Montisi Olive Oil Festival

Another one...this time...from the 29th October until the 1st November....5 days...full program...in fact quite exciting program.  In fact the first day we wanted to go to a parmiggiano and wine tasting....we arrived 30 minutes prior to the starting time....and....it was fully booked...we did not even know that we had to make a reservation. Of course we were a little bit upset...but oh well...one makes the best, so we explored the festival in the town...all the stands. I must say....i was very impressed...so many stalls...so much atmosphere...from olive oil, to wine, to clothes, to christmas present ideas, to pecorino etc etc...the best was....the roasted chestnuts...this I have only seen in Switzerland and Austria. How lucky...we found one in this tiny village....hahaha...and wow...the whole family really enjoyed it...it was so yummie....let me share a pic...

Roasted chestnuts

Some of the stalls just had amazing decoration....have a look at this...
Terracotta

Montisi is a tiny village in the southern Tuscany...in fact it is the closest village to us.....we can walk to it...let me share some pics....

 Montisi

 Random: A door that I like

Kim and Sofia

After that we decided to have a lunch at the local place called Il Barrino.....of course we had made a reservation a week ago....and all tables were to arrive at the same time...1pm....when we entered we were offered an aperitivo....a Prosecco. Once all tables had their Prosecco, the owner explained the choices of todays menu, a little bit different cause we were celebrating the local olive harvest and hence all dishes were inspired by olive oil.....

As anti-pasti we decided to order one to share for all, the owner said he would prepare a variety for all of us....how exciting....for secondi Kim and Mutti ordered the roast pork, dad the pici ragu, mom the pici with pomodoro and aglio and me the Chianina beef carpaccio....but now let me start from the beginning. We ordered some Prosecco and red wine and I think for the Prosecco we needed to ask three times...a little bit irritating. After an hour they finally arrived with food....BUT it was the secondi....so we were like "what about the anti-pasti...we have not had anti-pasti", they took the secondi away....and they did NOT even apologize....i was shocked....another 30 minutes later, the anti-pasti finally arrived....it was beautifully presented...but do not ask me why they took 1.5 hours.....the food was good...nothing oh my word why though...let me share some pics...

Anti-pasti platter

 Smoked mozzarella with pomodoro and ruccola

Salami with fennel, parmesan and honey

I must admit...the salami with fennel, parmesan and honey was very interesting and nice. Mains...well...first of all we had to wait another 45 minutes...and then when it arrived...it almost looked like the food was just thrown on the plate...i was shocked....let me give verdict first then I will share the pics. The carpaccio was just thrown there and the pieces were way too big and it was drowning in olive oil. The roast pork was dry and drowning in olive oil. The pici were over-cooked and also no presentation at all. On top of it all, Mutti and Kim ordered roast potatoes as a side order and they were COLD....I mean...what the.....now time to share some pics...

 Carpaccio

 Pici pomodoro and aglio

 Pici ragu

Roast pork

Dessert...nope...we definitely did not want to wait again...so we asked for the bill...and here was our last SHOCK....the price...UNREAL...I am so disappointed....we have lived in Italy for almost one year and this was an absolute rip off....I am honestly not sure...we all decided between the quality of the food and the price....we would definitely not return. We would go back to the bar downstairs for apertivo but that is it. You might be asking why would we even return....main reason cause we often walk from our home to Montisi and that is the only bar where we can enjoy a coffee or an aperitivo...so it is more by default than by choice. 

Enough now...let me end this blog on a positive note...the festival was amazing, we loved it and I would recommend it to anyone that is in this region at this time of year. Now I am off to dinner...so from me cheers...we chat soon.

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