Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Casa Copella (Rome) 08/2018



 This restaurant occupies a very long narrow area divided by arches with a sort of T junction at one point. 
Our waiter had no idea about the history of the building which we were told, was once occupied by a wealthy French family.
The decor is modern 

with small tables 
which and good quality cutlery, crockery and glassware, became very over crowded when the food was served on very large plates.

My meal started with onion soup. 

It was quite pale, sweet, thick and filled onion, covered with a little melted cheese
Sandra chose a seafood risotto.
This was very cool to which the waiter responded that it was so it could be eaten immediately it was served. In contrast the soup was piping hot, and could not be eaten immediately. 
I had a slow cooked herb crusted pork dish served with a sweet potato purée

The waiter did not know how long the pork was cooked (it was well cooked through), nor the temperature. It was 90 minutes at 62 degrees. It's a risk have herb crusted food. This was not offensive.
Sandra's smallish black cod fillet
sat on a bed of creamed sweet corn. The cod was perfectly prepared though the skin could have been crisper.
we shared a deconstructed St.Honoré dessert

which was just OK. the Chantilly cream was very heavy, getting close to butter.
Score: 15/20

Monday, August 20, 2018

Café Gran Roma (Via Veneto - Rome) 08/2018

This is one of hundreds of Trattoria/Cafés and restaurants that line many of the streets of Rome. Many seem to be much the same with menus outside their doors on sandwich boards and on the walls.
 
 
 







 






 

 






By now you will have a fair idea of what I mean. There are small variations in the menus and in the prices and small variations in the venues and in the food they serve but none of them are particularly elegant or exceptionally attractive so we settled on the first one we came to after leaving the hair dresser next door.
 and outside dining.
 
The menu was more or less indistinguishable from their neighbours.
 Tables are set with small live flower arrangements, this one a little the worse for wear.




Tortellini and bacon, peas and cheese, a mere A$15 was a pleasant slightly bland dish
 helped by the grated Mozzarella 

and salt and pepper. My spaghetti with sea food was quite good, plenty to eat, enough sea food and good taste.
 


Three large scoops of creamy ice cream 
ended an inexpensive (A$45) reasonably satisfactory meal
 Score:13.25 /20

Friday, August 17, 2018

Eating on the Princess Eleganza (Adriatic Sea) 08/2018

 I have been constantly surprised at the ability of the two girls who cook on this tiny Adriatic cruise ship, which has room for only 36 passengers, to turn out very good meals. There is usually a salad bar and the main choice you have is take it or leave it!
There is a different set menu every meal, except breakfast. Breakfast is a small smorgasbord of prosciutto, cold cuts, salad vegetables and fruit as well as corn flakes, muesli and yoghurt. Eggs, fried, omelette, boiled or poached with mushroom, onion, sausage or tomato are cooked to order. Croissants, or occasionally, donuts with jam or chocolate are also available.
Other meals are three courses with fish or meat alternating, usually followed by a cake. 
Dining is on the sun deck if the weather is suitable, which was almost always.
Here, for example was lunch yesterday:

Tortellini in tomato sauce.
Sea Bass fillets with sliced roast potato and zuchini.

The salad bar


 and Fruit Salad
 Here's another example

Phillip and Ivan serve soup

The salad bar
Main course
and desser
Benign, inexpensive and inoffensive wine is freely available too.

It is consistently good to very good with a few exceptions where fish, especially tuna, and other meats can be seriously over cooked.
Score:13.5 /20