When we think of Italy the first thing that comes to mind is delicious Italian food. However, we didn’t think that driving on the Autostrada would yield such a fine dining experience. In Italy, just because one is driving it doesn’t mean they need to make culinary sacrifices. As native New Yorkers who’ve lived in Philly for the last 25 years we’ve taken more trips on the New Jersey Turnpike than we care to remember. We can tell you that the food at the Molly Pitcher rest stop never looked like this:
A wide selection of meats and cheeses is available for a roadside picnic.
Fine cuts of meat are displayed to be cooked to order, just like in top steakhouses.
Even when eating on the road Italians have a first and second course, the primi and secondi.
For vegetarians an order of roasted eggplant and a chick pea salad washed down with a bottle of sparkling San Pellegrino water is a tasty option.
Who isn’t in the mood for a seafood risotto on a road trip?
Bottle of white, bottle of red
Perhaps some fresh mozzarella instead
You can dine or you can shop
At an Italian rest stop. . .
With Little Rocky's help, Larissa stops traffic in Saigon.
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I am reading this while having lunch (prepared very nicely by Laine), however it falls way short of the Italian Roadside. Not Fair!
Since you’re Italian it’s in your blood, maybe you should be doing the preparing.
I noted the same on a road trip with my Italian cugini in 2010. Even standing at the espresso bar to ‘refuel’ was the true Italian experience. Buon appetito e buon viaggio!
Mary Lou Tucker recently posted..April come she will…
You’re so right about the standing espresso bars on the Autostrada.
Amazing! But are their highways jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive?
Doubtful.
You know we’re in Portugal right now where Bruce is playing in a week. We’ll check with him.
Hi Guys,
We enjoy reading about your travels, but seeing the food from Italy sure brings back fond memories. Foodies all!
Going through Germany to Vienna also was a culinary treat!
Enjoy!
Just read your visit with Mom in Italy. Your mom and I have a couple of things in common:always too old to travel until the opportunity comes, folding chair a necessity! slow everyone up…it doesn’t happen! Tell Mom to keep moving. We 80+ generation haven’t lost the lust for travel!
Thanks Grace and keep on traveling!
Larissa and Michael
Michael recently posted..Traveling with Mom in Italy
Roasted eggplant. Chick peas. To die for………………….