For the last of our four Exploring Italy feasts, we discovered Naples and Campania. All three wines were traditional to Campania, based on the ancient and under-appreciated Aglianico grape.
Antipasti, with a Mastroberardino Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio:
- Polpo alla Luciana (marinated octopus)
- Marinated Olives
- Fritto di Mozzarella
- Wine Biscuits and Fennel Taralli
- Two pizzas: a Pizza alla Napolitana (tomatoes, mozzarella, anchovies) and a Pizza alla Gamberi (garlic, shrimp, and bay scallops)
The Pasta, with a spicy, delicious Aglianico di Taburna 2008:
- Fusilli Aglio e Olio - a simple olive oil and garlic sauce for the pasta, with no tomatoes
The Main Course, with a fabulous Feudi di San Gregorio Taurasi 2004.
- Peperoni Ripieni (bell peppers stuffed with rice, mozzarella, and hard-cooked egg)
- The Porchetta! My all-time favorite dinner... courtesy of my brother Bill. Follow the link to see his excellent little treatise on Porchetta.
Dessert was not Italian - this being my birthday, Annette made her special mincemeat pie with her homemade green tomato mincemeat - my favorite!
WINE NOTES: It was something of an adventure getting the wines for this feast. The Taurasi came from Cirace's in the North End. I got the Taburna at Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge, but they had no Lacryma Christi. I used to be able to count on East Side Liquors in Worcester for Italian wines, but they no longer have the selection they once had. I ended up getting the LC at the new Wegmans Supermarket in Northboro, aided and frustrated by two well-intentioned clerks who thought I was looking for La Crema...