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Lunch with Ca’ Madresca at Da Bepo

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

All I can say is “Wow!” about this trip Michael Angelo’s took me on! I feel so incredibly fortunate to have been given such an amazing opportunity. Thank you so, so much to Mike, Sara, Cheryl and the Michael Angelo’s family for this wonderful opportunity!

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

One of our final meals together with the Michael Angelo’s family was at a little restaurant called Da Bepo, about an hour and a half north of Venice. We met up with the sweet family who owns the Ca’ Madresca Winery — Adriano Teston along with his wife Mara and two beautiful daughters Francesca and Frederica. And oh my goodness, did they know how to show us a good time! This lunch was hands down one of the most incredible lunches of my entire life. It was eight courses and lasted over four hours, and each dish that was brought out was even more life-changing that the last! It is definitely something I will never forget.

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

We started with this fun guessing game, which was probably my favorite guessing game of all time because it involved fruity scents and spicy flavors and guessing what they were. Here’s Cheryl, Mike’s sweet wife, taking a guess and writing down her answer… :)

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

Now I didn’t take a picture of the first course, because at that point I had no idea what I was in for. But when this came out — fried scallops literally swimming in butter, served with bread for soaking up every last bite of deliciousness, and served in a massive seashell — I kind of got an inkling of what I was in for. :)

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

Next were these fried zucchini blossoms. Oh my gosh, Italy has ruined me. I am obsessed with fried zucchini blossoms now! They were everywhere, we saw them on the menu at just about every single restaurant. And I had to order them just about every single time. But this one? My fav. This one was stuffed with Mediterranean seabass. And a whole bunch of other good stuff. A-mazing.

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

Our fourth course was asparagus with sole and shaved Grana Padano cheese. Beautiful.

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

Next they brought out this massive, salt-encrusted Mediterranean seabass and began to crack away the thick salt tomb…

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

What was left was this absolutely gorgeous, melt-in-your-mouth white fish — which was surprisingly not salty at all!

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

Now. Did you happen to see those potatoes in the photo above? The ones that were served alongside the salt-encrusted Mediterranean seabass? Okay. I cannot stress this enough, people. These were the most life-changing potatoes of my entire life. I would’ve given the chef a standing ovation for these potatoes. I grilled our server for how these were prepared, and he swears they are just fingerling potatoes pan fried in olive oil. But oh for heavens sake when you stuck your fork in them they literally exploded with olive oil! (Which I thought was butter at first, because they were just so buttery tasting.) The outside was as crispy and buttery as a Lays potato chip and the inside was as soft and buttery as the creamiest mashed potatoes ever. I die. I faint. I would give my entire life savings for another bite of these potatoes right now. I weep that I cannot have another bite of these potatoes right now.

I’m gonna move on before this gets any more disturbing.

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

I don’t know how I was still able to eat at this point, considering I had just consumed about twenty servings of potatoes. I ate mine, Kevin’s, and pretty much everyone else’s at the table as well, since they were all stuffed by now, lol! But when everyone  started raving about this Parmesan Flan with Montasio cream, a Parmesan wafer, and prosciutto, I had to give it a try. And oh my gosh. I cannot tell you how good this soft, golden brown and bubbly cheese was. All I can say is this is how cheese was meant to be eaten. The end.

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

But that so was not the end. For our final (and quite possibly my favorite) course of the meal, Adriano’s lovely daughter Francesca prepared this gorgeous Tiramisu for us. Adriano explained that it was a tradition for the oldest daughter to make Tiramisu. We were so honored that she made it for us! We ordered Tiramisu all up and down Italy but I can honestly say this was my favorite ever. Seriously yum!

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

Adriano’s perfect pairings from Ca’ Madresca for each and every course. The Ca’ Madresca winery is named out of the combination of his wife and daughters names. Frederica, Mara and Francesca. Isn’t that so sweet?

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da Bepo

And of course we couldn’t slip away without the classic ending to every meal we had in Italy — one tiny shot of espresso. :)

Wine Pairing with Ca' Madresca at Da BepoFrederica, Mara, Sara, Cheryl, Adriano, Mike, and Francesca

This is Adriano and his beautiful family with the Michael Angelo’s family. Thank you so, so much to these two amazing families for opening up their hearts and homes to us! I loved every single second we were able to spend with these sweet folks. It was an honor to have them share their goals and passions with us for the short time we got to spend with them.

I would love for you guys to get the chance to meet Mike, Sara, and Cheryl. Michael Angelo’s is hosting the Ultimate Foodie Weekend in Austin, Texas, the home of Michael Angelo’s. Spend a long weekend in Austin at a luxury hotel while spending your days shopping, touring the city and cooking family-style alongside Mike and Sara. Enter for a chance to win this weekend getaway now!

Thanks so much for following along on our adventure with Michael Angelo’s! At this point we waved sad goodbyes to new friends as they sent us off on even more adventures they’d arranged for us — tours in Venice and Rome, and then Kev and I headed off on our own adventure to Cinque Terre, Florence, Sienna and Tuscany. If you’re following me on Instagram, you got a peek at some of the amazing photos we were able to take! I can’t wait to share the “real” ones with you guys on here next week. :)

Have a great, great weekend guys!! :) xoxo

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23 Responses
  1. AvianoKelly

    I loved reading your post! I was actually sent here by Adrian. I live just north of Fiume Veneto where Ca Madresca is and have seen your web page before. I visit Ca Madresca all the time and it is by far my favorite winery in the area! I am from Texas but my husband is in the Air Force and we are stationed here. Its great to see someone from “home” reviewing and giving such great recognition to such a great place!!

  2. Milynn

    WOW! That whole meal has got me drooling… even though I just finished my lunch! Looks like you’ve had an amazing meal :P

  3. Brandy

    Oh my goodness, what a perfect meal. Your pictures are just gorgeous. I am going to google a fried zucchini blossom recipe right now. We are going to have zucchini blossoms coming out of our ears from our garden very soon. I can’t wait!

  4. Aimee

    What a fantastic trip! I can’t wait to see more photos and hear more details!

    The first time (and the last time LOL) that I had zucchini blossoms was in NYC at Patsy’s Italian restaurant. I love them so much and wish they were more prevalent here. They are so yummy!

  5. cathy e

    Some of my most favorite vacation memories are tied to a meal or dish we ate. Maybe it is the sensory combinations that make it life changing? I want to followed your trip to Italy! Wonderful post Amanda.

  6. Jane Ellen

    Everything looks amazing! I want to eat and travel like you!!! Two of my favorite things. I’m on the way to the store now to buy potatoes!

  7. Theresa

    Thank you so much for sharing Italy with us. I have traveled there a few times for business but going back for pleasure is on my bucket list! Your photos and descriptions of the food are amazing.

  8. Mary Brown

    Amanda, just how beautiful it all is and your descriptions are even better. I am thinking you enjoyed Italy??? I can’t wait till you let us know how your potatoes turn out when you create your version, have a great weekend.

  9. Marina {YummyMummyKitchen.com}

    I could eat this whole meal right now at 9 am it looks so amazing.

    I’ve been following your adventures via instragram. I really miss Italy where I’ve spent quite a bit of time, so I’m enjoying vicariously going. Thanks!

  10. Melissa M

    I’m eating fig newtons with cream cheese and feeling slightly…. short changed in the lunch department!

    Yum! I’ve heard stories about that salt crusted sea bass…. sigh… I want some!

  11. Erin @ Texanerin Baking

    Those potatoes! I have the same thing with rosemary potatoes. The people who prepare them claim they’re just made with rosemary, salt and olive oil, but they’re doing something to them. And I can’t figure out what it is! I love how the meal lasted over four hours. :)

  12. Mimi

    I read this post as I was eating a cup of smart start cereal. Literally the most disappointing cup of cereal I have ever eaten. That meal looking OUTSTANDING! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the Italy posts bring!

  13. Angie @ Big Bear's Wife

    Your trip! Oh my word your trip! I don’t even have the words to tell you how amazing everything looks! oo that salt-encrusted Mediterranean seabass! And those potatoes! Loving every Italy post you put up!

  14. katie

    Seriously this meal looks divine and is making me even more excited for my trip to Italy in the Fall! I can’t wait to read about the rest of your trip!

  15. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life

    I am in awe of that meal and the awesome pictures you captured. I could almost taste every bite with the incredible way you described each course. The meal looks so delicious. What an awesome opportunity to visit such a great place. I can’t wait to see the rest of your pictures!!!

  16. Maureen

    This may have been the meanest post ever, I mean how could you put those pictures up and not expect us to swoon . . . Lol! Seriously, I can literally SEE why it was a life changing meal, it looks absolutely delicious! I am so glad you got this opportunity to travel and meet these wonderful families and taste this food, you deserve it! Can’t wait to hear more about your adventures and see what other photos you took!

  17. Isabel Warrell

    How are they not all morbidly obese? I think I gained a few pounds just looking at the food. Incredible pictures! Thanks for sharing.

  18. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    What a post, what a meal. I love how INTO the food you are, how you describe it, the passion for the food that you have and how you write about it because it helps me get a sense of just how life-changing of a meal this was!

  19. Swati

    oh my gosh….the whole meal was soooooooo yummy!!! I am deifnitely gonna make a trip to the restaurant sometime if I ever go again to Italy :)

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Meet Kevin & Amanda

Kevin and Amanda

We love to travel and to eat! Here we share our favorite quick and easy recipes, plus travel tips and guides for our favorite places around the world. If you have any questions about what camera I use or how I edit my photos, check out my photography tutorials.

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