Trattorias to die for, and other favorite homey restaurants

Forums: Food, Simple Food Well Cooked, Trattorias, Small Restaurants
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Some long time ago on a2k I said in some thread that my fantasy is that when I die, I will have proper funds to have friends and such relatives as might wish (those are getting few now, as we get older) take my ashes to Italy (no, I don't know if that is legal) and toss them in some terrific place like a poplar grove in Tuscany (probably illegal) while imbibing a beverage of their choice and then to have a lot of fun and much good food, all on me (as it were). What I had in mind was much good food at trattorias like those in this article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2011/jul/13/top-10-trattorias-rome

Here's just one -
quoting:
Don't let the white tablecloths fool you, this historic family-run trattoria serves simple, uncomplicated local fare and has done for centuries. Reputedly founded in the 16th century, La Campana attracts business people at lunch and families at dinner who come for the fettucine, served with truffles in season, grilled lamb, and seasonal vegetable side dishes. At the entrance, an abundant antipasto spread rich in grilled and roasted vegetables could tempt even the most carnivorous diner. This is the quintessential destination for a long Sunday lunch spent with friends and family. La Campana is also open Sunday nights, a relative rarity in Rome.
• Vicolo della Campana 18, +39 06 687 5273, ristorantelacampana.com. Closed Mon. Average €30.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Travel/Pix/pictures/2011/7/5/1309876601687/La-Campana-007.jpg

The trouble with that is that I'd like to do that before I crump so I'd be having fun too. Which sort of defeats the purpose of the fantasy.

Well, those in the article are the kind of places I love.

How about you, what kind of small good restaurants stand out, wherever they are situated, in your own experience?

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@ossobuco,

Not a Trattoria (or whatever the hell that is), is MAybelines down in Dekalb County Ga. It sereves up aome o the best sit down an smack yo mammy food that can be gathered up. Brunswick Stew with three sides that include collards cooked in a bacony pot likker, corn spoon cakes and hush puppies, crowder peas in a vinegary sauce,> an for dessert Sweet potato pie withhomemade whup cream.

The menu is usually on a chalkboard at the front

IZZAT a Trattoria?

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There is a restaurant named Trattoria iin Cleveland, Ohio that is fabulous.

Another one is the Vineyard in South Haven, MI.

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@farmerman,

Yes.

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@ossobuco,

I figured no one was answering since I was somehow morbid - not my intent, but hey - yet another lesson not to say what I think..

but now I get it, trattoria is the problem word.

I won't go look up whatever is the present definition, but your basic small family run places, where ever they are. Los Angeles is a hive of them, mostly based on spanish speaking countries and regions within them, or rather exact places within them. My present favorite food writer, Jonathan Gold, though I liked him better earlier, has followed at least one other before him, Kit Snetaker in the old LA Examiner. Anyway, LA is a city rich in what I consider trattorie.

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@PUNKEY,

Trattorie are just small hole in the wall places, usually run by a family. Simple food the mode, often with a lot of years behind the recipes.

Ristorante is a big step up.

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@ossobuco,

I've already posted many times over the years that I loved Chez Helene's in Venice on what was then West Washington Blvd, a few blocks from our gallery/flop place. Small restaurant, best on a rainy evening. My choices were a struggle, the roast chicken or the lamb. There were other choices but those two were so great, they were knockouts. She made the very best corn pudding ever, but you could only get it with the lamb. This was in a then iffy neighborhood, now the place makes me blanche from the richness. Abraham Ribokoff's niece was shot out front and Eileen Brennan was hit by a car. Not good for small restaurant business, not that I am blaming Eileen, much less Sarai Ribikoff. On the other hand, the neighborhood behind all this was long time troubled.

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@ossobuco,

Trying to find out if my favourite little Italian restaurant in Sudbury still exists.

The first time I went with Sean, around 2 p.m. on a Wednesday or Thursday we went in, no one was around. Sean went into the kitchen, got us some bread/cheese/olive oil, then found us a bottle of wine. The owner/cook showed up about half an hour later. He went into the kitchen, started cooking after greeting Sean and meeting me. Didn't show us a menu, didn't ask what we wanted. He brought out a wonderful, very simple pasta with a sauce that was basically tomato chunks and herbs. One enormous meatball arrived on a separate plate, in a different tomato sauce - something I think of as more of a tomato gravy.

Coffee and anise cookies arrived on the table later.

The owner left around 4 p.m., told us to lock the door behind us when we left.

I never figured out how he knew we were there. Fabulous meal.

I went back many times over the next 4 or 5 years, but it was never quite the same as that first afternoon.

I finally got used to the giant meatball approach to spaghetti and meatballs in Northern Ontario. You could order one meatball, or multiples of 3 for the table.

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@ehBeth,

What I said was socked somehow, likely by me.

Concider me listening.

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@ehBeth,

I/we had similar experiences with our friend from vietnam. Boat person, multiple jobs, but earlier, a manager re manufacturing, lived next to westmoreland, as I remember. When we knew him early, he worked at Sears, he worked delivering food, and he worked to help his mother cook. He was always berserk tired.

I will always remember him for the clay pot dishes, and much else.

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@ossobuco,

But never mind all that, I already have appreciation of small restaurants. I'm more intererested in learning about your places.

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Trattorias to die for, and other favorite homey restaurants

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