A Religious Experience

Today I had planned to blog about the monastery at San Marco with the gorgeous frescoes by Fra Angelica and the scary fanaticism of Savonarola, but after dinner tonight all I want to write about is the food.

Last night we went to Trattoria Pizzeria Dante (Piazza Nazario Sauro 12 in the Oltrarno) and had, literally, Pasta Paradiso. The meal started off with the house wine and "bread" -- a thin and crispy pizza shaped crust (personal panormous size) coated with olive oil and just a hint of sea salt. Yummmm. From there we moved on to the main event -- tagliatelle pasta with white truffle oil and porcini mushrooms and a side of Parmesan asparagous (menu spelling). It was like tasting heaven. The pasta came out scalding hot. The truffle oil added a rich flavor I can't even describe and the porcini mushrooms looked like chunks of ham and tasted like butter. I tried so hard to finish the entire plate but, with sadness, I had to watch the waiter take the last of paradise away.

For all the paintings of the crucifixion we saw today, it was dinner that was a religious experience.


Today's Itinerary:
-- Walk through San Lorenzo market (all the leather overnight bags start at $85 euro, bargaining encouraged)
-- San Marco Monastery with the Fra Angelica's glittery angel wings
-- Shopping the Mercato Centrale for pesto, prosciutto and cheese
-- Rainy afternoon lounging in the apartment
-- Evening walk through the Oltrarno

Can anyone tell me what's up with the lamb carrying a flag?