PIOPIO 604 10th av @43st

There

Peck in Milan and Colline Emilane in Roma..food highlights from an emotional roller coaster journey

Just got back from the Ukraine where my son and I did a roots search walkabout (ride- about via pot holed roads and beautiful countryside and remote villages. The trip was full of discoveries and while there were many food highlights (and vodka highlights) in the Ukraine the trip began in Rome and ended in Milan and that's where the food starred.
                      In Rome, Elba(the friend not the river) suggested Colline Emiliane since 1931 serving Bolognese style..family...home like..we just kept saying"fresh" and "the best". The pasta with asparagus and the pork with mashed and the vegetable soup all earned ranks.

                         In Milan, we went at Corey's suggestion to Peck on via Spadari. Also lovely...when done I mentioned to manager Tiziano Barani that I was going to blog Peck...he whisked us away to his new shop on Via Cantu around the corner : Dean And Delucca, Zabars...eat your heart out. Wines and fish and meat and rare coffees and more dining upstairs. On the canal we sampled appetizer spots and then settled in to a review of our travels in the upstairs of a fine restaurant ,Reflections.Also great look at roof food expo at la rinascente..top of department store (macys cellar  in the sky with diamonds?).


Meals in the Ukraine began In Chernovitzy and continued north through Rovno to Lvov. Always good salads and pirogie and stews. Warm people...some heartwarming and some sad talks. Dasvidania. Ariverdeci.

The window in Pecks new Milan store

Pecks

Pecks bad boy

Canal in Milan

Opera House Hotel Lvov overlooking guess what 

A variety plate near Rovno

potato pancakes in the Ukraine

Chernovitz treats

The family mill in korilifka(see film "NO PLACE ON EARTH"

Pecks

asparagus pasta at Colline

simple

Vegetable Soup from Colline

Tiny and sweet

Borscht with pork on the road to Lvov

veal in cream sauce

KIKU ASIAN BISTRO a pleasant surprise @ 5th ave and Degraw

IN THE SLOPE. Sushi and Thai....the forbidden blend ? NOT HERE. wonderful sushi and tempura...and chicken in Boston Lettuce cups..and decent wine choices for $28. The setting is right
and service amiable. Dumplings were also fresh and light.

delicate veg dumplings

Secretary's Day @Casey's in Rensselaer

First, I love knotty pine. Second old school hot turkey sandwich with rrrreal off the bone turkey makes Thanksgiving a year round thing..as it should be. And here is a group that The Commissioner and Deputy and others wanted to thank. They have doublegangers on Maiden Lane but that required an
away game travel day (but that too was a meal driven by gratitude).

r to l row 1 Nancy,Evelyn,Erin,,Sheila,Judy,Marge, Above:Commissioner, Michael

Fish and Chips ala Nancy

The everything salad

more about taking than giving orders

Little Bear LA wharehouse across from early Nabisco building

1855 E. Industrial street sits a beer and food joint worth finding...sort of an LA Dumbo or LIC.

we didn't eat here at Ambrosia but this Middle Eastern
was so kind that when pregnant kim said she smelled lasagna but had eaten he gave her a to go portion because he said that in his country a pregnant woman with a taste must receive the object of her olefactory desire or else...nice man. next time.

across from Little Bear, very stylish restaurant 

At Last at At Last Cafe LONG BEACH...204 Orange Street

Four years ago based on a diners and drive-in and dives show we mailed a certificate for At Last...I have always wanted to go my self and this time we did reach the perfect gourmet road house. Surf and turf split for dad and daughtah and salads and ...

                                                                                      

Michaels Pizza in Long Beach is new

And right next store to Beachwood...Kim and Pats favorite bbq and beer joint.

Kims friend Anna had the Lasagne

Show star was excellent but an affectation about not cutting the pizza unless asked to preserve the crispness was odd