Venice Part 3: Lido

For the most part, hostels are the best way to go when traveling. They offer cheap prices, internet access and a means of bonding with other people that hotels can't offer. But when its off-season - all rules are out the window. Hotels can be just as cheap or even less expensive than staying in a hostel would be. The girls I travelled with booked a four-person hotel room in Lido because it was cheaper than staying anywhere in Venice, hostels included.

Hotel Rigel was an awesome place to stay. Everything was clean, breakfast was included, the bar was open 24 hours a day (although we didn't utilize it) and the rooms were nice. We booked two nights and ended up paying about 30 euro each - great deal! The hotel is only a 5-minute from the water bus station as well. Here are a few pictures of the hotel and the dining area:

The dining room. Breakfast is served from 0700 to 1000 every morning

Catie loved all the variety of fruits!

A waiter came and brought a bread basket to the table with baguette and croissant AND took your drink order. I ended up getting plain coffee, but cappuccinos, lattes and hot chocolate were also available at no extra cost.

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On our first night we got in a little bit late so we decided to stay in Lido for dinner. After a short search, we settled on Gran Viale Ristorante and Pizzeria. To get settled into our new Italian environment, two bottles of wine were ordered and we all settled on ah-pizza pies. Now if you've never had Italian pizza you're in for a treat: 12 inches in diameter, thin crust, fresh cheese, expected to gobble it all down. Well, you may not be expected to eat all of it, but eating it all won't get you any dirty looks.

Claire decided on a "cottage cheese and spinach" pizza. We were surprised (and a little relieved) when the waiter showed up with a ricotta cheese and spinach pizza. Lost in translation much?

Kaitlin and I enjoying our wine and about to dig into our pizzas.

So this was my pizza, and remember I promised you a little blurb on pizza with failed potential?

In no way am I a food expert. The only thing I know for sure is that I love food: the look, the taste, the texture and probably most of all, the smell. Nothing can trigger nostalgia more than the aroma of snickerdoodles coming out the oven or mom's chili simmering on the stove. So when I critique something I've eaten, it's not because I know what would be best for the dish...but I do know what would make it better for my tastes. At Gran Viale I ordered the Thai pizza, which said it included onions, corn, bean sprouts and a thai peanut sauce. What an epic fail. Of course I still ate the pizza because it's ME - but here's where it could have gone so much better:

1. Aesthetics - Everything was one color. There was nothing that popped or provided contrast to the cheese. Instead of white onions (which was an interesting choice in the first place), I would have used green onions, or at the least red onions.

2. Taste - I couldn't even taste the thai peanut sauce. I really don't think there was any on the pizza. Next time, use it as the sauce instead of marinara and add red chile pepper, chili oil, anything to give it that signature Thai kick!

3. Texture - With the corn and the bean sprouts, you'd think that there'd be a good crunch to the pizza. Unfortunately, they cooked the shit out of both vegetables...alas, a soggy, crunchless pizza.

4. CILANTRO CILANTRO CILANTRO. Where is the cilantro??? My favorite thing in the whole wide world that most certainly belongs on a thai pizza - not there. Disappointment.

Now you're thinking, "can you do better Kyrie?" I'm not definitely sure I can, but this is what I love. Finding a food that's missing something, and challenging myself to make it better. That's where I do learn about food...taking a mistake (whether or not it's my own) and improving it the best I can.

But really people, no cilantro?!?!?