Eva's Wine Cellar

The only time life can be considered a joy George is the one time I would get ostracised for if I went into it in detail.

If you think that a patio near Amalfi overlooking the sea, with that spread before me, can hold a candle to it I think there must be something wrong with you such as flat-out, unmitigated, incorrigible, unrepentant misogyny disguised under a snowstorm of phony flatteries intended to ingratiate yourself with women whose wits have been rendered null and void.

I can afford to do a patio near Amalfi overlooking the sea, with that spread before me, as often as it is possible given the limits of my digestion and boredom threshold.

If you were better read you would know that Spendius was given a pedigree consisting of a Greek rhetorician and a Campanian prostitute in the period before Naples became posh and learned to receive intellectuals fresh off long sea journeys with taste and decorum.

Cal--why is Amalfi more beautiful than the Wye valley in Shropshire on a summer's afternoon when the pubs are open?

And how do you know ci. will enjoy it. He might get run over by a bus. Or have a fly lay its eggs in his eye.

I think that's mashed potatoes with peas, or are those capers, to make the dish look grassy, so you've got too many carbs going.

Jc, you might like a mix of OJ and Campari. No ice, if you're italian, and a lot of ice if you are me.

But then we'll miss you here - check in when you can.

Did that prostitute hook up with Spendius and start a water buffalo ranch?

I love Campari with or without OJ.

We're leaving in about 3 weeks and I will check in occasionally if I can ....

Spendius, I am sure it's beautiful there too, even though in a different way.
The Amalfi coast is famous and that's where you'll find more people and I know that cicerone will enjoy it.

You are just a sour puss, go into your pub and drink a few pint, maybe you'll like yourself and others better.

When did Naples become posh? The air pollution is fairly bad; the streets a bit gamey; and the Campanian prostitutes all have moustaches ... and only some of them are boys. We called them campfire girls - they warmed (and advertised) themselves on winter nights standing beside burning cast off tires from the nearby Pirhelli factory. However South of Sorrento the sea breezes clean the air and the rich natural beauty of the place is vividly evident.

It may well be no more lovely than a Shropshire scene. However, I've never been there.

I love (love, mind you) a lot of italian aperitivi and digestivi.
Sigh.

I got into a lot of conversations, well, not a lot, but several, including watching a tennis match (commentary in italian, I remember Kuerten was playing), with the clerk at hotel Puccini in Lucca. He liked me, well enough, as not one of the spaghetti eaters in groups that sometimes roam the town (his words). I liked him since he tolerated me. I could never prevail on him to give me more than one ice cube in my one aperitivo.

I get it - extreme temperatures, hot or cold, diminish flavor. And flavor being an end all and be all is important.
But I really like my coffee hot and some drinks iced.

We took our older son now visiting us from Austin to an Italian restaurant for lunch where I had the fettuchine with clams with a glass of chianti. It was "rich" and tasty, but not enough clams for my "taste."

Agreed. The marinated vegetables, buffalo mozzarella and a good Sicilian wine were memorable. I often feasted on that and conversation and found I had no appetite for the pasta or the veal.

I don't know this, it is just a surmise, that San Francisco environs have had italians arrive from the north of Italy more than from the south.

Anyone know more about this, data-wise?

You're talking food starters (don't get me started about love), but I'm talking about first drinks and last drinks.

True enough. Most are from Lucca and Genoa, and there's a bit of rivalry between them. However, there was more intense rivalry between the Irish and the Italians. There are several very good ethnic clubs here too - the Italian Athletic Club on Washington Square; The Irish Cultural center in Sunset (The Italians are fond of rolling their eyes when they get to "cultural".) . The Calamari Club meets for lunch on Friday's at Scomas on the wharf ... its composed mostly of Italians and a sprinkling of Jews Irish, a couble of Blacks, an Armenian and one or two Japanese Americans as well as a token WASP or two.. It's mostly made up of judges, lawyers and labor union bosses, whom I greatly enjoy baiting.

Jacques, we might have a new guest in the next day or two. Her name is Gracie. She is 14 going on 40, and will be looking for a place to chill out. Can you fix her something appropriate?

That's a good man. A frozen virgin strawberry daiquiri would be just the thing. She would love it.

Hello George! I'll be in SF in about three weeks...c.i. can fill you in. I do hope you'll be able to join us!

He has. I'll be leaving town Thursday afternoon with my sons for the weekend, but will be back Sunday afternoon. Perhaps we can get together before you depart on Wednesday.

I'd like that! I'll pm you later once plans are made.