Italy – Venice Birthday Bash

We interrupt our Amazon adventure to bring readers a news bulletin on Foreign Writes current Venice escapade. It is the birthday of our spouse, and, as we know, many readers are more interested in photos of dining experiences than prose re culture, history, etc. So here is a course-by-course account of Mark’s birthday dinner at Ostaria Santa Marina.

We are happy to see that the same waiter who served us a year ago still has a job here – a charming Cambodian fellow who loves wine. The night is balmy, and we are one of the four or so tables choosing to sit outdoors in the lovely AND crowd-free Campo Santa Marina.

With our glass of Prosecco, our waiter brings a taste of things to come – a bit of white polenta with local fresh anchovies. Choosing from the menu is a challenge, but Mark opts for the hand cut tagliarini with frutta da mare.

I order a risotto – a typical Venitian dish called Risi e Bisi (rice and peas). It doesn’t sound very exciting, but, Oh My! It comes perfectly cooked with just a hint of bite to the rice, and topped with sliced scallops.

Mark can’t resist the seafood fritto misto, and who can blame him. A light batter coats pieces of fish, calamari, soft shelled crabs, shrimp and clams. He grudgingly gives me a taste.

I am more than happy with my fish baked with a minced assortment of colorful vegetables and served on a bed of pureed white beans.

Oh, and the wine. I ask for a white from Friuli and our waiter suggest a perfect blend that disappears too fast

For desert, Mark orders the semi-freddo – nougat and hazelnut, topped with a caramelized swirl.

My diplomatico al chocolato is a treat – layers of dark chocolate, chocolate sponge cake and white chocolate cream.

I shouldn’t tell, but on the way home, we stop at Mark’s favorite gelateria and he orders a cone of Kaiser (cherry) and tiramisu topped with whipped cream and cocoa powder – and a cookie. Photo unavailable.

Next – Jungle Adventures