661301 Wed Oct 21 17:08:26 -0700 2009 4 58 Italy 0 5121149 Hey Hounds, Hope all is well. I'm going to be in Venice next month for two days on business. First time I've ever been to Italy but plan on making it back within the next year. I am going to be in Venice with a co-worker who isn't so keen on fish. However, I love fish and want to try some of what Venice has to offer. Bit of my background. Grew up in San Francisco, spent a lot of my adult life in Portland and really grew to love the local and seasonal cooking movement. I now live in Baltimore, MD and while I love the local bounty, i.e. crab, oysters, etc. I'd love to experience this movement in more international flavors. In my short bit of reading I read about Al Covo, which looks amazing. After reading other posts I noticed that Venice is very seafood influenced, totally understand why. Al Covo looks like a good fit but was interested in other mixed grill (fish and beef/pork//chicken) options in Venice. Second, I used to make my own Salumi while living in Portland and would love some rec's on local salumeria's as well as others that specialize in cured fish products. Along the same lines, I'd be interested if there is a good Thursday or Friday market to check-out. If not, some really nice local grocery stores would be key. Lastly, read a few articles about II Refolo. Sound like its a pretty well reviewed pizza spot in Venice. Was interested about other recs. Thank you for all your help. Looking forward to my first time in Venice. M Wed Oct 21 17:08:26 -0700 2009 92724 mcattrone 1 5130779 Al Covo is a good choice for a vary menu of seafood and non seafood choices. Some of the best restaurants in Venice, including Corta Sconta, Alle Testiere and Antiche Carampana, are seafood only. Fiaschetteria Toscana is one of the best traditional restaurant in Venice. It has a large menu with many excellent non-seafood choices. The ingredient is always top-notch, excellent wine, cheeses and desserts. Make your reservation on the main floor and not upstair. Another good option is the more intimate and less expensive is Vino da Gigio. If you referring to 'salmumeria' and specialize in cured fish products' as places that actually make the product, there aren't such places in Venice. The Veneto is not noted for it's cured meat though the excellent prosciutto de San Daniele is produced nearby. Except for bacala, the Venetians prefered their fresh seafood rather than cured or processed. There are many deli that carries excellent cured meat product. Two near the Rialto market are Casa Parmigiano and Aliana. The Riato would be the market you want to visit. It is mornings only and make sure to visit the stores and bacari on the nearby streets. Sun Oct 25 21:37:46 -0700 2009 5121149 10756 PBSF 1 5133414 Forgot to mentioned that if you are interested in cured fish products, there is a good shop just off the Rialto Pescheria; i think it is on calle Becarie. They do not produce their own but have a good assortment of cured anchovies, sardines, smoked fish, etc. Most of the salted cured fish are from Sicily, Sardinia and Spain. Mon Oct 26 19:50:49 -0700 2009 5121149 10756 PBSF 1 5140232 Ride the FRONT of the Vaporetto. Serious. About half of them have seats in FRONT of the cabin. It feels for all the world like you're having a private tour of the canals. Thu Oct 29 09:22:44 -0700 2009 5121149 12689 Joe H 1 5167859 First off - lucky you going to Venice for the first time - it'll be everything you hoped. If you're arriving by train - have your camera ready for the jaw-dropping walking out of the stazione moment. Recently returned from Venice (mid-late October), and, while I don't think Venice really offers the best of the best food in Italy, we did have some stand-out dishes. We took a lot of notice of this (slightly old) article from Angela Hartnett: http://bit.ly/uiK0B, and I asked elsewhere on this board, too. Our big ticket meal was at Fiaschetteria Toscana (for my boyfriend's 40th), where we had little tiny razor clams and shrimps with soft polenta for starters, then bigoli con soar and spaghetti con vongole for first courses. For a fish course, we shared grilled John Dory. Sides were braised red chicory and artichoke hearts. No meat course - too full. Pudding is a blur I'm afraid, too much Prosecco to start. We had seriously good food at Ostaria Da Rioba, in Cannaregio (http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/veneto/venice/restaurants.html#darioba), including a rocket, gorgonzola, pear and super-fresh walnut salad - mmm. Another place - more for a late night grappa - al Timon, also in Cannaregio on Fondamenta Ormesini. The food looked interesting from a distance - more like tapas, rather than big plates, and as far off the beaten track as you get in central Venice, really. We had a nice pasta with langoustines lunch down on the Zattere - I've failed to remember the name of it I'm afraid, and have lost the receipt - but very close to the waterbus stop, with a terrace over the water. The rest of the time, we cooked at home (we rented an apartment) - which meant we could try out produce from the markets, and save some money. One last thing - try the Aperol with local white wine and soda - fab. Mon Nov 09 13:10:08 -0800 2009 5121149 268403 olive_surprise