Lunch At Trattoria Dardano

   Our first Saturday in Umbria, we took the short drive across the valley to Cortona, just across the Tuscan boarder. (an aside here-this was a day or three before the flu hit me...)

  Johnny needed paint supplies, and there is a super sweet little art supply/bookshop in town that we both enjoy visiting. Also, Saturday is market day in the "centro storico", and I always have fun browsing whatever is on offer. I ended up bringing home some nice pots of herbs that I will use in my cooking all the time we are here.

  We decided to stop for lunch before heading back home, and instead of going to a place we'd been in the past, I wanted to try somewhere new. I had read about Trattoria Dardano and liked that it was a local spot, as well as a visitor favorite. 

  Located up the hill away from the main piazza, on Via Dardano, the place is small and quaint. I believe it is family owned, and it certainly had that feel upon entering. The front and back rooms are decorated simply, with what appears to be family heirlooms and also an odd mix of artwork. I got the feeling that many an artist has traded a painting for a meal or two while staying in the area. 

  The menu is basic Tuscan fare, seasonal and like every Tuscan menu we've seen....the usual starters, primi and secondi offerings. This is just fine with us, as there is always something we will no doubt enjoy. We kept things super simple and stayed with a combination that has proven tried and true for us:

 Start with a mixed(veggie) bruschetta plate, followed by pastas and grilled veggies. End with a mixed green salad. Done

The verdure alla griglia. In this case, so perfect, we were both blown away.
 Simply dee-vine.

  The grilled veggies were so damn good... the best we've had, and I'm just not sure why. Sweet, creamy, just enough caramelization....and a touch of garlic, but only just a touch. Really, they were perfect.

A wonderful lunch for two.

  I had the regionally special pasta, "pici"(pee-chee) with a super simple garlic and tomato sauce. Again, perfect. The texture of the obviously in house, hand made pasta was just what I wanted...a little tough to the tooth, but in a good way, with a sauce that bordered on sweet, but also, just to the right point. 

My awesome pici. I love my pici!

  Johnny, a man who loves his pesto, had to give the spaghetti with house made pesto a go, and it was also a winner. We switched plates a couple of times, and each agreed that both the pasta dishes were really good. The pesto was different than the typical Genovese style. This one had far less cheese and pine nuts, it was more about the oil, basil and garlic. And I would say that the basil may even have been a mix of dry and fresh. This may sound unappealing, but it wasn't. It was a very interesting combo, and it totally worked. The flavor was very basil forward, if that makes sense, without much, if any, parmesan in the sauce.

Johnny's pasta with pesto.

  We shared the very typical "insalata mista"...nothing earth shaking here, just a good, clean, very fresh mix. As always, oil and vinegar are served separately for you to add yourself.

  We shared a litre of the house red, which seemed to be what everyone else was ordering. It was just fine. The place was full of locals, or so it seemed. Many were greeted like old friends, and we were the only English speakers in our dining room area.
 

One happy dude.

One happy dudette.

 We both agreed that we would be happy to try Trattoria Dardano again...it was a fine meal, and at a very reasonable price, too. I can see why it was filled with locals on a Saturday afternoon. It's a little off the main drag, but well worth the few extra steps up hill to find it.

  I look forward to returning, maybe even for dinner.

What can I say...it's classic!

Trattoria Dardano in Cortona, just up the hill on Via Dardano.