Trip to Lecco

Yesterday, we took a train out past Milan's suburbs and then rode our bikes to the lakeside town of Lecco. The towns around Lake Como are so beautiful since they are both on the water and among gorgeous mountains. We had clear skies, warm (not hot) weather and pretty strong breezes. A lot of the town was out in the piazza enjoying the afternoon in grand Italian Sunday-stroll style. So, we did the same.

The town was full of closed butcher shops and salumerie. We passed one that had beautiful whole bresaolas. This is a meat that I never found in the States. It's a cured beef, pretty much treated like prosciutto, salt-cured but has much less fat. Here you see the bresaola, Valeria, Gabriel's reflection, Valeria's reflection, my reflection and Simone's profile.

Then we went down a tiny pedestrian street (cars would not have fit here!) and found a dried porcini specialist. 13 euros per "etto" (100 grams or a bit less than 4 ounces) Good deal? Maybe.

So we got pretty hungry after the bike ride and all the food specialty shops, so we stopped at (get this name!) L'Azzeccagarbugli for some lunch. I have to say that, while the food was pretty good, this osteria distinguishes itself only by it's name; in other words, this ain't no promo. (Pronunciation: latz-ecka gar BULL yee) We happily ate fresh buffalo mozzarella with tomatoes, beef carpaccio, smoked salmon with butter curls and a mixed salumi plate then, sated we headed for home.