As I flip through one of Whitecap’s new fall titles, Venezia: Food and Dreams, I can’t help but be reminded about my own adventures in Venice and the incredible foods that accompanied it. Mind you, my best friend Sarah and I were on a backpackers budget and didn’t get to taste some of the fancy dishes that Tessa Kiros features in her book, such as Carpaccio di carne (Meat Carpaccio) or Moscardini al pomodoro (Baby octopus in tomato). However, we did get enjoy some fabulous pizzas (my favorite was a pizza with eggplant!) and risottos as well as take in some of the beautiful scenery that Tessa Kiros featured in her book.
The food combined with the picture perfect canals and unique buildings of Venice, makes it my favorite city in Europe. The people there are welcoming and friendly, and the small cafes off the main tourist strips feature amazing food you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. Thank goodness for strong European coffee and filling carbonaras that gave us the energy to see everything! At least now whenever I crave some authentic Italian food, I can pick up my copy of Venezia and give one of Tessa’s recipes a try.