By DONNA HULL
Food is one of the defining elements of a culture. When visitors arrive in Missoula, what do you feed them? I’m guessing a grass-fed beefsteak, trout or fresh vegetables from the Missoula Farmer’s Market. In Italy, it’s all about pasta, which is why my photo from week 2 of touring Italy’s heel is this delicious looking dish.
While exploring Locorotondo, a quaint village of whitewashed buildings with colorful flowers cascading from every balcony, I experienced the best pasta of the trip. When Alan (my husband) and guide, Claudio, stepped into Trattoria Al Vecchio Arco, a family-run restaurant serving homemade food, we hit the jackpot of Italian dining.
The owner spoke very little English but he sure knew how to cook. He served up a whole-wheat ocrecchiette (pasta shaped like small ears) topped with tomato sauce and grated ricotta cheese. I could have stopped right there; but, of course, I didn’t. The eggplant parmagina deserved attention, too.
Does food define a place for you? Post a comment to share what you’ve discovered while dining on the road.
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Enjoy this look at Italy from the lens of a Montanan? Chances are you’ll like Donna Hull’s first blog in this series: Experiencing Italy the Slow Way: Subiaco, Italy
.
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Donna L. Hull writes about active travel for baby boomers at My Itchy Travel Feet
, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel
. She is also the author of My Itchy Travel Feet, Breathtaking Adventure Vacation Ideas
, available at Amazon Kindle, Nook and iTunes. See all of Donna Hull’s blogs
.
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