Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet TM
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The debonair and daring Travelling Gourmet TM flies to the romantic City of Romeo and Julie to be a…

MOST industrious Wine Judge in the 22nd Concorso Enologico Internazionale. This is the World’s largest Wine Competition held yearly in Verona. If you ever see the moon over Verona…see it floating over the red tiled houses, smell Basilico and Rosemarino and Espresso coffee in the sultry air…and you happen to be with a warm and cuddly woman, you will never forget it…ever.

Lunedi 14.4.15
Monday

Now I’m having a most marvellous dinner as a guest of Masi with Risotto Amarone and more…and Campofiorin 2011 Rosso del Veronese  IGT Masi…Here in Monte Leone food and wine are life’s greatest pleasures! Buon Appetito!

I loved the Tagliata di manzo with al fior di sale…my friend the Chef gave me extra helpings of the Beef Steak done ‘medium’ Ha! Ha! It is always good to have friends in high and low places. Upset me and you may meet some of my friends in low places. Believe me…you would not like it…

The Dessert with Masi’s Recioto della Valpolicella Classico DOCG from the Serego Alighieri Estate was perfetta with the apple cake. The excellent acidity disguised the 80g per litre of residual sugar in the Dessert wine…La Dolce Vita indeed!

We returned to the hotel at midnight…

Tuesday 14 April, 2015

VERONA, ITALY

08:11

After a smashing breakfast, I am ready for the day’s Wine Judging which starts later. I awoke at 0558 and then it was off to the Gym to work out and swim in the Hydro-Pool with 5 Jacuzzis. Very nice. It is easy to pile on the calories but difficult to burn them off. For example, this morning after cycling 2km with a level 2 incline I only burned 22 Calories! Now to get ready to go and judge some more fine wines…It is a tough job being The Travelling Gourmet TM but somebody has to do it!

After tasting and judging 44 wines…it was a lighting visit to Il Centro di Verona…where after a leisurely stroll and an Espresso on Piazza Bra…I went to dine at Via Roma 33 which is the address and name of this smart casual trendy restaurant. In between savouring  plump Ravioli filled with Shrimp, and munching on carrot and Celery Crudite…mio amico exuberant Mario asked me to sing with him. Mario is the resident Pianist and Singer in this super lively restaurant. Unlike the touristic places on Piazza Bra near L’Arena, this one has hardly any tourists but caters mostly to the natives…I sang “Die Moritat von Mackie Messer” to loud and appreciative applause! Dessert was Panna Cotta con Fragole fresca which translates as Strawberries and ‘Cooked Cream’ or a form of soft custard. Actually the natives don’t eat so much Tiramisu for their dessert…mostly it is the tourists who order Tiramisu…After dinner, I drove back to the hotel crossing over the River Adige which winds its merry way through Verona.

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Another lovely sunny morning in Verona, the City of Romeo and Juliet. After a yum yum Prima Colazione in the colourful Plaza Restaurant of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, I am ready for MORE Wine tasting and judging which starts at 0930 in Veronafiere. Now it is 0758. I awoke as usual at 0558. My trusty Breitling Aerospace titanium watch woke me with its alarm. Then it was off to the Gym and Hydro-Pool with 5 jacuzzis on level 9, which is the highest floor of this hotel. I met my friend, Luigi the GM who was starting the day with a hot frothy cappuccino, and we talked about his French Bulldog, a black and white dog.

Thursday 16.4.15.

The final day of very important intense tasting to select the Grand Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal winners to be presented at the Milan Expo in May.

In the evening a long drive of 88km to Trento to visit the famous Cavit Winery. A comprehensive VIP tour and tasting of the gigantic winery and it’s wines…An elegant dinner followed in Altemasi with their fine wines…La Dolce Vita senz altro…

It was 30 mins past midnight on Fr 17.4.15. by the time I arrived back in the Crowne Plaza Verona. It was time to zzzzzz….

To be continued…