Another food and human experience.

on my way to Parma from Tre Rii, I needed to have something to eat. I looked for a real local place like I love and I found just the one. I had to double back to get to it. All the roads in the area are very flat and straight with huge irrigation ditched on each side...so it makes turning off impulsively, difficult...and there is always tons of traffic...but I saw this place and decided...I am glad I did. The place was HUGE!, 5 dining rooms. I have to do a little research about it as I think it is very old.

They welcomed me right in and sat me across for a table of about 8 people. It was late ( as usual) but they didn't mind at all. An older woman...smallish, black hair tied back, smiley...sweet, waited on me. I saw what I thought was a dish that I love but I forgot how regional things are here...what I would be used to in Tuscany is not the same in Emilia Reggiano...and boy was it a surprise.  I also stressed RARE...the meat must be rare...I pulled up a photo on Google of what I meant....rosso...red...I should have thought of the french word which is basically, bloody , as it is the same in Italian. ( saignant in french)...anyway...after a few minutes, the server comes out with a plate with just the meat and a lemon wedge, meat cooked perfectly....but just the meat ( see the pic)  I had thought it would be sliced on arugula with parmesean ( the Tuscan way)...but it was just the meat....kind of shocking. ...so I tried to ask the server for a salad...and she asked the table of 8 if there was anyone who spoke english...a woman came over and I tried to explain...no problemo...the server came back with a huge bowl of arugula with shaved parmesean...oh perfect! The cook came out and stood watching me eat...big smile...everyone was happy...it was too much food and more than I could ever eat but it was really good. 

When I went to pay ( again, you get up and pay the cashier yourself.)...the woman who waited on me came up to me, took both of my hands and proceeded to give me a whole bunch of love and kindness in Italian...it was so heartwarming. This type of thing has happened to me often in Italy...people are very expressive and sentimental. It's one reason why I love Italy so much....

My order with add ons. They leave this on the table and just keep adding to it.

just steak and lemon

looking towards where you pay.

beautiful bread that I don't eat.

oh and they also brought out some flat bread with a little tomato on it ( the chef brought that out) ,,,I ate some of that.