The first time I sat at a table of Tredici Gradi I said: "please just tell me if something is not fresh as I don't want to feel sick"; waiter said: "everything here is fresh, you can believe me. Just try it."
I am always a little sceptical when I go to a new place. So, since I know how to cook, I start with ordering the simplest of the dishes. Something I would know how to make. Something I would know what it should taste like.
So I did it. I've tried... and tried, and tried, and tried. Now that I have tried it many and many times I can honestly say this is one of my top favorite restaurants. One of the most genuine I know.
I have never met the chef, I have heard is a lady. She comes mid morning and sees what the shop owner was able to find, fresh, both at the market and from the nearby farms and fisherman. Then, she, the chef, makes what she feels like from what she has available.
Some of the dishes are among the most traditional within Italian homes. Nothing too fancy, but definitely authentic. I am thinking of the stuffed zucchini, the tomatoes stuffed with rise, the veal slice (fettina) dumped in egg and crummed bread and fried, the "gnocchi" served with pumpking sauce, the bean soup, the Summer dish made of old bread seasoned with tomatos, onions and olive oil called "panzanella"... and many other delicious and simple recipes. Not to mention the great selection of salami and cheeses! and the prosciutto, or the hot chili pepperes stuffed with tuna and capers! Or the traditional soup dishes of this area such as the "Acquacotta" or the soup of "ceci" beans & chustnuts! (ceci e castagne)
Maybe you have already an idea of the reason why this place has the name "Tredici Gradi" (Thirtheen Degrees). "Thirteen" seems to be the optimal content of alcohool in a wine, so the name reveals that wine plays a great role in here. Indeed, Tredici Gradi is a wine-restaurant! There is an absolutely great selection of wines here. And the nice thing is that you can ask for literally ANY wine without having to buy the bottle!! You can have your meal and drink the wines you prefer by buying them at the glass!
Differrently from other places that serve wines at the glass, here you can experience all the wines you want without necesarily having to choose among those that are already open and serving. So, you can combine the food and the wine/s as you like.
It is courtesy, however, to check what wine has already been opened so to limit the waste. But if among those that have been opened there is not the one you want, then just go ahead and enjoy your choice of wine, and food.
I would recommend this place to anyone wanting to experience Italian and local Viterbese traditional cuisine, fine wines, nice atmosphere, clean, friendly and professional people, and be charged very honestly and reasonably for it all.
Moreover, there is a younger lady who has a great passion for making cakes! She is an amazing baker! and make sure you try her cakes and mostly her cookies! She makes very delicious cookies. Try those at the end of your meal with a sweet wine or black coffee.
So, I say just what the waiter said to me the first time I was there: "Try it!"
And buon appetito!
3DC GRADI is located in Viterbo, Via Cardinal La Fontaine 28/corner Piazza Don Mario Gargiuli 11; tel. 0761.305596.
Posts
