I had planned this evening’s meal as soon as I had seen the Club House earlier in our stay. It was to be a look forward to a grand event of drinks followed by good food. I had not underestimated the impact that our visit would have, and to be quite honest with you, I was expecting a much larger bill. This is the sense of expense that the Club House projects, when in fact it is quite affordable.
We sat down in the bar and I enjoyed a few pints of Italian lager beer. I also enjoyed the eye candy. An Angelina-Jolie look alike, that was more beautiful than the actress. Wonderful, even my wife commented on her beauty. She also rustled up a good Cosmopolitan Cocktail as well. ‘Angelina’ that is, and not the wife. We shared crisps and I noticed that Pauline’s eyes were beginning to roll. It had been eleven hours since breakfast and Pauline never drinks. And here she was with a 7 Euro 50 Cent cocktail of mixed alcohol. Shaken with ice to cool, but poured from the container without the ice into a cool glass.
It was time to eat, and we were met at the table by two lovely waitresses, and a hot plate of caviccini. Yummy, just what we needed to get started. We have eaten a lot of pasta and pizza the last two weeks, and it was good to choose a Cheeseburger. Not any old Cheeseburger mind you. No, this was the Emperor of Cheeseburgers; ‘el ultimato’ (my name and not theirs). You can tell that the bread was made on the premises, and that the meat was fresh and local. You knew it was going to be good, when they asked you how you would like it to be cooked. I said medium, and it was. I can declare with all honesty that the Club-House Cheeseburger is the best burger that I have ever eaten.
I can also declare that their cheesecake is equal to the astonishing cheesecake that we sampled in a small village outside Siena in 2007. I can also declare that when the Club-house brought us a glass each of the local ‘fire-water’ to finish our meal, they had equalled the hospitality of the family run restaurant that we stumbled across in Milano in 2007. It goes without saying that I left the largest tip that we have left this holiday.
We also took some photographs. The Waitress insisted on taking a photograph of us. That was a nice touch and greatly appreciated. The good looking young man wanted a photograph with Pauline. He looked at me and announced in front of the two waitresses “You are jealous, no?” I replied, “Yes, I am, you are so handsome that I wanted my photograph with you!” It brought about laughter from the waitresses, and fair play to the waiter he complied in good spirit. What lovely people, in a city that is after your coin, the Club-House near the dome on the Railway Station side of the city, brings a better dimension to affairs. Miss it at your peril.
