As for being a little late, not a problem. Better late than never!

Now I understand what ‘riserva’ means – essentially it is better quality cotechino.

Does Villani still do cotechini? I have looked on their web site, but cannot find it. Still, as Maletti’s contechini are all made to a high standard, I’ll simply look out for an buy Maletti cotechini!

Best regards,

Alex

Cotechino as well as salami are produced all over Italy but the most famous ones, which gained the Igp brand and the ancient recipe protection is the one from Modena. Villani and Maletti are two family very close to each other.

Maletti cotechino was the most famous cotechino in Modena itself and abroad because of its taste already in the late 40′s. Villani was not worse but less famous. In the 80′s the name of Maletti weakened and Villani took over keeping the famous recipe. Villani writes “reserva” on the box of its top quality cotechino and zampone to indicate the old way of cooking. (in the pot and not in pasteurisation) Maletti does not need to specify since it has only got one kind… the top one of course.

Hope I was useful and i am glad you appreciated the web site.

I’ve never heard of Mario Batali’s restaurants, but that does not mean much. I’ll ask around and see if anyone knows about him.

Re the trippa – go on be a devil – ask the waiter/ess if you can have a little to try. Lots of people do love it and you may too, but you will never know unless you take the plunge!

I’ll check out Google maps – sounds fun. I always like a good laugh.

Thanks for the info.

All the best,

Alex.

And when you’re looking for a good laugh, go to google maps and ask for directions from Milan, Italy to New York, NY. Take a look at step 45.

My advice, would be that if you should ever find yourself in the northern part of Italy, during one of the cooler months, and you happen to be in the company of some Italians and one orders a ‘trippa’ dish, then ask if you can try a little. You never know you may love the stuff, many do.

I shall mention busecca to some of the Bergamasca students I’ll be seeing this afternoon.

I’m glad you found the map interesting, – I use Google maps too, and if I had known that you do too, then I would have posted a link to the right spot on a Google map. And you are right, the images on Google maps can be stunning.

The boats you mention are probably ‘Riva’ – fabulous creations, and fabulously expensive too! Riva does its boaty stuff on the shores of the not too well known Lake Iseo, which is not far from Bergamo.

Regards