Borgo Sant'Agostino
Where? Borgo Sant'Agostino (Como, Italy) Map
When? Monday March 27, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Italian
The sun has set, producing some beautiful colours in the sky over the water. A view by the lakeside, a romantic candle (for myself) and a glass of the house white. This is the life. I am having a good time.
Primo Piatto
Spaghetti ai Fruitti di Mare - spaghetti with mixed seafood
I've ordered the spaghetti with mixed seafood and wow it hits the spot. A rich tomato base with lots of fresh herbs and olive oil, and above all, a great selection of seafood: mussels, clams, octopus, squid, fish, shrimp and scallops. The shrimp is slightly overdone but I'm willing to let it slide because the rest of the dish is delicious. Any leftover sauce is greedily devoured with the bread on the side.
Dessert
Panna Cotta al Caramello
I had an orange yogurt gelato before dinner but that isn't stopping me from having another Italian classic dessert - panna cotta with caramel sauce. The all-important test of a good panna cotta is to jiggle the plate; if it jiggles with the plate and doesn't break, it's good. Mine is molto bene - very good!
Posted by Jeremy at 7:53pm on Friday April 28, 2017 :: 0 comments :: 
La Cucina di Stella
Where? La Cucina di Stella (Como, Italy) Map
When? Sunday March 26, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Italian
Being by the lakeside, it makes sense that Como is well regarded for its seafood. It's not quite tourist season at the moment, so it's very quiet in the town center, but I've gone with a well rated restaurant in the alleyways of Como.
Antipasto
Grilled Zucchini and Eggplant
The vegetables are drizzled generously with olive oil, and it's damn good olive oil because I can actually taste the olives. It's easy to see how good the produce is in Italy; there's lots of flavour in the zucchini and eggplant, as opposed to tasting like water.
Secondo Piatto
Triglie alla Griglia ai Profumi del Mediterraneo - grilled red mullets with Mediterranean spices
Sure enough, the underside of the fish is this wonderful red colour. The spices come through nicely, not overpowering the fish, and a sprinkle of lemon juice makes this tangy. It's a simple dish - perhaps too simple for the price - but the seafood is top quality.
Dessert
Tiramisu Tradizionale
I can't resist the temptation of tiramisu for dessert, and I am not disappointed. Soft and rich with the taste of rum and coffee chocolate, the dessert is everything a traditional tiramisu should be. It's important for the sponge to maintain integrity and not disintegrate, otherwise the texture feels unpleasant, like that of wet bread.
Posted by Jeremy at 7:44pm on Friday April 28, 2017 :: 0 comments ::