Locanda delle Donne Monache
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ABOVE: Rooftops in Maratea, Italy's historic center, as seen from a room at the Locanda delle Donne Monache.

Dining

The Locanda delle Donne Monache has an outstanding restaurant that offers menu items and wines selected in consultation with the oeno-gastronomy project of Mondo Maratea, which also owns the five-star Hotel Santavenere in nearby Fiumicello di Maratea.

Many of the Locanda's dishes are inspired by the traditional cuisine of the Basilicata region. On the evening that I dined at the Locanda delle Donne Monache, the special menu included:

• Fresh mussels served with creamed beans (a translation that can't begin to describe the wonderful flavor and texture of the beans).

• Potato pie with baccalŕ or salt cod. (The cod's flavor was so sutble that the taste of fresh mashed potatoes was clearly discernible, even with a garnish of crunchy peppers and olive oil.)

• Homemade pasta strips with hard ricotta chees, pepper strips, and balsamic vinegar drops. (Why can't pasta be this al dente at home?)

• Fritelle di Formaggio al Vino, or cheese fritters flavored with wine.

• Crema di Uva Nera, a delicate custard or pudding flavored with black grapes.

The restaurant is long, narrow, and intimate, with a rustic elegance. One wall is of rough stone; the other has windows overlooking the pool. A small bar at one end serves apperitivi and stronger drinks. (Try starting your meal with a flute of Cuvče Imperiale Berlucchi Brut, a sparkling white wine made by the traditional Champagne method.)

Page 3 - Booking info and Web links

From Europe for Cruisers:

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• European Cruise Guide 2012
• Costa: Western Mediterranean
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