Vino di Vino, a plate of Prague perfection
They say if you’re going to get ripped off as a tourist in Prague, it’s likely to be by a money changer, taxi driver, or street food vendor. Greedy Girl and gluttonous husband have avoided all three since arriving in this prettiest of cities. Staying in the heart of touristville, the old town, the immediate move was to walk away from the scores of garnet and crystal shops and al fresco tables in the main square and head for, hopefully, a less touristy experience.
Is that possible in the city confines? Greedy Girl suspects not. After a lunchtime picnic in the park, she was in search of something light but still flavourful enough to tempt her taste buds. In an enoteca a garnet’s throw from the main square, she found Vino di Vino.
And what a find! Part restaurant, part ‘enoteca’, this neighbourhood gem offers only Italian food specialties and almost exclusively Italian wine. Greedy Girl spied a tagliolini with truffle. Pasta was, perhaps, a little heavier than she would have liked, but the prospect of fresh truffle was too enticing. Gluttonous husband ordered saltimbocca alla romana and we opened a half bottle of a 2007 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. Not quite an alcohol-free experience but not far off.
A big basket of rosemary and salt-studded foccacia was placed in front of us, the delightful wine opened and we waited. Shortly thereafter, a little piece of heaven sat in front of Greedy Girl and smiled at her; a pile of golden yellow egg noodles, dressed in olive oil and tangy parmigiano reggiano, dotted generously with slices of freshly-shaved black truffle.
For only the third time this trip – OMG.
After several degustation menus where innovation and style were as important as the produce, here was a plate where simplicity met decadence. A classic pasta, oil and cheese topped with one of the world’s great delicacies – the divine truffle. It took Greedy Girl twice as long as gluttonous husband to complete her meal, even though the volume of food by comparison was around half.
Combined with the delicious fruitiness of the wine it was, arguably, one of the best plates of food Greedy Girl has had the pleasure of tucking into. At one point, savouring the sublime richness, she rested her fork. The attentive waiter swooped, thinking we were done. Gluttonous husband warned him that any further attempt to remove the plate before it was licked clean would probably result in the waiter losing a limb.
Deciding not to look at the dessert menu (further temptation not being a good idea), we got the bill. Wine, a bottle of still water, the veal and the (sigh) truffle delight, along with a good tip, cost less than A$60.
Judging by the plates going to other tables, including an enormous selection of antipasti, we weren’t the only ones having a good feed.
It was sensational – both in taste and in value. A little piece of perfection in Prague and although the majority of diners seemed to speak English, not a tourist trap in sight.
Vino di Vino
Štupartská 769/18, Prague
vinodivino.cz
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