Venice is delicious! - Part 3

Venezia 

Happy New Year! We wish you all the best, mainly great destinations, perfect food and nice wine!

Should I call this blog "Back on track"? Maybe, because when it comes to junk food and overeating, the end of the year gave us plenty of opportunities to do so. We really did eat all the stuff you don't want to eat all December. It started with our trip to Venice. But going to Italy and not eating lots of bread and pasta is like going to Italy and not eating pizza (which we did not eat :D). Keep going to find out everything about what we ate and especially where we ate it.
Useful tip: if you want to eat pizza, the real pizza, try in other parts of Italy. They do not use any real ovens in the city because they are afraid the city will burn down. :D (this is also the reason why all the vetrerias are on the islands). The pizza there did look delicious but I simply didn't trust it. 



We started in Cannaregio, completely starved and ready to eat. Firstly, I want to say that of course, we did not do everything on our first day, we came back here and there, but you'll see if you keep on reading. Secondly, I want to say that we found all of these places on TA, so that's where you can find more details, opinions and photos, we're just giving you our (unique - hopefully :D) scope. 
1) Cocaeta - crepes 
I was a little bit suspicious and not so keen on eating crepes in Italy - are they typical all of a sudden? Did I miss something here? However, I did not complain (:D) and we gave it a shot. The (customer) space is literally 2x1 meter. There are 4 chairs so you're lucky if you find it free, obviously. But that doesn't stop them from making super delicious pancakes. 
Cocaeta is just perfect for spring/summer/autumn when you can grab the pancake and sit outside. If you're lucky you can get warm there in winter as we did (and have some red wine with it...or sparkling...your choice, really :D). 
What we tried: the super pancake with everything and a super "S" on top, bolognese pancake, home-made tiramisu. All of them super delicious. We liked it so much that we even came back the day after that. I had the same Super pancake and Telchac couldn't resist so he went for it as well. Both of us happy and full. 
2) Bacareto da Lele (my favourite) 
...or the place where we were almost attacked by the sea-gull. This is a really small bar that sells panini (small bread not the kind of panini they try to sell you in your country) and wine - perfect combo, right? :D There were about 10 people inside which was about 5 people too many for that place. No chance of sitting down, forget about it. If you've seen Eat, pray, love, then it's the scene where Julia Roberts meets the Dutch (I think) blond girl. If you haven't seen it, you need to do so 'cause I haven't found it on youtube (sorry). You can eat on either of the two barrels outside of the bar. Or if there are too many people, elsewhere in the piazza. Just beware that there may be some hungry sea-gulls trying to snatch your panini from your hand! Not recommended for people suffering from ornithophobia. 
What we tried: panini obviously! I had porchetta panini and Telchac had mortadella panini. We only had two, unfortunately, but in hindsight, I'd plan it differently so we could eat a lot more. 



3) Cantina Arnaldi 
My second favourite place where you can actually sit inside (there are maybe 10 chairs, I guess). They offer famous Venetian cichetti, so dig in. Felt very authentic, no tourists (when we were there), maybe a bit more pricey compared to others but the vibe's different as well. 
What we tried: Telchac opted for the most expensive wine (by the glass) which they offered that day so obviously, we tried the wine which was delicious. And we had some cichetti (cheese and jam were my favourite ones). 
4) Tonolo Pastry
This was our last stop that day so you can imagine that we weren't up to eating anything :D It was not acceptable not to go to this pasticceria. Therefore we decided to go, buy some pastry, take it to the hotel and eat it there later. Such a perfect plan! 
What we tried: the only way to remember what you ate there is to take a photo of it - which we did not do. However, go with your gut, try anything that pleases your eye, I'm sure it'll please your taste buds as well ;). 
6) La Bottiglia 
At first, it seemed this would not appear on this list as it was closed on our first day when we were passing by. Somehow, we found ourselves there (without the map) on our last day (you may say this was our Venetian last supper). Again no space to sit inside (4 places at the bar maybe) but they have 4 tables outside - during this trip we found out that we did not really mind the cold if we have wine and food :D. Amazing panini with the crust that makes the sounds you only hear in commercials. Paired with the right wine (any really, it does not matter :D) and few sea-gulls that are polite and wait for you to throw the food directly to their beak and you have created a very pleasant mealment (meal-moment, guys, meal-moment - it's gonna catch on, just wait for it :D). 
What we had: panini (you can choose from anything they have there, I can't remember what I had but Telchac went for ham and artichokes I guess. There are many things that you can choose from. They offer small (which is enough if you're not starved) and large panini. 



9) Baci & Pasta 
Pasta, in all sauces and shapes. Good, very good, simple and to the point. It could easily be the Italian McDonald's. I'm just not sure, I don't know why...maybe because it wasn't so crowded and there were tourists only? I think that was/is my "problem" with this place. Anyway, again, a really good meal, actually it's better pasta than your (not Italian) mom can make. 
What we tried: I had pumpkin gnocchi with tomato-basil sauce and Telchac had Tortelloni with bolognese. 
Btw this is really sad, writing this without anything Italian to eat. I will need to find some red Italian at home tonight and have it with some Parmigiano 'cause it's making me depressed (so entitled, right? AND NOT ASHAMED! :D)
10) Tuttinpiedi (Telchac's favourite) 
This was perfect! The place, the pasta, the owner, everything makes perfect sense and if I had this somewhere close, I'd go there all day every day. There is no place to sit (tutti in piedi as they say ;) but it doesn't matter. For a meal like that, you will gladly eat standing up. It's easy to miss, so make sure you find it. Shout out to this place! Google it, TA it, go there, eat there!
What we tried: we went for pasta with pesto alla siciliana sauce. We also saw some carbonara being prepared and it smelled fantastic!
These were also on our list but for some reason, we did not go there:
5) Basegó 
11) Creperia Artigianale Casteo (we actually were there twice but it was closed - two days in a row, no sign, no nothing) 
8) We love Italy, Fresh Pasta to go (we simply could not eat any more pasta after we had some pasta)
7) All'Arco (we were there but it was closed) 



This was not on our list, we just went in to get warm and it paid off:
Bar Americano - a small cosy place just off the Piazza San Marco. Typical Italian bar with cichetti, amazing coffee and wine and everything. Just before we went in, we also met my friend that I've known since primary school, since we were SIX years old! And we did not meet on purpose - get this: she doesn't live in Venice, we don't either. I did not see her in two years, I didn't even know she was in Venice. She didn't know we were in Venice. You can imagine how astonished we all were. All roads do not lead to Rome, but to Venice, obviously :D.