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Hal · 06-03-2002, 03:07 PM,

My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Provence and Tuscany, and I found some inspiration for new dishes.

Crostini: brilliant! toast with stuff on it. Chopped tomatoes with olive oil, pate, olive paste etc. Easy...delicious. Use nice bread.

In Castelfiorentino we had a Florentine style t-bone steak topped with arugula and parmesan. We both loved it. The other night I made fresh tagliatelli and hadn't decided how to serve it when it struck me...ouch! Arugula and parmesan. As soon as the pasta was drained, I drizzled on some olive oil, and tossed in a chiffonade of arugula and some grated parmesano reggiano. Salt and pepper to taste. Yum. Deb was pleased. So simple, so quick and fresh, so reminiscent of out trip to Italy.

A popular vegetable side we were served both in Provence and Liguria was a baked tomato with the top cut off and sprinkled with bread crumbs, cheese, olive oil, parsley or combinations.

We also had pasta with truffles as often as we could. At one restaurant, it was served with enough fresh truffle slices to make a Manhattan diner blush. For less than $10 bucks. We cam home a jar of truffle butter and put most of it onto some freshly cooked pasta with cream.

Oh...the wine? The wine was cheap and terrific everywhere.

hotwine · 06-03-2002, 04:01 PM,

Sounds like a wonderful trip, Hal! I grilled some tomatoes like you described over oak a few days ago. Dynamite!

Drew · 06-03-2002, 05:27 PM,

Hal...major YUM! Jealous and drooling!

Drew

winoweenie · 06-03-2002, 06:02 PM,

Almost....ALMOST tempted me to abandon my sabattical. Will go for them when I'm popping corks again. WW

winemermaid · 06-04-2002, 02:37 PM,

Sounds fabulous...my stomach is rumbling... the best food I ever had was in Siena...I'd go back in a heartbeat... glad you had fun

Thomas · 06-05-2002, 11:39 AM,

Hal, that baked tomato dish is a constant in my home when the red ones start rolling in ripe at the end of summer. Nothing like it.

Hal · 06-05-2002, 01:41 PM,

I hate turning on the oven in the middle of the summer, but good news afoot: we will be closing on our Brooklyn row house in a few weeks, and I expect the outdoor gas grill will be used often. I just wonder if I can expect any of my Manhattan friends to come to dinner in Brooklyn!

Thomas · 06-05-2002, 03:03 PM,

I go almost anywhere for dinner...where are we going for this dinner in Brooklyn? Crown Heights? See you Saturday. Have you seen the Wednesday NY Post wine section? We are in it for our selection of Gruner Veltliner for summer--will taste it this Saturday, maybe along with another wine.

Incidentally, you do not need to do the tomato in an oven, probably shouldn't anyway, to save energy. I use an electric countertop convection.

[This message has been edited by foodie (edited 06-05-2002).]

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