Pasticceria Siciliana Svizzera

Just off via Gregorio VII, in a small piazza  which looks more like a parking lot,  you can find this pastry shop. The pasticceria Siciliana Svizzera  has the most amazing Sicilian desserts. You can find the traditional Sicilian goodies such as cannoli and cassata, but we usually go for the sette veli (seven layers). The sette veli is a beautiful cake filled with layers of chocolate wafer, chocolate mousse, pistacchio mousse, chocolate sponge, finished with a dark chocolate exterior, and topped with caramelized pistacchios. This cake also comes in the hazelnut version which I have never tried but assume that it has hazelnut mousse filling instead of the pistacchio. Oddly enough the last time I had this cake, it tasted better the next day, since the flavors were more intense.

No idea

This is my blog, and every now and again I will express my opinions, anger, disgust at things. So those of you who come here for reviews of restaurants, hotels, etc. may want to skip this.

I find the news depressing. I have had enough of reading about how many people are being killed all over the world. I am mostly sick over the killing of innocent people in Syria. Children, women, whole families exterminated, and the world just sits back and tries to sort things out "diplomatically". How can anything be sorted with a murderer, who kills his own people in the most horrible manner. News like this has always bothered me. They stay in my head, and they haunt me. Am I sensitive? How come people around me don't talk about it, are they ignorant, do they not read what is going on? It baffles me.
The killing of children is what I have the hardest time digesting. We are not talking about bombing, we are talking about on the ground murderers, going into houses and killing one by one. I don't know what it will take to make the world wake up and demand that this is stopped. Countries like China and Russia keep blocking resolutions, they threaten to veto whatever the UN tries to pass. It's sad. I'm sad. The state of the world is sickening.
My heart is with all the brave men, women, and children of Syria who are paying with their lives. Hoping that the world will come to their aid before it's too late. For many it already is.

Astrid & Gaston (Madrid)

This could possibly be one of the yummiest meals I have ever had. It was that good!

My colleague and I decided to splurge since it is our second week in Madrid, and we had heard so much about this place.

It all started off with an incredible pisco sour that was out of this world. What followed was a 7 course experience that was worth every penny (and we are talking loads of pennies)!

The atmosphere is posh, and service is highly attentive.

We started with an amuse bouch, that I didn't take a picture of since I was too busy digging in! It was a corn cake with shrimp and beans in a spiced tomato sauce.

Our tasting menu started with the ceviche of squid, shrimp, mussels, and sea bass in black lime marinade, with bits of crunchy corn

 It was followed by this marinated salmon in a orange ponzu sauce

 then came a mashed potato cake with crab

 risotto with shrimp

 black cod

slow cooked braised ribs

 maracuya sorbet with pisco sour foam

 chocolate tempura with a lemon grass sorbet

The cost of this tasting menu is 72 euros (18% VAT not included)
Water 3 euro
Pisco sour 12 euros
glass of white wine 6 euros

Although the restaurant is posh, they don't seem to have a strict dress code. I did see some jeans and tennis shoes, owever, most diners were dressed smartly.

Juana la loca (Madrid)

The above and below are raviolis of scamorza with bacon, and eggplant. Zucchini rolls with cod.

This is the civito

chivito up close

soft shell crab with fish eggs and some sort of mayo

chocolate biscocho with praline ice cream 

My colleagues and I wanted to try something new, and we thought that a pinxos (small sized portions) restaurant might be nice to try out. I read loads of reviews of this place and it seemed like it is not the usual tapas place but a little more sophisticated. Booking is a must. The place seems small but there is a back room, where we were seated. Service is good. The food was good. We had about 4 pinxos a person, wine, dessert, and water. The cuenta was about 36 a head, which is pricey for pinxos but a great deal for the amount of food we ate. It is located in La Latina which is in the centro and there are lots of restaurants and bars around.

Sudestada (Madrid)

I discovered this place back in 2009 and have to pass by at least once every time I am in Madrid. The food is a mix of Thai, Indian, Vietnamese, and their signature caipirina is pretty damn good too! We usually get the set menu which is made up of 3 starters, 4 main courses, and dessert which you order off the menu. My favourites are the lettuce wrapped spring roll and the red curry . 43 euros a person not including drinks. Reservations a must.

I made it to the end of CLEAN !!!

Well, not really.
I stopped 3 days early and started to reintroduce foods things I missed! Monday marked the 3 weeks since starting the Elimination Diet, where you can't eat foods that are not Clean, but you can eat 3 solid meals a day. Anyhow, I started Monday off with coffee, yes a good ole espresso! I thought I missed it a lot more than my taste buds did. I also introduced beef. I can't believe I haven't had red meat or sugar for 3 whole weeks!
How am I feeling after Clean? Not bad, I can't believe I never starved on this diet. I had energy, I think my intestines are happy!
Will I ever do it again? Probably. I got results from just doing the Elimination Diet.
Did I lose weight? Yes, I lost 3 kgs (6.5 lbs) and I am back to my normal weight. My pants fit again!
What will I eat next? Lebanese food, dessert, and wine.
Any more questions?? Feel free to ask.

Rome 04-02-2012