Mushroom Truffle Tortellini
#3 Cane e Gato (Siena, Italy): For a true food euphoric experience while in Italy, look no further than Cane e Gato in the beautiful walled city of Siena. Tucked away on a tiny cobblestone street, this little mom and pop restaurant cooks up some of the best food I have ever tasted. This was one of my last stops for a good Italian meal after living in Italy for five months so it had a lot of great Italian food to overcome. Cane e Gato did not disappoint.
From the moment you step into Cane e Gato, the staff makes you feel as if you are being welcomed into their home with true Italian style. At the door, you are warmly greeted by the owner and each girl is given a beautiful orchid corsage, a small touch that sets the tone for a special evening. The restaurant is quaint with decorated little statues and portraits of cats and dogs (cane e gato in Italian) that surround six small tables. And with only one seating per night, the dining experience is truly intimate (expect to spend at least 4 hours here).
I enjoyed practicing my Italian with the waitstaff but there is no need to know the local language at this restaurant. For one, the staff knows a good amount of English. Secondly, there is no menu to read. Every night the chef creates a different preset menu based on what is fresh that day. In total, there are five courses that are each paired with a different wine. I was lucky enough to devour ten courses since I visited the restaurant two nights in a row. It is just that good. I won’t go through all these courses but there are definitely a couple to highlight….
– Mushroom Truffle Tortellini: Homemade pasta stuffed with a meat mixture and topped with an amazingly delicious creamy white truffle mushroom sauce. As a sucker for truffles, this dish was one of my favorites. Truffles are somewhat plentiful in Italy so, although they’re still expensive, it is no big deal to sprinkle their shavings on top of ravioli. I have attempted to recreate this dish in my own kitchen with truffle oil but I can’t match the taste of fresh truffles.
– Dessert Plate: Both the antipasti (appetizer) and the dessert were served with a bunch of little tastings, which provided a great variety and allowed me to try as many different creations as possible. The dessert plate provided a perfect combination of heavy to light desserts that wrapped up the meal nicely. The array of desserts included tiramisu, a strawberry meringue parfait and fresh fruit. Although the tiramisu included the traditional ingredients, the creamy custard that coated the top made it truly unique. The meringue was a refreshing treat with fresh strawberries and crunchy sweet meringue. Even after being extremely full I wanted more.
So if you ever find yourself in Siena, go to Cane e Gato and splurge on one of the most unforgettable meals of your life. Also, before you leave make sure to sign their guestbook and read the Rediker entries from 2004 and 2008 :). (Via Pagliaresi 6, Siena, Italy, 0577-287 545. Reservations required. Approx 65 Euros Per Person.)
The Savory Sisters 