissappoint...it was a fantastic dinner and evening....but i guess i should start at the beginning....
When we came we received the apretifo, which was a glass of Champagne and an amuse bouche, which was a pappa al pomodoro e ricotta which was a ragu of tomato and bread served with a dollop of ricotto....divine...we all loved it...both the champagne and the amuse bouche....and yes, it was champagne...cause we saw the bottle from which he poured it.
Tomato and bread amuse bouche
Next up....first course....antipasto freddo (cold starter)....Insalata di Cacicofi con guanciaole di "Cinta Senese", artichoke and cold meat....i must say...not my favourite at all, i definitely prefer artichokes which are cooked and not dried, in fact all of us felt the same way...in fact in was the course least liked by ALL of us....we were all unanimous....interesting, but i would definitely not have again.....
Insalata artichokes
Next up...antipasti calde.....warm starter...sformato di parmigiano con funghi "porcini"....WOW, WOW and WOW....that we ALL loved.....the cheese was so light and just melted in your mouth, like a souffle...and the porcini mushrooms, yummie....what a great course....
"Cheese souffle" with porcini
Next up....another antipasti caldi....polpettini di "Cinta Senese" in umido.....meat balls with a tomato ragu....very yummie....we all enioyed it...not my best dish...but it was nice, for me not overly wow....but good
Meatballs
Next up.....pasta...i primi...ravioli al fagiano e noci....pheasant and walnut ravioli....wow...again...another great course...we all enjoyed it....the ravioli was thin...great taste and just simply cooked to perfection, very very delicious....
Ravioli
And next....another pasta dish.....tagliolini all'uovo con tartufo bianco fresco....tagliatelle (baby) with white truffle....was good...lacked salt....we all had to add extra salt. Interestly, when the waitress saw she came and asked whether it lacked salt, when we said yes, she offered to bring us all another portion, we said no thank you, it was ok when we just added some salt....wow...what service...i was truly impressed....it was a good course...but again...not one of my favourite....
Tagliatelle
Next...secondi....brasato di guancia di chianina con puree di zucca.....braised cheek of chianina (typical beef from the tuscany) with pumpkin mash....WOW...WOW and WOW...it was soooooooo good...it was just falling apart...we were all very full...but i did manage to finish...i even ate mutti's cause damn, it was very very delicous....man....it was meat that must have been cooked for a few hours at least cause it was really tender...truly spectacular....
Secondi
Next up....cheese platter...this was interestly done....it was put into the middle with three different cheese...of course local cheeses...the ones the tuscany is famous for....and that is peccorino cheese...some milder some stronger...which means some softer and some harder....very very yummie...it was actually a good way to start digesting the food....what i must say...this entire meal took its time...we arrived at the restaurant at 19:45 and we at our dolce....the ice cream and 23:30...so everything was timed extremely well.....we just loved it...the whole experience was amazing...food, atmosphere...and of course the company.....unfortunately Kim and Ben were in Finland....which was sad....but we still enjoyed the evening...i said to kim...he missed out..next time together....
I am a little bit embaressed to say...the cheese course i forgot to photograph cause i was so busy taking pics of all of us....so let me share those instead....
Mom and dad
Mutti and me
Sofia
Dolce....dessert....ice cream with fizzies and fresh fruits...pessimon ice cream....it was good...but for me not wow...but i must admit...if you would have given me a brownie, i probably would have not eaten it...cause i was very very full....but all in all a wonderful meal...oh yes...with the sweets also came a moscato, a typical sweet wine...very good...complemented the dessert very well....
Dolce
So....what can i say....great evening....at new year we received some prosecco and said cheers....Italian style....everyone said buon anno....clinking with their prosecco glasses, very beautiful and so welcoming and cosy....what a great way to start the new year...yes...my husband was missing..and this year...we definely do it together.....happy new year to all of you and i do hope that you carry on reading this blog...exciting ventures ahead...let's see if things fall into places this year.....from me goodnight though.....sleep tight....
 
 

 

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