Good attitude!!
Might also be a good idea not to LOOK at what you're eating. Octopus and eel are considered to be delicacies by some but neither are a joy to gaze upon...:eek:.

On the other hand, the pickled horse livers are a visual delight!

That's the spirit. We do not need any more of the likes of Dovster at this dinner, running out for a Marlboro every time something he has not eaten many times is put on the table. One of him is enough.

As to Cholula, he's just playing the game with Dovster. He's tried most of this stuff already over the years, but once he has paid for something with which he is not familiar, he will try it. I don't say that he'll like it, but he'll try it. That is why, I believe, that he got into the hot sauce business in the first place. Anything that he does not like becomes immediately acceptable to him with Cholula added.

Contrary to what may be gathered from this thread, I am actually a very big fan of Italian food -- normal Italian food.

Tortellini al ragu, lasagne, pizza, Milanese cutlets, risotto (uninked), chocolate pies, pistachio ice cream -- the kinds of things that a human being can swallow without having his life expectancy suddenly reduced to 12 minutes.

This, alas, is not to be. O2K has decided to broaden our culinary experience with various fungi and stuff that most decent fishermen would use as bait.

My UIG*, who is almost as weird as O2K*, will be in heaven -- especially if the restaurant is arranged according to the principles of Feng Shui. (Did Marco Polo happen to pick up a book on the subject during his travels to Cathay?)

Monitor, who will be totally potted on vino from the moment of his arrival until departure, will not even notice what is put on the table. That is his great good luck.

Cholula, as Monitor correctly pointed out, will drown everything in Hot Sauce, close his eyes, and convince himself that he is chomping on a taco.

Personally, I intend to slip the waiter a five Euro spot and get him to bring me a hamburger or a good rack of ribs.

---------------

*The UIG and O2K, who have never met, have so much in common it is frightening.

-- Both smashed their knees up at the same time.
-- Both got into accidents during their recoveries and redamaged the same knee.
-- Both have dogs.
-- Both like all kinds of creepy-crawly things that come out of the sea.
-- Both like green and red garbage.
-- Living in Milan, the UIG speaks English as a second language. Living in California, O2K speaks English as a second language.
-- The UIG is a Communist. O2K is a Democrat.
-- O2K, as a moderator, removes my posts. The UIG gives me a simple order which has the same effect: "Silenzio!"

I have never been in O2K's house, but I have the sneaking suspicion that its design meets all the requirements of Feng Shui.

These two are really going to love each other. Nut cases always do.

Three Weeks To Go!
 

In exactly three weeks, we will be having the Big Dinner at the Venice Meet. (Actually, that is not quite true. As of the time I am writing this, the dinner will have been over for a few hours.)

If you haven't yet written to Obscure2K as she requested, please do ASAP.

If you haven't yet finalized your plans, get thee moving!

My own odessy to the Meet begins in 100 hours, when I leave my house to get to the Rosh Pina airport for my flight to Tel Aviv.

I will be hanging out there for two days before getting on the shudder 12 1/2 hour flight to EWR.

On the bright side, TLV is actually a completely new airport -- or will be by the time I leave. On Nov 2, the old terminal closes and the new one opens. This is supposed to be one fantastic place, which includes Israel's third largest shopping mall and a wall of glass to give a view of the airport.

I may, in fact, go there on Thursday just to have a look around before my Saturday flight. (I have a feeling that most of the stores in the Mall may be closed on Saturday.)

If you are interested in seeing what it is like, take a look at http://www.iaa.gov.il/Rashat/en-US/Airports/BenGurion/

punki your dietary expectations are pretty limited and thus, I don't know if it is reasonable to expect Vini Da Gigio to prepare a separate meal for you, as this is a very small family-owned restaurant with a very limited staff and tiny kitchen. We would love to see you, whether you and Hunki decide to join us for dinner or just to have some wine and good company.
O2K

O2K, serious question: Wouldn't it be possible for Punki -- not to mention a certain Israeli -- to stop in the day before, chose something from their regular menu, order it for the dinner, and pay the difference in price?

Dov,
I cannot truthfully answer your question. I know that we have reserved the back room for 27 and Paulo will not let us charter the restaurant as he already has reservations booked for the front room. I have asked him to hold a couple of tables for us in the front room. I have tried my best to make this prix fixe menu as group-friendly, as possible. But, alas, I think that Punki is looking more towards a spa menu and I just cannot see how she expects brown rice,grilled chicken breasts etc. when there are, perhaps, 2 in in kitchen; any more than you would expect pizza or lasagna.
Vini da Gigio has a world-class reputation and , being a typical Venetian restaurant, they do emphasize seafood. I have had some very good meat dishes there, as well. Just doing the best I can do make everyone happy.

O2K, I know that you are and have no question that you have succeeded for 95% of the people who will be attending -- which is always a remarkable feat.

In fact, I have the feeling that you may have succeeded for 100%.

If the restaurant is open for a few other people, then they probably were not required to place their orders in advance. Logically, this should mean that someone who doesn't want the fixed price meal may also have the possibility of taking something else (although not at the same fixed price).

Punki might not get everything she wants but a large salad is far from unusual in Italy. You have had good meat meals there, so their normal menu undoubtedly offers things I will like.

I think our asking them the day before is certainly worth a shot.

Hey...where the ol' spirit of adventure here?? You know...." When in Rome, eat as the Roman's do" kinda thing.
Although monitor has painted me as a bon vivant of sorts, I do admit that I will eat anything that doesn't eat me first.
Once.
But I'm not giving certain foods a second chance. I was served a ceremonial eel on a trip to China several years ago. This dude was every bit of six feet long and coiled up on the platter with it mouth propped open and it fangs glistening.
Although it tasted like chicken, I'm not doing eel again, thank you very much...:eek:.
And I've tried octopus before and find it to be excellent if you consider chewing on fish-flavored rubber bands to be a gourmet delight.
Other than those two delicacies, I'm pretty much OK with anything else that swims, crawls or floats in the sea.
Bring it on......:)

Certainly, Dov, you and Punki are free to discuss other options with the Maitre/d/owner. I just want to make it clear that the reason we were able to confirm this very fine restaurant is that we were wllling to go with a prix fixe menu. I promise you that the menu I have selected will please most.

I don't doubt that for a moment. I also don't question that the dinner will be a big success. However, much to the UIG's eternal dismay ("Don't ask what it is -- do you think I would poison you?") I prefer the simplest foods -- meat and potatos or a good pasta dish.

Cholula's advice about "When in Rome" seems like an excellent idea for after the meal.

Can we arrange for an orgy? I am not particular in this. It can be an old-fashioned Roman orgy or the more modern la dolce vita type.

Lack of space restricts our ability to throw Christians to the lions in Venice, but there is a wonderful Roman arena in Verona that should be perfect for this. :D

Fear not, I have ramens!
 

First, thank you for your time and trouble in making this event as smoothly as possible, Signora O2K. ^

Sorry if I have missed reading about what is on the menu (which is fine with me), but, would you please post again, or point me to the post #? Grazie!

Sorry to be OT, but this is too good to pass...
 

On that note, Cholula, care to join me one day to 'authentic' Dim Sum? (chicken feet and all? :p )

From the restaurant's website:

Per chi non ama il pesce, o preferisce cambiare il menu, Vini da Gigio offre delle appetitose soluzioni culinarie. Inseriamo un esempio:

Antipasto :
Carpaccio di manzo con rucola e parmiggiano (oppure) Affettato di salumi misto con formaggio fritto
Primo:
Misto con risotto funghi e Penne gorgonzola e pistacchi
Secondo:
Tagliata di manzo al pepe rosa e aceto balsamico
Formaggio:
Piccola selezione di formaggi italiani
Dessert:
Semifreddo diplomatico al gianduia in salsa vaniglia

Actually, this sounds pretty good to me. However, I was too lazy to translate it for the rest of you, so I ran it through the Babel Fish Translation site:


For who it does not love the fish, or it prefers to change the menu, Wines from Gigio offer of the appetizing culinarie solutions. We insert an example: Appetizer: Carpaccio of manzo with rucola and parmiggiano (or) Mannered of salumi mixed with fried cheese First: Second compound with risotto fungi and Pens gorgonzola and pistachio nuts: Cut of manzo to the pepper rose and balsamic vinegar Cheese: Small selection of Italian cheeses Dessert: Diplomatic Semifreddo to the gianduia in sauce vaniglia