I write commerical editorials for a small publication in Pattaya under an assumed name to avoid anyone mistaking me for a pseudo-intellectual. The most important perk to this gig is that I get free meals, hotel rooms, and whatever else the establishment offers.
Most recently I was assigned to writing about the Toscana Trattoria on Beach Road.
The lush garden of the Tropicana Hotel provides a tropical setting for the restaurant, which was re-located from Soi Zero after the landlords upped the rent during a construction project Toscana Trattoria’s owner/chef, Luca Marchetti, admits he was lucky to find his new spot.
“Wine and a good meal underneath a tree with a beach view. Fantastico.”
After a tour of the kitchen, bar, and restaurant, he sat me down to the table for a long dinner leaving the ordering to him. The chef always knows best. we worked our way through several antipasto plates. Olives from Italy, cheeses from his native Pisa, mountain sausages and deliciously roasted bell peppers. the glow in my stomach was growing with each plate.”
“Without my wife I am only a man. With her I am a maestro.” Luca deferred the choice of wine to Naiyana Tuasompong, his lovely wife educated in fine foods throughout their 15 year marriage. She opted for a Chianti finely tuned by the passage of time.
“I’ve been working in restaurants since I was 14. Italy, San Francisco, Macau, Bangkok. I learned from the best.” He sniffed the wine bouquet and nodded his approval before the waiter poured the bottle into a decanter to allow the wine to breathe. “I believe good food starts from good beginning, so we only deal with the best.”
Dining a la Italia means coming to the table with a healthy appetite. After a light salad with tangy slices of parmigiano a plate of fegatelli alla Toscana arrived announced by a mouth-watering fragrance. A tender portion of pork liver crowned a creamy serving of pate de puree. Another bottle of wine was decanted to the side. Luca said, “When I moved from my last site, I found this place in 7 days. I’ve been open 9. I can’t tell you how happy I am.”
Almost as happy as me, as I savored a sliver of gorzonzola cheese on toasted bread. Luca ordered a pasta in a wild boar sauce. I tried to beg off. He waved his finger. “Italians eat later and eat a lot, but with good food you can eat a lot.”
By the time I admitted I was full, the restaurant was packed with hungry customers. Luca greeted many with a wave. “Mostly by my old customers.”
A quick perusal of the menu revealed a plethora of delectable dishes; fish carpaccio, clams crostini, prostini de fegato, traditional spaghetti and an exceptional penette all’aragosta ( penne in a thai lobster sauce) gnocchi in gorgonzola sauce, pizzas, raviolis, steaks, and friend calamari. Each was reasonable priced a reasonable price. “Good food at a good price.”
I ended the meal with a grappa. Strong and tasting of Italy. I walked into the night emanating a spirit of self-contentment. My wife said I was drunk and fat.
Just the way she loves me
Address and telephone information
98/4 Moo.9 Beach Rd.
Nongprue Banglamung
Chonburi 20260
Serving time 12.30am-11.30pm
Telephone 66 (0) 3836 2370
Mobile 081-8613446
Fax 66 (0) 3836 2371
Email [email protected]
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