Panicale Lunch 3

  Man, thank god I keep a journal when I travel. I'd love for you all to think I could actually remember the events I write about, but let's get real. Half the fun of doing this blog is going back through my photos and journal to get an idea of what to write about today. 

   And today it's food. Again. In Panicale. Again. 

   Sigh.

  Every day we would pass by the sweet little outdoor patio of the restaurant "Lillo Tatini" at the top of the main piazza in Panicale. It was right on the way to our apartment. I always enjoyed the pots of herbs and flowers that were scattered around the front door and patio, and could just imagine how lovely it must be in the summer when there would be people sitting outside, drinking wine and enjoying a good meal. Plus, every time we passed by, there were spectacular smells coming from the kitchen. We knew it would only be a matter of time before we popped in for lunch.

  On March 17, the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy (gee, thanks, journal!), we woke to another overcast day. Most businesses were closed for the holiday, except for Bar Gallo and the restaurants. So after our Bar Gallo visit, we hoofed it up to Lillo Tatini. There were quite a few people in town because of the holiday, so we were happy to get a table early. 

  Inside, it's very cosy, again like being in someone's home. There is a nice mix/match of table settings and linens. Even the napkin rings were cool.

  

Front dining room, all yellow and warm. Unfortunately, the food photos are
a little on the yellow side... sorry

  I had actually read about this place on a couple of foodie websites before leaving the states, and I was looking forward to our lunch here. We had asked about it around town, and were told that Lillo Tatini was "non tipicali", meaning not a typical regional restaurant. It may be a little more contemporary, but we really loved our meal. Nouveau cuisine? Maybe..in a good way. We ordered a nice bottle of something red while scoping out the menu. The waitress, perhaps the owner, was very helpful with vegetarian options. I never cease to be amazed at how nice wait staff can be with those of us who have to make little changes with the menu offered. In this case, the change came in Johnny's dish, below:

Johnny's ravioli stuffed with quail egg and topped with sauteed zucchini and ricotta salata.
The original dish included speck sprinkled on top, instead of the zucchini. The little egg yolk in the ravioli were perfectly done.

I had, and by the way, hope to have again, wonderful potato,truffle and lentil cannelles
in a buerre blanc sauce with shaved truffle on top. Whoa.

A typical "insalata mista", (mixed salad) and Umbrian lentils were our shared contorni. These lentils
 are a regional specialty best served simplest with olive oil and a little lemon & rosemary. 

  Ok, can we talk Dolci? We don't always order dessert, but in this case it was a must have. Most dessert menus leave me wanting. Wanting what? I don't know, until I see a dessert menu like the one at Lillo Tatini. And why not a little vin santo to go with, please? Fine, just fine.

Fresh pear cake with a warm semi-sweet dark chocolate sauce. Notice, please, the
caramelization of the pears on top. Thank you. And the inside, so warm, and almost a creamy consistency.

Right up Johnny's alley- a white chocolate semi-freddo with the same warm chocolate sauce.
The little orange tomatillo sort of things were fun, and pretty!

  We will be very happy to book a dinner next time at Lillo Tatini, in beautiful, down town Panicale... and most likely a lunch, too!