Italy, I - Venice and Burano

Dates: Wednesday, June 6th to Saturday, June 9th

Hotel: Ai do Mori, S. Marco 658, Venice, 30124 // hotelaidomori.com

Visits: 

Basilica San Marco --- The most famous of the Venetian churches. Even with the long line it is quick to enter (as well as free) though one does need to pay to have access to most everything else in the Basilica.

Palazzo Ducale --- A gothic-style residence of the Doge in Venice, now a museum. My favorite part was the prisoner's level and the Bridge of Sighs. There is a separate tour that goes behind the scenes of the building, exploring its secret passageways, but we were unable to participate at the time we arrived.  

Burano --- An island of colors, colors, lace, and more colors! Beautiful! 

Venetian Labyrinth Tour --- This is from our Lonely Planet guide and explored the Campos of Venice. We loved it!!

Ponte Rialto --- The oldest bridge crossing the Grand Canal. Very recognizable. Very close to the fresh markets and pescaria (fish market), which is worth a visit if one has time in the morning. 

Note: J wishes we could have gone on the Torre del'Orologio (clock tower) tour. It does sound like it would have been quite interesting.

Food: 

Osteria da Carla --- Corte Contarina, San Marco 1535, Venice --- My mom's pomodoro was fabulous here. J tried a squid ink pasta.

Suco Gelateria --- Walnut and Fig flavor was my favorite.

Marchini Time --- San Marco 4598, Campo San Luca, Venice --- Hands down our favorite breakfast place. We went here every day.

Ostaria al Ponte --- Cannaregio 6378, Calle Larga G Gallina, 30121 Venice --- The three of us stopped here on our Venice Labyrinth tour we were taking courtesy of Lonely Planet. We shared a few small sandwiches, shrimp, and (of course) wine.

Enoiteca Al Prosecco --- S Croce 1503, Campo San Giacomo de l'Orio, 30135 Venice --- We enjoyed some refreshing beverages after finally completely the labyrinth tour! 

Pizza Place (unnamed) --- across from hotel/restaurant Noemi --- This is where we finally found some pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). Margherita, please!

Trattoria San Zulian --- Sestriere San Marco 523, 30124, Venice (Campo del Guerra) --- We went here after our original option had stopped serving food for the day. The dishes were great, the wine was tasty, and we spent hours laughing and chatting here. We even made two new friends from Austraila (who we would later see again in Riomaggiore (of the Cinque Terre).

Principe --- San Marco 455, Burano --- We visited this establishment for a light lunch and to try a Campari (Jeremy) and Aperol (me) Spritz. THE Venetian thing to do. I enjoyed the Spritz in San Gimignano more. The food was also good (we had a pizza and spaghetti carbonara). The Carbonara was heavier than the Carbonara we would have in Rome.

Enoteca Al Volto --- Calle Cavalli 4081, Venice --- Possibly our favorite dinner place while we were there. I will have to edit this blog and post pictures of the dinner. I had a truffle pasta, my mom had tuna with balsamic glaze drizzled over it, and J had the sea bass with, as he describes it, "awesomeness." This is also were we tried a cafe coretto, which is espresso with grappa. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Grappa is an interesting, strong liquor made from the remains of the wine making process.

 

The canals of Venice!

J enjoying the espresso and pastries.

My mom surveying Venice.

J and I at one of the canals.

One of the many gardened windows.

A statue along the Venetian coast.

Lamp post as the sun sets.

The Grand Canal at night.

J and I stumbled upon a military something in a Piazza San Marco.

A busy morning at the pescaria (fish market).

Dried goods at the market.

Fresh goods at the Venetian market.

The beautiful Burano.

J and I as we arrived in Burano.

Looking down one of the colorfully painted Burano canals.

It's a gorgeous island.

My beautiful mom. :)

Burano lace scarves.

Fresh flowers on a windowsill. I found these colors just like this; I did not arrange it. It made me happy.

J and his purple.

My mom with her favorite color: green.

Me. :)

I really love this guy (and this place!)

Another vibrant street and boats.

Boat detail.

I enjoy the reflection of the pink houses in the water fountain.

J enjoying the cool water.

Pink, pink, pink!

More color in Burano.

My last Burano picture, I promise.

St. Mark's Campanile, Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco

Basilica di San Marco.

Moroccan Couscous with Roasted Veggies

I love everything about this dish. 

Honestly. 

I am going to type up this recipe as we made it (based on a recipe we found on a website which was based on a recipe that was seen in a magazine). As my sister or brother might say, it's Recipeception. If we made it again, I'd love to add golden raisins, maybe adding them to the vegetable broth mixture when it is reheated. 

Ingredients: 

You can never have too much

Roughly 2 cups peeled butternut squash, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

2 cups of yello onion, diced large

1.5 cups baby carrots, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 zucchini, cut into 3/4 inch pieces

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1.5 cups vegetable broth

2 TBSP butter

1/4 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp saffron threads

1 cup uncooked couscous

Green onion...we love green onion and probably used about five (green part only)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the squash, onion, carrots and zucchini on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 30 minutes, turning once with a spatula about midway through.
While the vegetables roast, bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a saucepan. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the butter, salt and pepper to taste, cumin, and saffron threads. Cover the pan and steep for 15 minutes.

Cook the couscous.
When veggies are roasted, scrape the vegetables and their juices into a large bowl, and add the couscous.

The tastiness.

Bring the vegetable broth back to a boil, and pour over the couscous mixture all at once.
Cover tightly and allow to stand for 15 minutes.

Add the green onions, toss the couscous and vegetables, and serve.

The chef.

 

 

Eight Days Off: Chicago, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Back to Chicago

J and I worked nonstop earlier this month so that we could hang out with friends and family during a week we scheduled off. It all started out with grilling with great friends in Chicago, then we went to San Antonio and had many adventures there (as well as grilled with great friends), headed over to New Orleans to visit family (and - a change of pace - boiled crawfish), and brought it all back together by grilling in the Chicago 'burbs.

Gorgeous people grilling some tasty food on a beautiful Chicago day. Life is good.

Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio
This is a wonderful, free trip. It is a registered historical landmark and has some
neat history behind it.

Koi, Japanese Tea Garden, San Antonio

Decor at a fantastic vegan tex-mex restaurant (Vegeria) in San Antonio

Visiting our new cousin, Kennedy, in Mississippi

Crawfish Boil in Louisiana!

Decor at a restaurant in Covington.
I want to go to all these islands, especially after reading The Spice Necklace.
I really need to write a blog about some of my favorite recent reads.

Back in Chicago summer days = catch with the hubby.

...it also means grilling and white wine.

San Fran.

Who says work can't be a ton of fun? J and I worked a trip together with enough time in the great city of San Fransisco to take the train into town, enjoy the cable cars, the famous Boudin bakery and their sourdough bread, Ghirardelli chocolate, a fun little eatery called Nook, a beer and baseball spot, and lots of gorgeous views. :)

San Francisco, open your Golden Gate
You'll let nobody wait outside your door
San Francisco, here is your wanderin' one
Saying I'll wander no more

The Golden Gate in the fog.

A gator made out of bread. A bread made into a gator! Crazy! Go Gators!

At Boudin Bakery...clam chowder and tomato bisque in sourdough bread bowls. Mmmm...

Jeremy trying some nice, fresh crab meat.

Chocolate!

We had to sample some of the Ghirardelli goodness. Beyond what they already let us sample coming through the door... ;)

Alcatraz.

Cable car, steep street.

Bridge peeking through the city.

The Sir Francis Drake Hotel! Just fun because of our Uncharted obsession.

Lefty O'Doul's. J had to stop here...something to do with baseball. :P

-TJ