Monday, April 03, 2006
More Italian Food
Saturday and Sunday were totally uneventful from a culinary point of view. My mum took me to her favourite Italian restaurant - Ca'Brunello in the city centre. The restaurant is often described as fine Italian dining, but apart from the wine list and the chef's raw materials there is nothing fine about it. Snotty and wannabe (and definitely heartless) is more what I would call it. Although, to be fair I should mention that there are many who disagree with this judgement. Ca'Brunello gets rave reviews and is a favourite among local business people. But somehow I don't like the place. It's not any one thing that's wrong; somehow every aspect seems to be just a little less than perfect, which, every time I visit, combines to a less than memorable experience. Let's start with the atmosphere: In my opinion the dining room is too dark and the uber-trendy furniture, apart from being hideously uncomfortable, is just plain ugly. There is no way to relax in there, neither physically nor emotionally. Next, the service: While not outright rude, the waiters are often less than attentive. I had to hang up my own coat, we waited forever to order and the chocolate covered coffee beans we were supposed to get with our espresso arrived only after a reminder. I could overlook all that, though, if the food were as spectacular as the restaurant's fans claim. However, in my opinion it is not. Last time I went there, my pasta was undercooked (and I don't mean al dente, I mean hard). This time I had a risotto instead, but that was quite crunchy too. It is obviously kitchen policy to make you chew for your money. This theory was confirmed by the fact that the scallops in the risotto had been grilled just long enough to turn them into little bits of rubber. Although, in all fairness I have to say that the smoked trout mousse I had as a starter was very nice. But in my opinion that's just not enough to warrant prices that would buy half a restaurant elsewhere and I think I can be excused for not wanting to go back. It just doesn't feel right.The better Italian restaurant came in the evening. I visited my dad at lake Ammersee south of Munich and we went for dinner at a small Italian place in Schondorf. What a difference to lunchtime that was! The chairs were less than stylish, but very comfortable, the atmosphere rustic, but warm and the food far from haute cuisine, but very, very tasty. I had a plate of mixed starters that was so good, I was tempted to get a second portion and skip the main course. In the end I was glad I didn't because the pizza that came next was equally yummy. I know, I know, true lovers of Italian food hate people who, when they hear Italian, immediately think pizza or pasta. I also agree that equating pizza with Italian food is as daft as thinking that Americans eat nothing but burgers or that British cuisine consists of fish & chips. But just as I like a good burger every once in a while and love some freshly made fish & chips, I occasionally get cravings for real thin-crust pizza from a wood-fired oven. So, in Schondorf I took the liberty of forgetting about Italy's rich cuisine and go for simple fast food in the shape of a Pizza Gorgonzola. My dad had grilled snails as a starter and spaghetti with a light seafood sauce as a main course (yes, I know, pasta is not technically a main course), both of which looked delicious. Mind you, I did not try either. I am not a big fan of snails, although I love the garlic butter they come in, and I was so happy to have my pizza I forgot to ask for a taste of the pasta before it was all gone. It must have been good, though, otherwise my dad would not have finished it this quickly.
Christine at 10:54 pm
