Today we spent all afternoon wandering the streets of Sorrento. I love the combination of old cobblestone streets that are as wide as I am tall and the grander avenues lined with high end shops. We stop long enough to have a very Italian picnic in a park overlooking the ocean. Frank Jr. had made little sandwiches with fresh mozzarella, proscuitto, salami and roma tomatoes. They taste even better when we look out at the ocean.

Sorrento is definitely a tourist destination so we heard many languages spoken in the streets. It’s also a popular destination for cruise ships that deposit clients on the shore for some exploration.

We returned home around 5:00 PM to find Frank Sr. preparing dinner. And what a feast it is. We start with his homemade wine laced with fresh peaches. I’m going to have to learn how to make my own wine from now on! Frank Sr. then dishes up a generous helping of penne (he calls it macaroni) with fried zucchini and cream. It is possibly the best pasta dish I’ve ever had. Even though I’m not a big fan of zucchini, I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf. Maybe I should be taking classes from Frank Sr.

As soon as we empty our bowls, our plates are whisked away and replaced with a thin steak cooked in hot olive oil and fresh parsley. It’s been breaded with herbs, garlic and a smattering of breadcrumbs. Next to the steak we have a simple salad of lettuce, olive oil, celery, salt and lemon. And then comes the piece de resistance – mozzarella and mortadella are wrapped in homemade bread and quickly fried. Frank Sr. made sourdough starter that morning so the smooth creaminess of the cheese with the tang of the bread made my toes curl in delight.

Oh, I almost forgot. Frank Sr. bought some rustic Italian bread, so we slather it with butter made from the same milk as the bufala mozzarella. Did you know that bufala mozzarella is made from a cow’s milk and not from buffalo milk? I wasn’t aware of this fact until now. Learn something new every day, don’t we?

Of course dinner is followed by a cup of sweet dark coffee with just a little splash of anise liquor. Another perfect meal. Yep, I’m going to have to move here!

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