Jun 20, 2022·edited Jun 20, 2022Liked by Stacey Eskelin
I commented previously but I guess it did not accept it.
I enjoy how bars in Italy seem to encourage strangers to chat. Almost every time we have coffee and pasti, we met interesting people, either Italians or visitors. Even just watching by the sideline can be fascinating. I once observed an older gentleman slowly clean and assemble his hand-made cigar holder. It was quite the ritual. Also, bars perform other interesting services. For example, they will hold and secure packages when you are out of town. They will sell ice if you need it. Some serve gelato in the summer. The restrooms are almost always clean and available to anyone (it is courteous to purchase something, however.) Some pride themselves on glorious aperitivo spreads. And some serve an amazing and inexpensive "pranzo di lavoro" on weekdays.
You and I both know that quality of life is an actual "thing" here in Italy, not just something only the very rich can afford. I would have enjoyed watching that gentleman clean and assemble his hand-made cigar holder. That must have been quite something.
You'll love this. Today, John told me that a macchiado is often called un cappuccino di genovese--which means it's a cappuccino on the cheap. The Genovese are notoriously thrifty.
You know, I've heard it's absolutely delicious. Dammit, now I want a cup. And you're right about American bread. It's godawful.
To be fair, the Italians don't do good bread either, not like the French. And as surprising as it sounds, Poland makes good, dense, chewy bread. That I'll never be able to have again. On account of 20 hours straight of barfing.
Do they do the cinnamon thing with their cappuccinos? Because if not, I don't know that I even want to go there. Shakerato definitely sounds like something I'd like to try. I had to stop with the Irish coffees because they were too much like liquid schizophrenia. But brandy in coffee is a well established treat, so caffè corretto (cognac, thank you) is definitely on the list.
OMG. If someone put cinnamon on a cappuccino here, I'm pretty sure some old paisans would just drop out of their chairs. NO cinnamon on the coffee, thank you. I may have to steal your "Irish coffee as liquid schizophrenia." Now, THAT is delicious.
I commented previously but I guess it did not accept it.
I enjoy how bars in Italy seem to encourage strangers to chat. Almost every time we have coffee and pasti, we met interesting people, either Italians or visitors. Even just watching by the sideline can be fascinating. I once observed an older gentleman slowly clean and assemble his hand-made cigar holder. It was quite the ritual. Also, bars perform other interesting services. For example, they will hold and secure packages when you are out of town. They will sell ice if you need it. Some serve gelato in the summer. The restrooms are almost always clean and available to anyone (it is courteous to purchase something, however.) Some pride themselves on glorious aperitivo spreads. And some serve an amazing and inexpensive "pranzo di lavoro" on weekdays.
You and I both know that quality of life is an actual "thing" here in Italy, not just something only the very rich can afford. I would have enjoyed watching that gentleman clean and assemble his hand-made cigar holder. That must have been quite something.
I also love cappuccino.
You'll love this. Today, John told me that a macchiado is often called un cappuccino di genovese--which means it's a cappuccino on the cheap. The Genovese are notoriously thrifty.
Ha! Funny!
It’s like bread in the US, which except for artisan varieties, almost universally sucks donkey balls. I REALLY miss good Turkish coffee, though.
You know, I've heard it's absolutely delicious. Dammit, now I want a cup. And you're right about American bread. It's godawful.
To be fair, the Italians don't do good bread either, not like the French. And as surprising as it sounds, Poland makes good, dense, chewy bread. That I'll never be able to have again. On account of 20 hours straight of barfing.
Yeah, 20 straight hours of barfing would be a turn-off. Ugh.
Do they do the cinnamon thing with their cappuccinos? Because if not, I don't know that I even want to go there. Shakerato definitely sounds like something I'd like to try. I had to stop with the Irish coffees because they were too much like liquid schizophrenia. But brandy in coffee is a well established treat, so caffè corretto (cognac, thank you) is definitely on the list.
OMG. If someone put cinnamon on a cappuccino here, I'm pretty sure some old paisans would just drop out of their chairs. NO cinnamon on the coffee, thank you. I may have to steal your "Irish coffee as liquid schizophrenia." Now, THAT is delicious.