I missed the Winter Olympics

I noticed something yesterday evening: it was the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina and I missed it. I'm not talking about the closing ceremony. I mean the whole thing: openings, closing, everything in-between, except I think one type when my wife turned the tellie on and it was like skiing or something. I was completely oblivious to it. I generally am oblivious to Olympics. But still, these are the winter games, my favourite of the two. And I love Italy (although not Milan, not at all, been there once, didn't like it one bit, but that is for another post). So why? I'm not sure. But whatever the reason, I feel like I missed out. Did I?

Drink beer, visit Milan

My readers know that I love English real ales and if I drink other beers sometimes, real ales are my go-to poison. In Québec, it's of course microbrewery beers, again usually English ale types. I'm not the biggest drinker of Italian beers. But sometimes, just sometimes, I go for Italian beers. It was the case recently, when I bought myself an Angelo Poretti. I think it was my first time. It was an all right beer, but I bought it because it also gave me the chance to win a trip to Milan. Now I have been to Milan once and I actually disliked that city, I found it utterly vulgar. That said, I have friends that live not so far and I think it would be a good opportunity to visit them. Anyway, I didn't win, but at least I got a beer.

Pollo alla milanese sandwich

Remember when I used to write about my Friday's sandwich treats? Well, for one blog post, I am reviving the tradition.Today at work, as I usually do every Friday, I went to the sandwich shop where the Italian guy works, to have my special Friday sandwich treat and speak Italian a bit. He was there, all friendly and chatty as usual. Now he greets me in Italian form the start, which is always a good sign. He then offered me something, again in Italian, I could hear pollo and milanese, and I said yes out of curiosity. I love being offered something special from the chef. Well, he is not exactly the chef, but as he is Italian and was speaking to me in Italian and was making a big deal about it, I knew I was getting the royal treatment.

And I did get the royal treatment. Through our conversation, a mix of English and Italian, I understood that the sandwich I had ordered was a polla alla milanese sandwich. Basically, it is, in a baguette, fried chicken in breadcrump, with melted mozzarella on top and mayonnaise with it. It was delicious. The guy (I need to find his name really) also explained to me that it was something his mum used to make for him when he was a child. He had prepared the chicken the night before, soaking it in herbs and what have you. Ironically enough, he is Sicilian. I wonder if next Friday he will try something special. I would be happy with the same thing, this is comfort food at its best.