Lemons. Lemons. Lemons. What to do with all those lemons? The Amalfi Coast is lined with lemon groves. Naturally, lemons will be the focus on any dinner table in Amalfi. The cuisine of Amalfi lends itself to the refined culinary skills of the monks who once lived in the ancient monasteries located here.
For example, you might see menus featuring Spaghetti al Limone, spaghetti tossed in a refreshing lemony garlic and olive oil dressing; Alici Marinate al Limone, anchovies that have been marinating in lemons and olive oil for hours (hubs hates anchovies, but loves these little creatures!); Provola Arrostita in Foglie di Limone, smoked mozzarella grilled in lemon leaves (yes, even the leaves are used); and Risotto con Limone sfusato d'Amalfi, a delicious lemon risotto that is usually served with steamed shrimp or other seafood.
Of course, no menu would be complete without dessert. There's Crema di Limone, a lemon cream used to stuff crepes, served alongside cheese or made into a parfait with fruit; Torta di Limone, a moist, sweet and lemony pound cake; or one of my faves on a warm day, Granita Limone, a semi-frozen mixture of lemon juice, sugar and water.
And, let's not forget the infamous Limoncello, the nectar of the Amalfi Coast. Bottles of this lemon liqueur can be found in almost every shop in Amalfi. The famed drink serves as a wonderful palate cleanser or after-dinner digestive.
Hungry yet? To sample of the area's best dishes, try one of my favorites (in no particular order):
Eolo (be sure to reserve a table on the balcony)
La Taverna di Masaniello (located in Piazza dei Dogi)
L'Abside (located in Piazza dei Dogi)
Da Gemma (ask to sit on the rooftop)
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