PEOPLE, HAPPY FOOD➃

The lesson Bacalà: ‘Best out of three’ anyway.

⟨Team London is still walking⟩ in Venice.

Last week I was craving for Bacalà Mantecato, so I tried to find it from the fish corner in the supermarket nearby. Unfortunately, there was nothing anymore and the clerk recommended taking a fillet of cod instead. Always being ‘Why not try’ minded, I brought it home, poured cold water into a pot, and poached on low heat. Then I mashed it in fine pieces and whipped adding some olive oil, salt, and pepper. The improvised dish wasn’t even similar to what Anna brought me last time from Venice. It was supposed to be properly salty, rich, creamy, and a bit of chewy texture.

Bacalà means ‘dried cod(in Veneto)’ and Mantecato means ‘whipped’, and this whipped salt cod spread is a famous dish in the Veneto region. If you spread it on a crostino; a thin slice of toast, it will become delicious Cicchetti which is hard to stop eating. My story of Bacalà Mantecato is started 2 years ago when I’ve been to Venice for the first time. There have been 3 visits so far, my first impression of the city was interesting but strange, stunning and joyful at the second, and much more relaxing at the third. The idea changed mainly thanks to Anna. The boat tour with her friend Zeno, the aperitivo that we had at a Bacaro in Cannaregio, the fish market near Rialto bridge, Anna’s welcoming family, and the lovable cat Biro. All these are the images of Venice that I got to like.

Actually, it was the same for Bacalà Mantecato. I needed some time to adapt and embrace the flavor of it. The idea of creamy fish was unfamiliar and it tasted strong at the first time. I have not been a big fan of it but after trying the one Anna brought me last March, my mind got changed completely. So weird that I couldn’t really enjoy that dish even though I tried it quite times before in Venice and Milan. Anyway, since then, it became one of my favorite Italian dishes that I have tried.

Somehow listening to music, watching films, and especially trying food is like ‘best out of three’. Win(like it) or lose(not), you would have three different impressions and discover hidden gems. Which is the enjoyable part of trying new stuff!

This applies not only to a human being but also to a cat as Biro gave me three chances to get closer to him.

Advice. Anna Pruneri @annapruneri_