Bologna Day 3

It's warming up here in Bologna. Short sleeve T-shirt weather! Except in the wind. That's still cold. Today we're adventuring back towards where we are the other day - Via Pescherie Vecchie. Instead of taking the main street, Via dell'Indipendenza, we opt for the street parallel which is much quieter with less people. Although come to find out later that Independenza is closed to pedestrians only so it was pretty fun to experience the wide street car-free. So much life on a sunny day!

We meander through the Quadrilatero for a bit and then head for our lunch spot - Salumeria Simoni Laboritorio. They specialize in meats so their menu is fairly meat-centric, although there were a few veggie items.

It's a fun place, very popular it seems. The outdoor seating got full pretty quickly and multiple tour groups came thru for "take away" sandwiches.

Now for the food! We ordered the 4 tigelline bread, pesto and squacquerone cheese sample, and pickles trio to start. It's a make-your-own little sandwich. It comes with the bread which you open sort of like an English muffin, then with a salami puree, Parmesan cream and another cheese cream (which was fairly bland). You then take the meat and cheese and add to your bread. Of course, with the addition of the pickles was a nice kick!

Next, we ordered the tortellino di pane (focaccia bread stuffed with mortadella) which was delicious - and still warm from the oven. Also, the thinnest mortadella I've ever seen.

And the kaswalder which was sourdough bread with salami (they call it traditional "pink" salami but it's more like what we call "ham" in the States), a slab of pecorino cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. Very nice.

We call it quits before we overindulge and head back out to wander the streets around Piazza Maggiore a little more. It's sure busy on a Sunday, everyone is out with everyone and their mother. And their dogs, always. Certainly makes it interesting for people watching, there's all sorts walking about! Very energetic.

Then onto the necessary post-lunch gelato! This time from Cremeria Santo Stefano, a tiny little shop. The verdict: one of the best we've had so far! Nocciola (chocolate hazelnut) and mango. The nocciola had good strong flavor and the mango was like eating liquid mango, fantastic. We also picked a few chocolates as well which are adorable!

Chocolate from top to bottom: early grey, salted caramel, coffee

We rest for a bit before heading down the street for dinner at Le Moline. It's down a side road off the Independenza and it's lines with restaurant after restaurant. Being tree-lined makes it a very welcome street. Le Moline was probably the closest restaurant we've eaten at but would've been so worth a much longer walk too. From the outside, and on the inside, it sort of has this hipster cafe look and vibe about it, but it was a relaxing atmosphere and nice open place. And, the food was absolutely delicious! We ordered lasagna bolognese, gramigna and the special is the day, artichokes tortelloni with bacon. Fabulous! We were in heaven.

All in all, a relaxing day with fantastic food.

Ciao!