First meal - Europe- Italy

This feels a bit lame. Our exciting food challenge has just started and we decide to eat in an Italian restaurant. I had kind of thought that we would start with something more exotic. But, the restaurant is very close to home and we know for sure that the owner is Italian so the restaurant meets our requirements. We decide to start the easy way to get started. More challenging countries lie ahead!

I love Italian veal (vitello in Italian). I tend to stick to the few same types of scaloppini every time, though. I usually have Saltimbocca or Marsala.  Saltimbocca is veal topped with prosciutto and sage or basil (the translation of Saltimbocca is “jumps in the mouth” in Italian). Saltimbocca alla Romana is veal, prosciutto and sage and rolled-up before cooking.
And the third option is Scaloppini alla Marsala which is veal with mushrooms and Marsala wine sauce.

Today I will try something different.

We greet the owner in Italian only to realize that it is the full extent of our language skills. I struggle to pronounce a food item on the menu, “ Bocconcini” and get a pronunciation lesson in Italian from the amused waiter. Bocconcini is pronounced “bokkontsini”.

I choose the exotic Scaloppini Bocconcini for my main meal.  It turns out to be a mozzarella type of cheese (and in Italian means “small mouthfuls”). Large veal cutlet, covered in cheese and marsala sauce. What better can I choose!

Jukka goes with scaloppini alla Marsala with French fries. I take green beans with my Bocconcini. Our choices of the side dishes are a bit off from what a real Italian would eat. I guess mashed potatoes, linguini or fettuccini would be more typical choices but I only think about that after ordering.

Before the veal, we order antipasti to share. It is a typical collection of vegetables and meats.  St. Pellegrino water and Peroni beer from Italy meet the requirements of Italian beverages. Italian coffee rounds up the meal.

The meal was enjoyable. Sauce was tasty and veal was as good as ever.

I am really excited about this challenge. I get to eat and talk with hubby over a good meal. And as an achiever, I get to tick a country off the list.  Learning to pronounce Italian was definitely a plus.

Le Valentino

18 rue baudin

92400 Courbevoie

http://www.pizzeria-valentino.fr/