Annie Takes on Venice…and Cicchetti

Jan 30, 2007

Annie doin’ a jig in Venice.

As most of you know, Annie spent the last week clicking and clopping through the precious, cobbled alleyways and bridges of Venezia, hunting down new hotels to recommend. We just weren’t ready to put Venice to bed with only 45 hotel reviews.

All reports indicate that she outdid herself, easily adding a couple dozen more to our list.

“I battled wind, rain, and snow all day on Thursday, and lived to tell about it–with 13 new hotel finds and barely-damp all-weather hiking boots (The North Face is not putting you on! They are serious about Gore-Tex!)

“My San Polo hotel was in a prime location, and I’m proud to say I set no foot upon the vaporetti waterbuses. That’s right. Walking is definitely the fastest and most fat-burning way to get around Venice. And thank you, Lordy.”

But the story doesn’t end there. It seems that somewhere along the way she became a “Ciccheti” connoisseur:

Cicchetti looks tasty

“On Friday I wrapped up a total of 17 winning hotels and embarked upon an eating rampage. Cicchetti – the Venetian take on tapas – are traditionally served with an ombra (shadow) of wine in a little cup.

“I dodged tradition and ordered standard-sized glasses (starting at 1euro each, I might add) to accompany pay-by-the plate caprino-stuffed spicy peppers, herbed feta, crusty, fried mozzarella, miniature sandwiches bursting with everything from radicchio and shrimp to salami and eggs. Creamy, baked saltcod spread topped my crostini and one place was even serving sushi!

“Am I fatter for it? Yes. Am I better for it? Indeed. Do I recommend you try those darn cicchetti? Yes. And save me a seat at the table!”

About the author

Annie Shapero was born and raised in the cosmopolitan oasis of Columbia, Missouri. A call to the big city brought her to Chicago, where she pursued a degree at DePaul University's theatre conservatory. Four years of "rigorous, professional" training and a minor in Italian language led her to her next destination: Rome, a city of natural born tragedians with a flair for comedy. There she put her dreams of Broadway stardom on hold and took up a wild series of careers (including "marketing strategist" for an edible Egyptian insecticide). Eventually, she found her niche: writing for "WHERE Magazine Rome." When not in Rome, Annie hops about the Mediterranean, indulging in the local gastronomic and dance traditions. Ole´!