An International Breakfast
Okay, I know you may have been expecting the mouthwatering description of a dinner in Florence or at least the best pannini ever. Instead, I want to tell you about another Italian food experince, my “international breakfast”.
I am very satisfied with my usual breakfast at home, yogurt and fruit or the occasional scrambled egg. A few times a week I head to the piazza for a cappuchino and maybe a brioche for a treat. And this is good because there really aren’t any other options. But then I heard about a trattoria in Greve that served an American breakfast. When I found myself in Greve one morning I thought I’d check it out.
Sure enough, this trattoria which happens to be right behind the bus stop I often use, had breakfast advertised on a propped up chalk board alongside their patio. A restaurant that serves breakfast is rare in Italy where most Italians consider their morning caffe and maybe a baked treat enough to start the day.
The menu featured three choices- the international breakfast, the traditional breakfast and the tropical breakfast. I wasn’t in the mood for mango and other tropical fruits and could get the traditional caffee and croissant in Panzano so I opted for “international” which promised eggs, ham and cheese. I pictured an omelet which I hadn’t had in months.
Minutes after I ordered the server arrived with my cappuchino ( I could have opted for tea, espresso or American coffee) and a plate with a very moist brownie and a slice of a torte. Mmmm….not the expected start of my meal. But the Italians embrace “la dolce vita” so maybe that means…life is short, eat dessert first!
Soon after dessert the server made another delivery. Two fried eggs, sunny side up, about a quarter pound of parma harm and two generous wedges of cheese filled the plate. Cups were moved aside to make room for yet another plate with slices of toasted bread, enough butter for a whole loaf of bread and pots of marmalade and honey. I had my choice of five different spoons to dip into the marmalade. There was no shortage of cutlery! A bottle of olive oil and salt and pepper shakers were added to the array.
Wow! It was more than an international breakfast, it was quite an international feast!
Don’t know where there’d be room if anyone had joined me for this International Breakfast!