A night in Rome....

So after dinner,we decide to go out head to a grand opening of a museum in Rome with MTV hosting a party.We pick up his cousin and head to the location.The entrance is packed with people with music blaring people drinking, laughing, taking pics etc.I guess we arrived to late to check out the museum itself so we head back outside to enjoy vibe.One thing that was really cool was the giant skeleton lying on it's back in front it had to be atleast 50 feet long!The music is going from house to electronic,pop, hip hop with everyone having a great time.After a couple hours we head out to try another place.They decide to take me to a spot on the water with a view of lit up ancient architecture in the background with music playing and locals enjoying themselves.If you decide to come to Rome which most people do and you're in the mood for partying you'll love it here!

1st night meal in Rome........

Alessandro was culinary student at one of the best schools in Italy,so i was looking forward to trying his food,getting ideas,getting inspired and definitely collaborate on a couple dishes before i leave.So he had in mind to do octopus,to be exact "Polpetti di saltimbucca" which is stuffed octopus which is slightly baked.The stuffing consisted of peas,pistachios,onion and a few other ingredients i can't give out.First we cleaned the octopus and twine them together to make a cavity.Once the pea puree was done,we then stuffed the cavity and place in the oven and baked for a few minutes on moderate heat.We then remove them from the oven and carefully sliced the octopus and placed on a plate drizzled with a bit of their family owned olive oil,made a pea like cracker and served.The octopus was cooked perfectly withe pistachios coming out a bit plus the crunchiness of the breadcrumbs made a nice combo of textures plus the olive oil was the final touch. Definitely French taught cuisine he learned in school which is why i'm looking forward to going to school this fall,to finally understand food the true definition,concept,history and the process of food.I hope you enjoyed my photos cuz i enjoyed the food.Dam tomorrow night will for sure be good!

P.S. I totally forgot the slow baked snapper withe pea consume. That was the really good also!

1st night meal actually.......

I mixed the days up,the octopus dish was the second night this is what we cooked the actual first night.So my buddy Alessandro and i talk food for a couple hours,concepts,simplicity,school,kitchen etc.He decides to do fondue with a really good parmesan and the second course,bacon wrapped meatballs.After a trip to the local butcher for some ground beef and bacon,then to the local market for bread and some parmesan,we head back to the house and begin to prep.Blues playing in the background as we mix the ground beef with grated parmesan,the mystery meat which i will tell you in the video version when i do the recipe along with a few other ingredients.Adding the sage leave then wrapped it in the bacon,tooth picked them, heated a saute pan with a bit of olive oil and a bit of butter.Next placed them in one at a time and began cooking them by crisping the bacon and searing the meatball itself to seal in the juices.Next added the white wine a bit of butter and began making the sauce.With the flavor from the meatballs,the wine and butter will make a nice sauce.While the fondue is coming together the sauce is reducing tasting well but needs salt.I add a bit of salt and let it continue to reduce.We begin putting the plate together,placing the meatballs on the the plate ,three on each plate,then taste the sauce before pouring it over.DAM! TOO SALTY! So we had to scrap the sauce but,we drizzle the fondue over the top and that worked!The richness of the fondue,the savory taste of the sage and flavor combination of the meatballs with the bacon came out to be a great dish in the end!Trial and error.That's the beauty of cooking,always trial and error.It turned out to be a nice meal,sorry i don't have any pics right now but will do once i figure out the importing problem.But it was good!

P.S. I know someone is gonna read this and say "he ate pork"?

Arriving in Rome....

My time in Napoli was short but i had a great time and it was time to move on and check out and to visit my new chef friend Alessandro for some eating,cooking Italian style.I arrive at the station and like any train station it's packed with locals and of course plenty of tourists especially from the U.S. I get directions and hop on the very efficient subway system.Oh one thing don't try to be slick and not pay the fare or you'll pay a nice hefty fine.I do believe it's 35 euros,so pay the 1.10 and keep it moving. Along the way i see the graffiti adorned walls and train cars,it's warm ,very warm to be exact,looking forward to cooking tomorrow.I arrive at the stop with my friend waiting.We hop in the car and head to his place.The ride to his place was beautiful.Living outside Rome,about 30 minutes away the scenery,the speed is alot slower.Tall trees,olive trees everywhere,more scooters and less cars which is fine by me.We approach his place and his neighborhood is all well kept home built in the seventies.Hmm i wonder what he has in mind to eat tomorrow?

Napoli street art............

The street art in Italy is really cool.Especially in here in Napoli. Graffiti,political art,stencils,paintings,taggers,you name it.And it's everywhere!It doesn't matter,if there's a empty its blasted.It's obvious that the local government is not paying any mind to it,because it's considered a minor issue compared to other things.But the work is amazing by the artists here,yeah there's a lot of graffiti, but the other types of art work that dominates the walls.so should just spend a day to walk around the city to see it,definitely well worth the day,plus it gives you a chance to try a lot of interesting food along the way!

Pompeii......

So i'm a bit behind,but in the next two days i will catch up.So my 2nd and last day in Napoli (Naples),i decided to go see Pompeii with a couple friends i met in Bari.We take a bus and after a bit of a drive we arrive.Here's a tip,If you bring your passport,college i.d. you can get a discount to get in,but not a copy your actual passport.We paid 11 euros for entry and 6 for the bus ride. If any of you don't know,Pompeii is a partially buried Roman city in the region of Campania.This city was buried by a two day eruption from Mount Vesuvius burying the city atleast 5 meters.Rediscovered in the late 1500's by accident,till this day there constant excavation of the city showing how the people lived, worked,entertained etc.For me this was a history lesson that i never paid attention to in school but seeing it with my own eyes was amazing.From the way the water was distributed through the city,the craftmanship,the architecture etc.This city is huge so don't expect to see it aand be done in a couple hours.We were there 5 hours for the whole thing!Don't worry if you are tired there is a cafeteria serving subpar overpriced food,or what i would reccomend is to bring your own food take a break and sit amongst the history still standing surrounding you.This was a fun well worth day,and you must come here to see it for yourself!

The best pizza in Naples goes to.......

Antica Pizzeria da Michele.This family owned business is 140 years old making the best pizza in Naples with a line everyday of locals,tourists,foodies,waiting for a hot slice.With only two kinds,the "Normal",marinara,oregano,olive oil or the "Margherita" which is fresh mozzarella,basil and marinara.Baked in a wood oven operated by one man,these pizzas are flying two,three,and four at a time.Their isn't a policy on the wall but people here eat and go,to let others get a chance to dive into 4.50 euro pizza.The team consists of one making the pizzas,one placing them in the oven,one cooking them,and three servers sporting all white with a tight system.Pictures adorn the walls of family members,famous celebrities like Julia Roberts and so on.Basically when you arrive, take a number and wait.Matthew,Patrina and I waited for about twenty,but we went across the street to "Mexico" a cafe/bar and ordered drinks while we waited listening to the sounds of hectic Napoli traffic and humid weather.Our number was called, we sat ordered something to drink placed our order.While we waited i watch the pizza maker go to work,fluid with his hands the pizzas are made with ease.After a chat and some laughs with the crew our pizzas come.A nice char on the thin crust,the smell of the toppings perfume the dining area.We all cut ourselves a slice and dig in.The marinara has slight sweetness to it from the great tomatoes that grow here in this beautiful country.With the combination of the other ingredients make this heaven in the mouth.Have your napkins ready because the sauce easily end up on your lap,but thats a good stain lol!Some choose to eat it in slices,some fold it twice and eat it the Napoli way like a sandwich. That was great meal for the first thing to eat here in Naples,it is required that you come here!

2 days in Naples.......

Well that's right only two days in Naples.So i'm gonna have to cover as much ground as possible.Plenty of food to eat and a few sights.Matthew and Patrina decide they want to go and see the busiest city in all of Italy for a day.After a 3 hour drive we arrive in Naples with packed streets,cars,vendors selling bootleg name brand bags,belts,purses,wallets,and tons of scooters!We drive along the harbor till we get to the hostel i'm staying at,check in and hit streets.We get info on where to eat and head there first.Da Michele for his famous pizza.During the chaotic traffic there is also construction on the streets as they are building a subway system which makes traffic even worse,but i'm not here for traffic i'm here for food.

New friends.......

Well after staying a bit longer in Bari i made some new friendships along the way.I had a great time hanging out, working, cooking, laughing, and hope to stay in touch with you all.This is dedicated to,Francesco, Matthew, Patrina, Jonathan, Fabio, Roddy, Emily, Noelia, Zander, Ox (the dog), Antonio, Vito, Zofia, Justina, Marcin, and to anyone else i forgot, stay in touch and maybe i'll see you guys next summer!Ciao! Shanticles!!

The celebration of Saint San Antonio......

A parade in Bari in honor of the famous Saint.

Bari seafood......

The one thing Bari is well known for is it's seafood.The many choices of fish,shrimp,octopus,squid,crab you name it,you can get it.And the choices are practically endless in how you want it prepared,grill,baked,sometimes fried,etc.Be it a fine dining restaurant a small mom and pop eatery,someones house,or my favorite on the street.On saturday night while out with friends and staff i met at the hostel i was staying i came upon a street stand with a grill and was curious to find out what was cooking.There was an open flame doing small sausages on metal skewers and then there was chicken skewers.But that wasn't what i was really looking at.To the left on the grill on low flame was octopus!That's right octopus being grilled over mesquite served on a bun for 3 euros.It was about a 2 pounds grilled and cut perfectly.Now if you know anything about octopus or squid on a grill if you don't grill it right it can come out chewy and rubbery making it not appetizing.It was obvious this was a family business with chairs and a couple tables of plates,mothers,wives, a couple kids running around with the brother or husband manning the grill.I order one,no salt and pepper just a squeeze of lemon juice,cuts it open a bit, places it on a toasted bun.Now i said the tuna sandwich in Trapani was the best 3 euros i've spent so far for street food well the this sandwich takes the cake!It was cooked perfectly,smokiness from the mesquite,the hint of lemon on a toasted bun made a perfect meal.Wash it down with your favorite drink while taking in the smell of the sea.So be sure to come down to the pier and look for the grilled octopus.

Alberobelo.........

Jonothan and I decide to to take a trip to the famous small town Alberobelo. Known for it's truli constructions this has been a tourist attraction for quite some time. Truli is an Apulian stone dwelling with a cone like shaped roof.Mostly used as storehouses or dwellings made without mortar or cement to avoid taxation.Their thick walls provide protection from heat during the hot summers and protection from the cold harsh winters.The rooftop is made of limestone and keystone with the top layer or outer layer is made with limestone slabs to ensure the home is watertight. There's also these white symbols that are painted on the roofs,some with planetary symbols,heart,evil eye,etc.They are available to buy but you have follow the regulations by United Nation Educational Scientific Cultural Organization world heritage law.A beautiful place to see,you can take the train 6 days a week (except Sunday) takes about 40 minutes (8 euros roundtrip)or take the bus which takes two hours (6 euros).Make sure you come to Alberobelo.

A parade...

It's saturday morning and i'm awoken to the sound of horns and drums.A few of us were curious so we decided to check it out.It's a parade with people adorned in religious wear,full bands playing tunes with people watching.Come to find out it was a parade celebrating the birthday of Saint San Antonio.A Portuguese catholic saint born in Lisbon,Portugal where he lived most of his life to a wealthy and later died in Padua,Italy.

A day for fishing......

With just a couple days left before i head to naples i decided to do some fishing with my buddy Antonio.I was able to get my hands on a bike,so after grabbing everything i needed we headed out on a mid afternoon quest for dinner for tonight. After a bit of a stroll we get to our spot with the Adriatic Sea right at our toes!The choice of weapon;a 5 meter pole,no reel,4 meter of line,two tiny hooks,and a sinker!These little fish are quite popular for locals,usually eaten in soup.Worms were used for bait and the games began! We catch a few after a couple hours,enough to make a nice soup, add some shrimp from Pesheria Del Centro who had beautiful choices of seafood and we head out. I let Antonio make the soup while i blog.After about an hour the soup is finished we dig in and everyone enjoys the meal which also included spaghetti with sweet cherry tomatoes, and a chicken dish made by the hostel chef Fabio.Nothing wrong with a little fishing on this trip!

The markets......

I love Italy for it's markets.They are everywhere,from the large indoor markets to the tiny corners store shops selling fresh fruit and vegetables,beautiful seafood,various cuts and choices of meats.I will miss the smell of the large lemons,the soo delicious tomatoes you can eat like a snack,or how about the live octopus you can purchase,the just caught mussels with the smell of sea.Huge bundles of dried herbs,the ever sweet peaches,too many choices of pastas,oh and the tuna i will miss the tuna! Italy for me has changed the way i see food,how just simple ingredients but fresh ingredients can make great dishes.But of course you can't prepare great dishes without real olive oil!You can eat it with a spoon.drizzle it on desserts or just toosed in a sald with a hint of lemon.Dam the markets,the markets,the markets!

One of the great farmers market in Bari.......

A seafood delicacy for 3 euros......

It was really good!

Went for a tasty pizza at the best place in Napoli.....

Graf....

One thing i've noticed in each city i go,graf is everywhere and i love it!Crews,solo artists,taggers you name it.I took a ride with vito who is a retired breakdancer to show some places around town for some pics.Graf mostly known or done by guys,here we found some dope female artists.Like "This" and "Bole" had some great work.I wish i had more time to check out more places but i'll be back for sure!

Limone.....

So me and a couple new friends decide to go out for stroll along the harbor near Old Town but notice an unusual stand with loads of people out front.We head over and realize it's a giant lemon cut in half with two guys inside serving drinks.The place Is called Lemon Bar.Their drinks are lemon,orange or lime base,with your choice alcohol or no alcohol.Drinks choices such as (lime,banana,kiwi),(lemon,strawberry,melon),or if you are a drinker try the Lemon Classic,which is fresh squeezed lemon juice and vodka,or the Lemon Frizzante which is lemon juice and gin.Only open from 6pm to about 1am or so,the guys are always busy,music pumping out the speakers,going at their own pace.If we had something like this back home,it would be a hit!This is now my favorite street stand on my culinary trip.The guys are cool,fresh fruit,great concept,and located right by the beach.I'm quite surprised they are not open during the day because they would make a killing on these hot Italian summers!With drinks costing no more than 3 euros i went five days in a row!So make sure you top in Bari by the beach for Lemon Bar for a cool drink.

Matera......

Today i thought i would take road trip to check out another city.So i hopped on a train and headed to Matera a town in the province of Basilicata. About an hour away,this town was founded by the Romans in the 3rd Century B.C. Matera which means stones of Matera is where they got their name.Especially their ancient town the Sassidi. Basically the houses were dug into the rock itself even some of the streets are located on top of rooftops of houses! As for sights there's the Matera Cathedral,Castle Tramottamo as well as the the deep cavern that has a stream at the bottom also there is caves to see of different sizes.This was a well worth visit for only 8 euro round trip plus scenery on the way there was beautiful acres upon acres of olive trees. Oh yeah as for food plenty of little spots to eat but i just has some really good gelato.Don't forget about the siesta time where things are closed between 1-5.I recommend to just pack a lunch come see the sights and head back.You can catch a train at the Bari Terminal as early as 8am and and as late going back from Matera 8pm.Definitely come see this beautiful place,you will surely enjoy it!

A night in Bari.....

So i decided to go out with a couple of the staff and some new friends i made to Old Town.The one thing i noticed,this city is alive at night seven days a week.Lots of people,food,scooters,drinking,etc.So Saturday we went to to hang out and one other thing i noticed,the gelaterias.They are more packed at night than in the day!You think it was a bar,but nope they love their Gelato ranging fro Sutto Busco (strawberry)Pesca (Peach)which are my favorite or flavors like real vanilla,sesame with chocolate,pistachio,or pina colada!There's crepes selling for 3 euros from street stands,kebabs,panninis,and of course pizza.Real pizza.Thin crust,a couple ingredients,pomodoro (tomatoes),basil,mozzarella,free art gallery to view some great work local or famous artists.Then head down by the water and grab a drink to cool down from the 70 degree night,or even a nice snack from someone grilling and have a seat overlooking the Adriatic Sea listening to some music from a nearby bar.This is a fun happening city,very alive seven days with more than plenty to do,so when you plan your Italy trip definitely come to Bari,Puglia!I'll be back for sure!Ciao!

A Saturday night in Bari,in Old Town

Bari.....

After a bit of drama with getting to Bari,i get settled into my place and set out to the city tomorrow.The city is busy.Locals sipping on espresso,scooters zooming down streets,vendors selling everything you can think of from your typical Italian flags,football jerseys,to fake Gucci,Chanel,Louis Vutton bags,belts you name it.Then there's the beach,the view of the Adriatic Sea, the random fishermen selling their catch of the day,to the always packed gelato shops.There's plenty to do in Bari,with the Old Town that sits right on the water is just a few blocks away from where i'm staying.There's the beautiful architecture of the Basila Di San Nicola Church,plenty of little eateries serving up hot treats like Arancini which are deep fried risotto balls,pizza of course,fresh bread,or if you are in the shopping mood there's a few salumerias offering various choices of olive oils,meats,cheeses,you name it.There's also restaurants which open around 5pm serving some great seafood as well some of your favorite pasta dishes.What also makes Old Town cool is the tiny and narrow streets without having a clue what could be around the corner,then there's the smell of cooking going on,people hanging laundry out to dry or one of my favorite sights,two elderly women sitting side by side peeling artichokes while laughing and chatting it up.The place is quite clean rather quiet during the day but a whole different beast at night.Once you leave Old Town you can head further down and run right in to the harbor where you can catch the ferry to Croatia,Greece,Albania for quite a cheap price,i believe 20 euros for Croatia.Head in the opposite direction more towards the street you can find an indoor farmers market selling beautiful fresh fruit and vegetables even and stand selling various meats and cheeses.Walk outside to the right you will find a art gallery,and on the other side there's a little harbor where you will find a fish market and also a great view of Bari which i recommend seeing and taking pics of at night!Their beach is not all that big but there's plenty of clear cool water to tread out atleast 200 meters! The white sand area can be quite crowded on the weekend so come early get your spot and relax and take the scenic sea view in!There's a place to order drinks,as well some room to play a bit of football if you're in the mood.Once you leave the sandy area it becomes rocky which is not bad but there's plenty of grass to to sit on ,but i prefer the sand.And that's only the day time!