Tag: pizza

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Our European foodie checklist

Having waited so long since our last trip to Europe, we had a long list of foods that we were eager to taste once again. And I’m happy to report that we’ve eaten pretty much everything on our list:

Cappuccino (lots and lots of cappuccinos!) = ✅
Pizza (quite a bit of pizza) = ✅
Swiss cheese* = ✅
Gelato = ✅
Pizzoccheri = ✅
Tiramisu = ✅
Gnocchi di zucca = ✅
Pasta con pesto = ✅
Risotto = ✅
Torta di mele (apple); also cioccolato (chocolate), nocci (nuts), della nonna (Grandmother), etc) = ✅

It almost looked like we weren’t going to fit in fondue or raclette, but tonight we had a family dinner featuring both, so… = ✅

I do believe that the only local treat that we haven’t yet had is polenta. Oh well, I think we’ll survive.

* Meaning about fifteen different types of cheese produced in Switzerland, but NOT Emmenthaler (the one with holes), which most of Swiss folks I know don’t even like!

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Making new Ananda friends

The village of Maglio di Colla (which translates as “Mallet of Glue”)

We spent this evening at a pizzeria called Ristorante Washington and located in the village of Maglio di Colla, about thirty minutes outside Lugano.

We traveled along a small, curvy road in a sparsely populated area. As we got out of the car I felt like we were really out in the countryside. Until we walked into the restaurant, that is!

It had a cozy, homey kind of feel, but was quite large. And within half an hour it was completely full, and felt like a popular restaurant in the middle of a big city.

We were there to meet new friends Gianna and Maria Grazie (who are friends of a friend of Graziella’s) who are acquainted with Ananda Assisi.

It was delightful getting to know them. And as they’re relatively new to Ananda they really enjoyed hearing our stories and about our experience with Ananda over the years.

We also learned from them that there’s going to be an Ananda event here in Lugano in early May, which we’re definitely looking forward to attending.

Maybe you’re as curious as we were about how a restaurant in Switzerland came to be called “Washington”. Turns out the great-grandfather of the current owner emigrated to the United States back in the 1920’s. He eventually returned to Ticino and had a family, naming his son Washington and his daughter Philadelphia.

Washington opened the restaurant named for himself and it’s still in the family. A fun story, but I really have to wonder what became of the daughter named Philadelphia!

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A walk by the lake

Manu and Ramesha

Today felt like our first real visit to Lugano itself.

We parked at our usual autosilo (parking garage); made a stop at the bank; and walked to a pizzeria near the lake. There we had our first real pizzas (le prime pizze!) of this trip and they were delicious.

Le prime pizze

Then we walked down Via Nassa and along the lake to Parco Ciani, where we met up with Ramesha’s sister, Manu. We got gelato, then went for a walk along the lake. An altogether lovely afternoon in centro Lugano.

Lake Lugano
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Pizza!

No, that’s not my pizza…at least, not yet. 😄

Going home to experiment with making a low carb pizza right now.

Wishing you a fun weekend, wherever you are!

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Pizza awaits!

It would be awesome if my pizza turns out this good, but I kind of doubt it!

I’m finally trying one of the low carb keto pizza crusts and hoping it’s delicious!

But I’ve gotta run because it’s going in the oven momentarily.

Yum.

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Santa Barbara Day 3: Eateries

The theme of the day was restaurants. We ate in at the Natural Cafe (above) on lower State Street for lunch.

In the evening we headed to Mizza (also on State Street) and picked up some delicious pizza to eat while watching a satsang with Jyotish and Devi back at the Village.

It was while picking up the pizza that we discovered La Arcada, a unique outdoor patio/plaza tucked away in the historic center of Santa Barbara. We plan to return tomorrow in order to explore it thoroughly.

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Then. Now.

When I started my RPP program back at the end of February it was with the expectation that I would go all out for six months before we flew off to visit family in Europe.

After a solid six months, I anticipated being totally okay with taking a break from at least some of my new lifestyle choices. I mean, no way was I going to Switzerland and Italy and not having any pizza or pasta or fondue or (fill in the blank)!

So, today I realized I’ve passed that six month point and there’s no trip to Europe on the horizon. And I think this may be why I’ve been feeling resistance and restlessness with my program.

A part of me knows this is the moment when Ramesha and I should be at a cafe in downtown Lugano having caffè macchiato and a brioche. Or enjoying an amazing pizza on the piazza in Assisi. Or eating lunch at Silvio’s and dinner with the Lo Menzo’s.

I know the resistance will pass, but in the meantime I can’t help but be a little sad.

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Having a TGIF moment

Does anyone celebrate TGIF (aka Thank God It’s Friday) anymore? It was a “thing” during my early adulthood; there was even a restaurant named TGI Friday.

Oh my goodness! I was curious about the spelling of the restaurant name and discovered that they still exist! I guess Friday evening “happy hour” is still a big thing. Wow. Who knew?!?

Anyway, it’s been a rather intense week, with a particularly active Friday to finish it off. So we’re definitely ready to stick a pizza in the oven, pour some kombucha, and watch something light and funny on Netflix.

Thank goodness it’s Friday, y’all!

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Tourists

Today was our most intensive tourist day yet!

Part 1
Met our friends from Assisi (Peter and Aanadi) in Locarno, where they’ve been visiting family. It was lovely connecting with them over coffee and brioche in a beautiful cafe right by the lake.

Part 2
Ramesha and I drove up the mountainside to Orselina, parked the car, and walked down a ton of steps in order to visit the beautiful church at Santuario Madonna del Sasso. Then we walked back up all those steps!

Part 3
Next stop Ascona — where we finally celebrated our 15th anniversary at Lago Maggiore by eating a delicious pizza. A cute little bird even kept us company.

I have a ton of pictures, but I’m too tired to post them tonight.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!
I’ll post pics tomorrow!
It’s only a day away…!