Have mercy, Pereta

This was yesterday. We had a go at all-you-can-eat Tuscan-style in beautiful Pereta. Just don’t believe Google Maps.

For if you do, mercy on your soul. Via Roma, 10, Pereta, is the official address of Trattoria da Maria Moretti, but do NOT enter this into your satellite dish, or it will lead you into an unnecessary loop with such a steep, narrow driveway that we said, nahhhh, and returned to where all the sensible, non-Google trusting people parked and walked a few minutes to the restaurant.

And it was full, with at least three dogs beside Bestia. Do not come too late or they will rush you. Do not eat anything on this day prior. Do not expect you will be able to choose anything. Do not think that ice-cream (well, sorbet) means it’s the end: the main courses (2) still incoming. Do not think that if you order another bottle of wine beside the one that is waiting on your (urgently pre-booked) table next to two waters (sparkling and natural), you will pay more than fixed 25 eur per person. Same goes for the grappa, vino santo and limoncello which they serve at the merciful end. Or coffee. It’s all-inclusive. And if Maria’s son Luciano likes you or thinks he knows you from somewhere, such as Slovenian TV, you’ll get a bottle of wine to go.

I read about it in The New York Times and as Luciano tells it, when Mr. Horowitz visited his restaurant at 11am with his family, Luciano started cooking for them as he would for anybody not knowing that this visit will result in the mention in an article about the seduction of Tuscany in wintertime no matter how many questions were asked. Lesson: treat every guest as if it was your first. Or last.

I was too busy to think about the presentation on my blog, suffice to say that some dishes were spectacular, most very good and two too spicy for me (but this is the problem I have – no pepperoncino for me). There were about 10 all together with the last two, main courses left almost untouched. I repeat – come early, park early and walk around while it’s still light. We didn’t so these photos are the best I could do. But we will be back, with the next very hungry visitors.

As we set off, 35 minutes to go.

Pereta. When you see this, stop and park.

Here we are!

Crowded walls and tables.

One of the numerous appetisers.

Pretty surroundings.

Quite light for the middle of the night.

Nighttime Maremma.

The wall, the tower and green lights.

Blurry but you get the feel. Laughing at the idea that the serving of ice-cream during dinner must be some kind of paradise. By BM.

Photo: © signature mmm (except last)