Zeffiro's

There are some very good Italian style eateries back east. Pasquale's in Candia NH comes to mind---wonderful food. Best pasta Faggioli I ever had, and the minestrone is excellent also. And Flatbread Pizza in Portland ME---good wood fired oven crust pizzas.

But we just had lunch in a place that will give either a run for their money. Las Cruces is where one might fantasize over Mexican cuisine but Zeffiro's Pizza Napoletana will make one believe they found a little Italy. The minestrone was excellent and the pizza------we had the "Capricciosa" with fresh mushrooms, kalamata olives, prosciutto..............as good as any I've ever had. And the pirate dogs who had been confined in the Nargle absolutely scarfed the crust we brought them.

So even though there's snow on the ground (got a couple inches overnight) it's very warm in the tummy right now...........

Re-Visit

I can always tell when I've returned from visiting my old stomping grounds.

First is the needed infusion of green chile. This week I twice had green chile cheeseburgers for lunch and one dinner was chile rellenos (made from a weight-watchers recipe--baked not deep-fried). If you haven't lived in green chile country you probably won't understand the import of this, but trust me on it!!

Next is the craving for GOOD Italian food. I'm contemplating sending $20.00 to one of my cousins so she'll get me a stick of that excellent hot sopressata salami from the L&G Deli. And I've framed my receipt for the White Castle I visited in Astoria, Queens, NYC. (I know -White Castle isn't Italian but ain't no beating them sliders.) As I write this entry, the grill is heating up so I can do a hot Italian sausage sub for lunch.

It's not always pleasant going back to CT. Flying is a hassle, everything's wicked expensive. But the food is to die for. Now if I could just get me an anchovy pizza from John the Baker.......