Travels In Italy

Have you noticed that sometimes the very first dinner in a place becomes a special memory? Our first dinner in Pompei at a Pizzeria near our Air B&B was…Pizza, of course. Naples and the Naples area are noted for their wonderful pizza and this was no exception. Italians generally order individual pizzas and this was the one my Hubby ordered. This is the Capricciosa pizza with olives, artichokes and mozzarella with baked ham and mushrooms. It was delicious.

I had the Margherita DOP Pizza with wonderful tomatoes…locally grown…with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. You can see the mozzarella ball in the center that was added after the pizza comes out of the oven with a fresh basil leaf as decoration. It was wonderful although I could not eat all of mine. No “doggie” bags in Italy. The mozzarella was soft and delicious and you can see that the crust was puffy and just the way it should be. The meal was accompanied by a glass of house wine that was also delicious.

Near our table was an amazing creation. A group of vignettes in a forest/mountain setting. In the one above you can see pizza being made for a family grouping.

There are scenes of daily life of years ago.

The main scene is that of the Christ Child in the manger complete with angels and shepherds.

The large frescoes painted on the wall were presented on the cover of the menu. Simple tables and chairs in a paneled room made for a welcoming atmosphere for dining.

Our first dinner in Pompei was a success and we went back to our temporary home happy with our first meal in Italy.