A Dinner to Remember

Trip to Italy - Journal Entry #8 - September 22, 2009 - 6:50 am

Our dinner last night was extra special. We went to Il Convivio -- only several blocks from our hotel. It is considered one of the best restaurants in Rome and it certainly earned that rating from us. We splurged and fully sated our appetites. More than that, we left feeling we needn't eat for another week.

We started with champagne -- of course. Astispumanti for me and Chris and a french champagne for Dad. Our meal then consisted of three courses.

First course: Chris and I split a sampler of goat cheese prepared three different ways -- one fried in corn chips and served with mushrooms; one rolled in poppy seeds and served with tiny melon balls and green beans; and one plain but served in a green tomato sauce. The presentation was impressive. Dad's appetizer was a sampler of a ravioli - beautifully presented in a long thin dish shaped like a canoe. The ravioli was stuffed with turnip. Dad must have like it because it disappeared really fast!

Second course: We all enjoyed plates of spaghetti in a red sauce with lamb cheek slices and percorino romano cheese.

Third (and main) course: We all had something different. Dad had rabbit. Chris had lamb shanks with mushrooms, and I had fowl. All of them were great. And between all these courses, we enjoyed tastings of wafer thin crackers and a spicy dip, amuse bouche (a cold bean and pasta soup -- two spoonfuls, maybe), and a gelato / sorbet concoction (in wee tiny cups).

Dessert: Although it seemed impossible that we could consume any more food, we decided to share between the three of us, a single serving of tiramisu. Wow. I'm so glad we did.

And while we consumed all of this great food, we also managed to go through two bottles of a great red wine -- a barolo.

This was a magnificant feast, the service was superb, and we greatly enjoyed the evening.