Panicale Lunch 1

  There are some wonderful places to dine in our beloved Panicale. For such a small town, it really packs a punch when it comes to culinary delights. This is the first of a few posts about our lunches in Panicale.

  One Sunday, after our early morning walk to Paciano for cappuccini, we came home to watch the skies turn grey. Soon it began to drizzle. This seemed to be working into a perfect afternoon for a long, leisurely lunch in town. We had been wanting to try "Osteria Il Gallo Nel Pozzo" in the main piazza, so off we went. So sweet to be staying just steps away from everything! 

  Il Gallo Nel Pozzo (The Rooster In The Well) has two rooms, one upstairs, which is where we sat. It's really warm and comfortable...you feel like you are in someone's home. And, like in so many Italian eateries, you are...kind of. Here, the husband/wife owners are both hands on. The wife, Lorena, is chef, while Simone runs the front of the house. When we told Simone we were vegetarians, he helped us with the menu. We love bruschetta, and they have an appetizer of mixed. Lorena sent out a wonderful veg version.

  We loved the very earthy tableware they use, and the whole feel of the place. We enjoyed an Umbrian white wine we came to love, thanks to Simone's advice. Once we had it here, we noticed it and ordered it everywhere. It's a grape from Greece, originally, but is planted throughout Umbria. "Grechetto Bianco". I will look for it here in the states.

  

Vegetarian bruschetta- tomato with olive oil and garlic, artichoke pesto,
porcini mushroom, and a soft cheese with truffles.

  For our main dishes, I had the most amazing pasta- made in house, of course. I had heard of "spaghetti alla chittara" before. It is a pasta that is made by pushing the dough through thinly spaced wires strung taunt on a box frame. Like a "guitar", or, chittara! The texture, like so many fresh pastas, was dense and a little chewy... in a good way. I love this aspect of hand made pasta. The way it feels in your mouth.
  Johnny had gnocchi (small potato dumplings), which is one of his favorite things in the world. They are also made fresh in house.

Spaghetti alla Chittara, served in a sauce of purred ceci (garbanzo beans) with a touch of rosemary.
A wonderfully regional dish.

Gnocchi with pear, pecorino, and walnuts, served in a creamy sauce.

  We decided on a cheese course for dessert. Simone recommended we try it, and we loved it. The local cheese were served with a lemon-ginger compote to die for. I am so mad at myself because I forgot to see if they sold it in little jars to bring home. I imagine it is made by Lorena. They have a small counter right as you enter the osteria, where they sell some of the home made sweets and things.
   Well.... one more of the hundreds of reasons to go back to Panicale!

Local cheeses with lemon/ginger "jam".

  We hold our time in Panicale very close to our hearts. Simone and Lorena's "Osteria Il Gallo Nel Pozzo" is one of our very favorite memories.
  Thanks to both of them, and if you guys are reading this...See you in 2012!!