The Panoramas of a Lifetime

Basically, Italy is panoramic. Like Europe in general, the scenes aren't very tall but stretch forever along the horizon. So I made 4 panoramas using Hugin. Enjoy.

Roman Forum

Florence from the Ponte Vecchio

Grand Canal

Grand Canal from the Rialto

I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out where I could host original size panoramas without creating a new account. Flickr capped the horizontal resolution at 1024 pixels. Blogger caps it at 1600. Bayimg wasn't working. And Imgur capped the file size at 2mb. And then I remembered Dropbox offers public links and is the easiest way to do it. (Incidentally, I used Dropbox to transfer all 500 Italy photos to work, because I knew it would be so much faster to upload the best 200 using my work connection.)

The Panini of a Lifetime

That really is the caption of our 12-day trip to Italy. It almost makes me want to change this site to Panini Central. Almost.

We woke up around noon on Saturday, March 7 in Firenze. We strolled through the street markets buying scarves and ties and necklaces. And then we were ready for lunch. In my internet research I saw that one person said they the best sandwich of their life was in Florence. So of course, I wrote it down and mapped it out.

We walked past the Duomo in the center of town and turned down an alley that isn't marked on any map of Florence. And there it was. L'Antico Noè. (Which I just translated to "the ancient Noah")


When we arrived the line was a bit longer than it is in this picture. On the right wall there is a menu posted of 22 pre-made sandwiches but it seems that people in the know just custom order their own.

So I ordered sausage, spicy salami and provolone in Italian (salsiccia, salame piccante e provolone). Brit got the caprese (tomatoes and mozzeralla) but added spinach.

The first thing he does is slices off some pieces of sausage and puts it on the panini press. Then he grabs this huge chunk of salami and provolone and puts in a slicer, fresh made to order. He then slices a crusty piece of bread down the middle, assembles the sandwich, and put in the press for a good couple minutes. Here's what 2/3 of it looks like.

It was amazing! I've never tasted anything this fresh, this bursting with flavor. Just big, bold taste. It was obvious that the ingredients were local, and so fresh that you just can't get anything like it in the States.

It was so good we went back on Sunday. Only to find shut doors. It seems that a lot of stuff is closed in Italy on Sundays. I guess between football and Church who has time to work?

So Monday was our 4th and last day in Florence, and we had to make it count. Last chance. This time I added peperoni (red peppers) to my previous order, which took it to another level. Also, this day they had round bread. This truly was THE PANINO OF A LIFETIME.


So now you know where to go to get the best sandwich in the world.

L'Antico Noè
Volta di San Piero 6r
Firenze
Tel. 055 234 0838
Closed Sun (and for several weeks in August)

How To Get There

Start at the SE corner of the Duomo and walk east down Oriuolo. San Piero isn't on any maps, so I've placed it in green on this custom map.

The DaColbert Code predicts the 2009 Final Four: Midwest

Who will join UConn, Louisville, and Oklahoma in the Final Four? Only DaColbert Code knows...


Remember to scroll slowly to unravel the mystery properly.

Next up is the Midwest Regional which take place in Indianapolis.

Indy 500...

checkered flag...

checker board...

board game...

Candy Land...

candy bar...

Baby Ruth...

Barry Bonds...

bail bondsman...

Beetle Bailey...

Dilbert...

glasses...

classes...

college degree...

Degree deodorant...

armpit...

Pit something something...

Pit blank blank...

Pitt pit pit...

Let's just say Illinois!

Travel Update

We're on a train to Venezia. We've got one more night in Italy, and then we've got tomorrow night in London, and then we'll be back in the states on Friday. I'm sure we're looking forward to the US of A.

The DaColbert Code predicts the 2009 Final Four: West

Who will join UConn and Louisville in the Final Four? Only DaColbert Code knows...


Remember to scroll slowly to unravel the mystery properly.

Next up is the South Regional which take place in Arizona.

Arizona was in the Super Bowl...

soup bowl...

soup nazi...

nazis were from Germany...

as is the Shamwow...

cheesy commercials...

5-hour energy...

e=mc(squared)...

M.C. Escher...

skewed perspective...

You're watching Perspectives, and it's 4:54 in the am...

oh, what a beautiful morning, oh, what a beautiful day, I've got a beautiful feeling, everything's goin' my way...

Oklahoma!

Oklahoma is the third team in the Final Four! Check back Thursday for part four.

Bloggy McBloggington

Bloggy is a sad little boy in the 5th grade. Bloggy lives in Bloggington, Indiana. It smells like sulfur.

He has a crush on Bloggifer Bloggenstein. She's brings her lunch because her parents are so tight with money.

Bloggy is taking Bloggifer to the school dance which this year is themed: 20,000 Bloggues under the Blog. At the dance, Bloggy sees a girl out of the corner of his eye. He can't take his focus away from her. She is captivating. Her name is Podcasty Podcaster.

Travel Update

We're on a train to Firenze. Tuscany. I'm anticipating a slower, less crowded scene. On my list is a place that allegedly sells the best paninis on earth.

We're going to try and take a bus out to Fiesole, a town overlooking the Florence cityscape.

The DaColbert Code predicts the 2009 Final Four: South

Who will join UConn in the Final Four? Only DaColbert Code knows...



Remember to scroll slowly to unravel the mystery properly.

Next up is the South Regional which take place in Memphis.

Memphis Grizzlies...

grizzly bears...

Jumanji...

Robin Williams...

Roy Williams...

NO! I won't have it...

Okay, let's start over:

Memphis barbecue...

baby back ribs...

saddlebacking...

anal sex...

Albert Poo-holes

Cardinals...

Louisville!

Louisville is the 2nd team in the Final Four! Check back next Tuesday for part three.

a live post from rome

I can prove it. On Sunday, AC Milan beat Sampdoria 3-0.

Yesterday, I ate a panini that was the size of a laptop.

Okay, I lied, this was future blogged. F you space time continuum!

The DaColbert Code predicts the 2009 Final Four: East

In case you're not familiar...


Last year's DaColbert Code Bracketology got 3 out 4 teams right: Part One and Part Two

I can't let this code fall into the wrong hands. Remember to scroll slowly to unravel the mystery properly.

We're starting in the East Regional which takes place in Boston.

Boston tea party...

Tea time...

Tool Time...

Tim Allen...

Detroit...

Economic crisis...

Stimulus Plan...

Barack Obama...

Joe Biden...

Amtrak...

Railroad Tycoon...

Jim Calhoun...

Connecticut!

UConn is the first team in the 2009 Final Four! Check back Thursday for part two.

Travel Update

Today I woke up in Roma. I'm sure we had pizza last night. Umm...I don't know what else to say. Hopefully the weather is nice and it's not too crowded. Stay tuned for actual content.

UPDATE as of 15'30. So we didn't have pizza last night. But I did get a salami sandwich for lunch today.

We got to Rome at about 8pm last night and was dead tired. But the hotel did have free internet so I checked my email and right before I signed off, I logged on to arrowheadpride.com. And there I saw 10 posts about Matt Cassell. I saw the Vrabel trade before we left Chicago and was happy with getting him, but never expected to land Cassell.

I always wanted him this offseason but never really thought it was possible. I'm not 100 percent certain that Cassell is a franchise quarterback but for a 2nd round pick I think it's a great move and I'm excited for 09.

I'm on a plane!

I'm on a plane (I'm on a plane)
I'm on a plane (I'm on a plane)
Everybody look at me 'cause I'm flying on a plane (flying on a plane)
I'm on a plane (I'm on a plane)
I'm on a plane
Take a good hard look at the motherfucking plane (plane, yeah)

I'm on a plane motherfucker take a look at me
Straight flying on a plane across the deep blue sea
Busting five hundred knots, gliding through the rain
You can't stop me motherfucker cause I'm on a plane

Take a picture, trick (trick)
I'm on a plane, bitch (bitch)
We drinking Santana champ,
Cause it's so crisp (crisp)
I got my can of Coke
And my bag of snacks
I'm snortin' laughs, you in alley
Straight snortin' crack

I'm going to Italy, taking pictures and shit
Rome, Florence, and Venice you bet
But this ain't Olive Garden, this is real as it gets
I'm on a plane, motherfucker, don't you ever forget

I'm on a plane and
It's going fast and
I got a aeronautical themed
Pashmina afghan
I'm the king of the world
On a plane like Leo
If you're on the ground
Then you're sure not me-oh

Get the fuck up, this plane is REAL!

Fuck land, I'm on a plane, motherfucker (motherfucker)
Fuck trees, I climb altitude, motherfucker (motherfucker)
I'm in the cockpit with my boys, motherfucker (yeah)
This plane engine make noise, motherfucker

Hey ma, if you could see me now (see me now)
Arms spread wide on the starboard bow (starboard bow)
Gonna fly this plane to the moon somehow (moon somehow)
Like Kevin Garnett, anything is possible

Yeah, never thought I'd be on a plane
It's a big blue open sky (yeah)
Zeus
Look at me, oh (all hands on deck)

Never thought I'd see the day
When a big plane coming my way
Believe me when I say
I fucked a flight attendant-ay

I'm on a plane
I'm on a plane
Everybody look at me 'cause I'm flying on a plane (woah)
I'm on a plane
I'm on a plane
Take a good hard look at the mothafuckin' plane (sha-sha-shorty, shorty, yeah)

Best in Chicago

In June, I will have lived in Chicago for 4 years. (One of my first memories in this city was watching the 2005 NBA Finals in my little studio while shooting hoops on a mini-hoop over my closet door).

Anyways, I think I've lived here long enough to share my picks for my favorites in the city.

Italian Beef

When I was helping Brittany look for an apartment in the 04-05 winter in Lakeview, I asked the white, 30-something guy showing us places where I could get a good italian beef. He had no idea what I was talking about and referred me to an italian restaurant.

My Favorite: Al's #1 Italian Beef


I know now to order "beef, hot, dipped." That's with gardiniera and dipped in juice. Al's is just rich in flavor, hot but not too spicy. Just big, bold italian beef flavor.


Portillo's is okay and I've had many a meal there, from dogs to burgers. I've also had Mr. Beef and it didn't impress me the way that Al's did.

Deep-Dish Pizza

My Favorite: Edwardo's Natural Pizza


So this one is in my neighborhood but didn't go there for a while because the organic name threw me off. I though it would be too frou-frou or more for vegetarians. Now I know the organic touch just means fresh ingredients and quality taste.



Gino's East is the first one that I had and fell in love. But now I realize it's overrated, overpriced and the cheese slides around and the crust is not what I want. Same goes for Pizzeria Uno and Giardiano's.

Lou Malnati's and Pizano's are good, but don't deliver that true DEEP dish experience. And Bacino's was my go-to choice for a while. Not a big name but provides a good standard pie. But it can't edge out Edwardo's.

For the record, I've also enjoyed thin crust at Piece and Brick's, but deep-dish is where it's at.

Other

Hot Doug's for hot dogs.
Windy City Metal Detectors if you lose your wedding ring in a soccer field.
Fodor's See It for travel guides (I prefer the design/layout of the city guides as opposed to the country guides.)

Off to Italia tommorrow

Two weeks in Tuscany. Okay, not all of it's in Tuscany, but it just rolls of the tongue. Anyways, I've got a bunch of special posts that will be automatically posted over the next two weeks, one for every weekday, including a sure classic one tomorrow, so stay tuned to Hoagie Central.

My Subway Sandwich

At the end of the B.S. Report with the The Soup guy, (not to be confused with today's The USA Today) Simmons read an email about how now that he has a Subway sponsorship, he should try and get a sandwich named after him.

So that leads to the obvious question: If I could get a Subway sandwich named after me, what would I want on it?

This is not as simple as listing all the ingredients I like. It needs to be a cohesive unit that is not overpowering. Also, it needs to be substantially different from all current menu options, otherwise what's the point. Plus, it has to use only standard ingredients.

This is the Dave Fymbo:

It starts with a foot-long Italian Herb & Cheese. But I'm not just going to put a thick layer of meat on the bottom and top it with cheese. I'm alternating a thin layer of meat with it's cheese pairing to form layers of deliciousness.

The base layer is Black Forest Ham. It lays a foundation for the sandwich, both structurally and with flavor. The ham is paired with pepper jack cheese because the ham can handle the spice.

The middle layer is Salami. It goes so well with the ham and builds upon the character with Italian goodness. The cheese pairing here is provolone, so as not to mask the richness of the salami.

The top layer is Bacon paired with cheddar. It is the crescendo on this piece of art. The cheddar and the bacon doing a little dance of love on top of this 12-inch sub.

Now that is a sandwich. Of course how you top it is up to the individual. Personally, I'd take it with lettuce, onions, and mayo and some chipotle southwest sauce if I'm in the mood. And I wouldn't allow tomatoes. If you want tomatoes, I'd tell you to order a different sandwich.