Portfolio and Plates: Plates

From 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., the Angels provide us breakfast: Slices of deli meat and cheese, yogurt, muesli, bread, and coffee. Even when I have late afternoon classes, I make sure scurry down to the dining room, just in time to wrap up my fair share of cold cuts and provolone in a paper napkin, and hoard it away in the fridge for later. Carefully eating only one half of this "meal" for breakfast later on in the day, and reserving the rest (maybe with olive oil and balsamic vinegar!) for lunch, I now know the true meaning of "starving artist."

But no breakfast thieving for me tomorrow. I've finally made the splurge: Groceries! And with learned restraint, I will stretch this bounty for as long as I can.

Fresh prosciutto crudo from the butcher (who shaved it right off the hock in front of me), two tomatoes, one zucchini, a small can of tuna, my own bottle of olive oil, and fresh pesto... Now that's amore.

Finally able to cook on my own!
Lunch today was sauteed zucchini, bruschetta with pesto, and prosciutto.

Kiwi-pineapple wafer with pastry cream at Ristorante Tonino (Cortona)

Fritto misto alla "Contadina" (pollo, coniglio e verdure), Deep-fried chicken, rabbit, and vegetale bites at Ristorante Ambrosia (Cortona)

Pappardelle al ragu di Cinghiale, "Pappardelle" noodles with wild boar ragout at Ristorante Ambrosia (Cortona)

Gnocchi di patate ripieni di Burro e Salvia al ragu bianco di "Chianina," Gnocchi filled with butter and sage, with Chianina beef ragout, at Ristorante Ambrosia (Cortona)
THIS WAS INCREDIBLE.

Tagliata, sliced grilled beef at Ristorante Ambrosia (Cortona)

Cremoso al Tiramisu con Lingue di Gatto al Caffe e salsa di Cioccolato e Whiskey, Tiramisu Cream with coffee biscuit and dark chocolate and whiskey sauce, at Ristorante Ambrosia (Cortona)

Semifreddo al Miele di Castagno con gelatina di Mou e Mandarino, organic honey ice parfait, with mandarinand Toffee jelly, at Ristorante Ambrosia (Cortona)

Cocoa pastry with custard and currents at Ristorante Tonino (Cortona)

So far, I have only learned the most important Italian phrases.

Like, "Un cappuccino, per favore," at Bar Caffe La Saletta (Cortona)... Delicioso!

When degustazione, wine tasting, with faculty and students, I got a chance to try three delicious Italian wines: A Scarezza 2012 Tenuta Monteloro white (12 euros), a Brunello di Montalcino D.O.C.G. 2008 Verbena red (35 euros), and a Sancta Catharina 2009 DEI red (25 euros). See my sketchbook for wine tasting notes...

Thanks to Marco Molesini, for his good wine and humor!

Okay, I'll admit, I miss large to-go cups of coffee. Which is why I found myself in a McDonald's--and was, surprisingly, impressed.

The McDonald's in Pisa doesn't "supersize" their menu. But I had a tasty cappuccino, and these treats looked pretty yummy, too!

You win again, Italy...

Bruschetta al pomodoro, toasted bread with tomatoes, at the Enoteca Enotria (Cortona). A dash of truffle oil and light sprinkling of salt made this dish molto bene!