Something Sweet

Sixteen hours of traveling to Arezzo and my stomach was rumbling. After eating extremely bland ready-to-go meals on the flight, there was nothing I wanted more than a good Italian meal. 

Thankfully, our welcome meal at Osteria Dei Mercanti was just that and more. This restaurant staple has been around for many years in the small town and is known for its traditional cuisine. 

Entering Osteria Dei Mercanti, you get the feel of an intimate and cozy Italian restaurant, with a number of plants outfitting the small restaurant, giving the ambience a fresh, earthy touch.

Our group was welcomed by the friendly staff. The room was filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread. Conversations echoed off the walls as everyone got to know each other.

Sitting down at our table, we were immediately asked what we wanted to drink. While others got white wine, I was trying to figure out which water was natural and which was “with gas.”  I accidentally drank the carbonated water and was shocked by the burn of soda without any of the flavor. 

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Our stomachs were grumbling with immense hunger, but our waiter arrived just in time with the bread basket filled to the brim. I took a bite of the saltless bread, and immediately wanted butter to spread on top. When I asked the waitress and saw her puzzled expression, it seemed like what I had just asked for was a very odd request. I quickly learned that olive oil and salt were my best friends here in Italy. 

The food came out in different courses, which was a culture shock from America’s big portion sizes. We were served pasta al ragu for our first course. The meat sauce and homemade noodles tasted like a stroganoff of my childhood. 

What came next was a delicious surprise. For the second course, chicken with juiced lemon was served. While not to my liking, it was still a well-made dish enjoyable to those who have an inclination for poultry cuisines. 

The last course of the meal was a similar experience for me, this time with eggplant. For those who do love the tender, mild and sweet vegetable though, Osteri de Mercanti makes it marvelously.