Tag: prosciutto

Europe 2022 day #10. “Where Is My Baby?” Madrid, Spain 10/16/2022

by reissmd, posted in Madrid, Venice, Italy

Last night we went to the opera and watched a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata”.  The theater was formerly a palace and the work was performed by a very small ensemble.  There were three musicians and three singers.  The opera has three acts and each was performed in a different room with a 10-minute intermission allowing the audience to move to the next venue.  It was very enjoyable and I would consider going to another opera in the future.  Does anyone know when “Porgy and Bess” will be performed locally?

Upon entering we were greeted with this warning advice.
“Violetta” taking her bows. The room was very hot and unfortunately, we were in the back during every act.

We then had another great dinner, this time at Ristorante Acqua Pazza (S. Marco, 3808, 30124 Venezia VE).  We had an appetizer of Parma Prosciutto and Melon, followed by Pasta with Lobster for Patrice and Amberjack for me.  For those of you who never heard of Amberjack, join the club.  It is a very tasty fish and I was very pleased. 

Prosciutto and melon. Sorry, we were almost done eating it before I remembered to take a picture.

Today we left Venice and flew to Madrid. We went to the Venice airport (VCE) via water taxi followed by a standard taxi (if you consider a Mercedes standard). We were accompanied by our guide Anna Lisa who told us some facts about Venice that our previous guides either didn’t tell us or the information went in one ear and out the other.  It must have been the former since Patrice didn’t recall these tidbits.  If it had just been me I would assume it passed untouched threw my empty head.  

Traversing through the Venice airport went smoothly.  After making it through security we relaxed in the lounge waiting for our flight.  I got a bit of a fright because I dozed off prior to our 11:55 flight only to see this sign when I awoke

I initially thought it was 10 minutes after four but I soon realized it was the 16th of October. Phew!

Leaving the lounge I had a chance to see how far my Italian had progressed.   When we left I said “Grazie” (thank you) to the front desk clerk and she immediately replied in English.  I guess my Italian needs a little more work. 

The flight to Madrid went well, but the highlight of our trip was being greeted at the MAD airport by our favorite driver, our wonderful daughter Erica.  She brought us to our hotel and then lead us through a traditional Madrid activity.  We did laundry.  We still have 2 weeks left on our vacation so it was either do laundry or pay the tour company an additional fee for “hazard pay”. 

Patrice, Robert, and Erica at the laundromat.

After finishing the laundry, we got ready for dinner.  Erica and Patrice went to the hotel gym to work out and I took a nap.

I am looking forward to tomorrow when we do…….  Actually, I don’t know what we will be doing. 

Ciao.  

Oops, we are no longer in Italy. 

Hasta luego. 

Europe 2022 Day #3 “How About Some Bologna and Cheese?”  Parma and Bologna, Italy 10/8/2022

by reissmd, posted in Bologna, Italy, Parma

We arose early this morning to meet our driver (ironically named Roberto) for our 90-minute drive to Parma.  There we were taken to a cheese factory to learn how to make cheese. This was very timely because Patrice and I are thinking of buying some farmland in Wisconsin and producing cheese during our twilight years.  It took me a while to catch on but we went to Parma for cheese making because of Parmesan cheese.  Apparently, the city is also known for its ham.  Hmmm ham and cheese, I wonder if anyone has ever tried to combine them?  Maybe a sandwich?

The tour of the cheese factory was amazing.  We got to see the large vats in which all the ingredients (milk and the enzyme rennet is all there is).  Watch this video and observe the cheese makers touching the cheese with their hands.  These people apparently never ever touch any of their body parts and wash their hands at least once a week.  Remember this video the next time you decide to eat any cheese.  https://youtube.com/shorts/FJKDdt_KgBE

After the cheese balls are made the master cheese cutter “cuts the cheese”.  When I was 12 years old that sentence would have cracked me up.  Patrice can attest that when I just wrote this section I couldn’t stop laughing.  I guess I still am a 12-year-old at heart.  Speaking of saying funny things on my blog, my friend, Mike, might be getting blocked from the blog site.  He has once again broken the blog rule prohibiting anyone from being funnier than me. Please see his comment about The Last Supper, it made me laugh out loud. 

Back to the guy cutting the cheese (I am embarrassed to admit it but I am still giggling).  After that, they put the cheese in molds and bathed it in salt water to help preserve the product.  The cheese needs to be flipped on a regular basis in order to make sure that the salt is distributed evenly.  Watch this video where our spectacular guide Elizabeth demonstrates how the cheese is flipped. https://youtube.com/shorts/LEvhZVHkTfI

The cheese is stored for a minimum of 12 months prior to being sold.  We were told that the cheese can remain like this forever without the need for refrigeration.   This is what they look like prior to being further sliced for distribution. 

Big cheese.
Lots of cheese

Prior to entering the cheese factory, they try to prevent you from taking photos by making you dress up like total geeks in front of the cheese.  Obviously, they didn’t know how dedicated I am to my blog followers, see below.

Who looks more like a geek? I think I win easily.

After the cheese factory, we went to a place where they make balsamic vinegar.  This was informative but since we didn’t see any of the actual work it was not as interesting.   We then went to a prosciutto-making factory.  It too was closed but we did get to see the hams in their various stages of aging.  

After the final tour, we were treated to a lunch of (you guessed it) prosciutto and cheese.  Very yummy indeed.  Everyone had a great time at lunch except for the pigs.

After lunch, we were driven to Bologna.  We are going to chill for a while. See you tomorrow.

Ciao