Tuesday was a food-lover's paradise!!!!

My friend Ann took me with her to the fish and produce market near out part of town, and boy was that fun to see! Tuesday is the day the fish comes in, so it's very fresh, and there are LOTS of people buying squid, octopus, shrimp, clams, eel, etc. Fish with the heads on, fish with the heads off...quite a site!

The vegetables and fruit section looked a lot like the farmer's market we are used to in Dallas, but inside a building. And, you can also buy every kind of dried bean, rice, spices, etc. That was interesting! I bought some tomatoes, and sliced them on my white pizza with cheese for lunch. Yummy!!!!!

We also stopped in several small Asian grocery stores in the area. I found some great snacks to drink with my evening vino, and Ann found peanut butter at a good price.

Later that evening, my friends Erin and Luca Scordari invited me over for dinner. Luca is a chef, and for years they ran a B&B in Palestine (East Texas), and had a catering company, so needless to say I was excited about tasting Luca's cooking.

Let me say, that I have not had a meal as fabulous as that in ANY restaurant I have eaten in so far....Luca is the bomb! I brought prosecco (of course), and we started off with a bitter green wrapped in a kind of prosciutto....and you should have seen the beautiful way Luca arranged the plate, with sliced tomatoes, and lemon.....gorgeous and tasty.

Dinner was grilled raddicio, sauteed mushrooms, and white fish in a white wine cream sauce with garlic, tomatoes and basil. Is your mouth watering? Let me tell you what...I was a PIG, and didn't even care.....so good!!! Sooooo good!

Dessert.....try this. Pears poached in white wine with a kind of marscapone dolloped in the center....by this point, I was worried I would explode.....truly delicious!

And, Erin and Luca are some of the kindest people I have ever met. It has been so great to spend time with them this month!!!

So, my tummy stuffed to the brim, I waddled home.....as soon as I am finished with this entry, I'm taking my fanny on a walk in the Villa Borghese.....

There will be NO fat jokes when I return!!!!