Divina Cucina

Your Best Friend in Italy

Blogapalooza Party

by

In Italy when someone says pumpkin, we say food!
But when someone says special dinner, be careful!

When Angela said she wanted to party on the blog with a Blogapalooza, I said sure why not?
Although I don’t think I have had scary trips…. strange for sure!

Italy has been my home now for 25 years, but before that I had been travelling around on my own for 9 months when I got into college,
living in small student hotels when you could do that for $3 a night in Greece!

Probably the best and worse part of travelling on your own is eating out.
My worse experiences were both in Greece.

I had been invited out by a local Greek boy to a very special lunch
which he had to arrange ahead of time as our meal was not on the normal menu.
Maybe that should have given me a clue.

Clue number 2-
on the way to lunch, we witnessed an accident and he jumped out to help,
returning to the car covered in blood.
NOT A GOOD OMEN!
Can we go home now?

When we finally arrived to “lunch” a little shell shocked,
wine was brought to the table and with great honors, our meal.

A roasted goat’s head!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I was all of 23 and basically a vegetarian.
This was not good!

Never one to back down from a challenge, I dug into my dinner.
Brains were ok, tongue too.
BUT I WILL NEVER EAT EYEBALLS AGAIN.

Needless to say, this was a last date!

Another nightmare dinner, several years later on the Island of Zakinthos,
As my friend Rozanna and I headed up a dark road to a tiny shack of a house to our dinner, we were met by a horrific smell. As we entered the house, it permeated the room.
TRIPE SOUP.
I really hated to be rude, but…
I don’t remember now how we excused ourselves, but I remember running down the dark hill!

I now am a full carnivor, and eat almost anything,
ALMOST, including Tuscan tripe which I adore.

Now off to grill some lovely pumpkin with garlic and olive oil!

Trick or treat!
Never eat anything bigger than your head!

Comments

  1. Jewel Atkins says

    Oh my Goodness, Diva! Those are damn frightening….but funny, now that you can look back on them safely. I have yet to have such a culinary experience. I would prefer that others, not necessarily yourself, mind you, have them for me. I don’t mind the vicariosity in this case!

  5. Karen K. Kennedy says

    We were served sheep’s head in Thessaloniki, Greece. I had much the same reaction you did–but didn’t have to eat it. There were lots of people with us, so I could gracefully decline. You are a brave soul!

    My story about riding a donkey in Greece is my harrowing journey entry, if you want to take a look.

    beachhouseintheburbs.blogspot.com