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From Abroad

Ristorante Barbesin Castelfranco Veneto

Tonight we went to our first CIMBA Formal Dinner- and let me just say�� BRAVOOOO!!!
I would give the restaurant we went to a standing ovation. Italian dinners aren�t just about the eating- it�s about EVERYTHING!

We started with the first course, Antipasti, which had three parts to it. First came the �Flan di zucchini con dadolata di pomodor fresco� � it was a zucchini flan which was extremely delicious. The next parts were �Cartella di all�asolana gratinata al forno� and �Sfogliatine all treviana�. One of them was like a little pizza with all kinds of veggies on it and the other was a little croissant with I want to say mushrooms and cheeses in it.

The next course was the called the Primi Piatti, and it�s usually made up of pastas. The first dish that came was the mose delicious thing I�ve ever eaten. It was like a crepe with artichokes and potatoes in it� We had seconds on that dish. It was SOOOO GOOD!!! I will find out how to make that. The second part of the pasta course was �Rigoli al sugo d�anitra� which was homemade noodles with this duck sauce with chunks of duck in it� sounds kind of weird- it was so good. Both the Antipasti and the Primi Piatti was served with a white wine called Gambellara.

The second course came next called the Secondo Piatto. This was made up of �Cagliata di manzo alla Robespierre� and �Patate al forno� which was the most amazing beef I�ve ever eaten in my life (it just melted in your mouth) with this delicious sauce over it, and a potato dish that they served right over the meat. This course of the meal was served with a red wine called Piave Cabernet.

Dessert was next, with this chocolate/coffee tasting delicious dessert called �Bacio al caffe� or translated kiss of coffee. Yuuummm�. Sooo good. This was served with a Ponegliano Prosecco dessert wine. Prosecco is a huge wine in this region of Italia, and honestly, it�s probably my favorite wine of all time.
After dessert the meal was topped off with a small cup of espresso. Italians love their espresso. If you order a meal, even a small lunch, in Europe it is usually followed by an espresso or cup of tea.

It was really cool to go to this dinner to practice what we learned in our etiquette class that they made us take. I can�t wait until the next formal dinner!! The food was absolutely ammmmaaazzzzinnnggg!! I�m so stuffed I can hardly type!!!

<3 Julie!