First the food...

"NO FISH" - that's the credo, it's printed right on the business card - at La Bitta, a FANTASTIC little enoteca/trattoria where we had dinner last night. Definitely the best meal so far. We sat in a tiny garden reminiscent of the kind of postage stamp-sized outdoor summer space you find in NYC - okay, without the Venetian charm, especially of the laundry hanging out. The dining room is tiny, too. Yes, it reminded us of Testiere in style and substance. Anyway, we think the owner is the young woman - I am definitely going to write a story about young women business owners in Venice, I tell you I am - who runs the place. She's absolutely adorable.



Marcia wanted red wine, I wanted white - by the glass. We asked her to choose something local for us. She brought out two open bottles and told us that if we finished them, mine would be a total of about three Euros and Marcia's would be about six. We could drink as much as we liked. Needless to say...
Gill, you're probably the only one reading this who cares (and we thank you for caring!) - the white was Collalto Manzini Bianco 2008 - a Riesling blend of all things - delicious - and the red was Piovene Porto Godi Vigneta Riveselle Tai Rosso 2007 - also delicious.



I ordered the caprese - have you ever seen fresh mozzarella that looks like a balloon with one end "tied" off?? And when you cut into it, it bursts - JUST like a balloon - and the liquid drenches the shredded lettuce and the grape tomatoes that are so sweet they taste like candy?? You haven't, you know you haven't. It was astoundingly good.



Marcia had rabbit - the proprietress's (let's just assume she is) grandmother's recipe, with soft polenta. Unreal. I had the gnocchi, with asparagus and Gorgonzola sauce and a PILE of shaved parm right on the side of the plate. How clever is that?!



I know I've said the panna cotta at Testiere is the best I've ever tasted. Well, the one last night may have been better - maybe it was the fresh caramel drizzled all over it - we're going to Testiere next Wednesday so we'll be able to compare. When the owner (I need to get her name!) told us the dessert choices and chocolate cake was among them, I said "I think we need to try the chocolate cake," she replied, "Yes, you do." Cake? I don't think so. Truffle, brownie, candy...



Molto delizioso...we shall return.