A story about Guzzi and Pizza...

[Anomaly]

As many of you know, a while back Scout63 from this forum was flipping a bike on BAT and he sponsored a contest—guess the winning bid price in the auction and he would buy the winner a pizza. I’m the guy who had the closest guess. I PM’d Scout63 to let him know who I am and to tell him of a slight problem. I’m living in Italy these days (the details are a bit complicated but the short version is my wife is French but has lived in Italy for 15 years and has no intention of living, full-time, anywhere else). I suggested we could just skip the pizza thing, I had fun with the contest and that was enough for me. Scout63 said nonsense, he’d just send me the money via Venmo or PayPal. Normally, we just make pizzas at home. We know a guy who runs a pizzeria who shared his recipe for sourdough pizza crust and have been hooked on making them at home ever since. But, flush with cash from Scout63, I thought this might be a perfect opportunity to return to said pizzeria and have a night out. The place is about 50 km away from us close to the coast so we decided to just make a day of it. This past Friday it was sunny and warm so we headed out. First stop was the beach so Scout (not Scout63, but Scout the wonder dog) could play in the sand and surf.

The French Chick about to throw a stick for Scout:



Of course, Scout also has to go in the water (in Rhode Island, we could never keep her on the boat, she was always jumping off to swim to the nearest mooring ball with a Cormorant perched on top (the Cormorants always flew away in time, but Scout kept trying):




After the sun set, we headed to the pizzeria. Nights are still cold here so it was too cold to eat outside so we ventured indoors for the first time in two years. First course was alici. And, of course wine (the local Montecucco) and bread.



Then the pizzas



(you can see the proprietor in the background making another pizza)

It’s Italy, so Scout is allowed to be with us (she loves pizza crust).




After the pizzas, time for dessert: tiramisu!




Followed by a coffee (espresso) and then we moved to the bar to have a digestivo (grappa for me, limoncello for the French chick) while settling up the bill. The proprietor had been too busy most of the night to chat, but we finally got a chance to talk to him while at the bar.



("Celentano" (see below) on the left, French Chick on the right)

Of course, the proprietor has a name, but we just call him “Celentano”—when he was younger he did professional impersonations of Adriano Celentano. I suspect most Americans have no idea who Celentano is (I certainly didn’t), but he is universally known in Europe. One of his most famous songs is entirely gibberish--- to convey what American English sounds like to non-native speakers (the Wikipedia entry for “Prisencolinensinainciusol” explains more). Whatever you think of the music, the dance scenes are amazing—this is 1972, a full decade before Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g6YxkSqL20

Then there is “I Want to Know”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avHwIaXKP5Y

I had a quiet moment at the bar to contemplate the days events:



(the photo over my right shoulder on the wall is of the real Celentano)

In sum, we had a great day out, had a lovely meal and caught up with a friend.

Thanks Ben,

[yogidozer]

Are those Girl Scout "cookies" on the beach?

[Anomaly]

Are those Girl Scout "cookies" on the beach?

?? Just lots of footprints in the sand....

[yogidozer]

?? Just lots of footprints in the sand....

Just joking, I Love all dogs!

[DougG]

Wow!  Tough life, but I guess someone's got to live it.   

Be well, stay well,
DougG

[s1120]

Sounds like a wonderful day. One of those that sticks with you. Sounds to me like the Pizza with secondary.

[JJ]

Good story...and now I am hungry for an......"Anchovy Pizza!!"

[Dirk_S]

That’s some well spent cash prize!

Good story...and now I am hungry for an......"Anchovy Pizza!!"

JJ, I am a sucker for anchovy and pineapple pizza. These taste buds of mine get worked hard.

[Ncdan]

Great story. And the moral of this story is that it pays to be a WGC member 👍👍

Dan

[Scout63]

Great story. Sara loves the pictures and says you should shoot professionally. Someone please wipe the Celentano soundtracks from my mind.

[Pescatore]

Anomaly,
Thanks for the blast from the past.  That guy is still making hits at 84.
I have to eat pizza today.

[drdwb]

Around our place pizza is referred to as Vitamin P and required at least once a week. Fortunately Mary found a great recipe for almond flour crust that is exceptional and non GMO and gluten free, so somewhat healthy.
Side note, While stationed at Avaino AFB Italy, I experienced real Italian made pizza, It was so spicy hot it burned going in, all the way through and even while exiting, havent had one that hot in 47 years since.

I would love to go back a revisit that joint again.

[JJ]

Whether it's made at home...(photos below are a couple of home-made versions)...or from your favorite restaurant......... ..I think everyone can agree... 

WE ALL LOVE PIZZA!   LET'S EAT!!