As you may know from my posts I previously met a runner who lives on San Erasmo (Island Venice) she invited us over when we are there in Sept. and even recommended that we take the 2 something PM boat, go running then kayacking. But there was no mention of dinner.
No biggie I suppose I can just bring something to drink after and some wine etc. I suppose we won't be done until 6pm or later,so what do you think? RR
Robert - I think you should be prepared to ask her out for a drinks and/or dinner and if she has planned dinner, great....you can't lose. After all that exercise you WILL all have to eat. Have fun! MayK
Posts: 95 | Location: Vancouver B.C. Canada | Registered: 28 August 2006
If she invited you to go over for a run and kayaking, then she has invited you and you'll be her guests!
If she is not planning dinner, she will definitely offer you something to eat when you get back to ehrs. Italian never drink without food, whether crisps, nuts, focaccia, salame, little canapes or whatever.
She is probably planning to cook you a meal or take you out for dinner but she hasn't mentioned because it is so obvious that she hasn't thought of your possible confusion.
She invited you kayaking on Sant Erasmo, you take her to a nice dinner at the restaurant of her choice (which will not be until 8p), with aperitivi beforehand if you prefer (she will not drink unless there is something to munch on, by the way). She will either refuse or counter with her own invitation to dinner at home, perhaps; but I would tell her now that to return her hospitality you would like to take her to dinner at the place of her choice and to plan on it.
*nan you remember what this means don't you? For everyone else it means nodding with Nan, Nan who very often expresses things, in my opinion, in a very correct way. And who is giving the absolute right advice here. A dinner invite from your side would be the correct thing to do, Robert. It would reflect nicely on you.
If it were me, I'd write back and say, "Would you and the family like to do something for dinner afterwards? It would be my treat." That way, your hostess can, if necessary, plead a previous engagement if she had not assumed you would eat together. Or graciously accept your return invitation, and suggest a congenial venue: home, restaurant, etc.
Thanks! Bucky "Trying To Slow Down" Edgett
Posts: 708 | Location: Maryland | Registered: 24 April 2006
Originally posted by Alice Twain: Unless you know this person to be a bit adventurous. in which case I may suggest bringinf a good but excessive wine from California.
That's funny, Tocai is practically a sure thing in these parts. California would be the adventurous (but just as fine a) choice.
To answer the title question: you're not invited to dinner until someone invites you to dinner. I wouldn't plan on anything, just wait and see what happens (a Italian approach), or suggest whatever you have in mind.
I don't know if it's the same in Venice as in Rome, but when we were in Rome a year or so ago, I had written to a Roman woman I met when she was visiting the US, to invite her and her boyfriend to dinner. I selected the restaurant and fully expected to pay for the meal. But after dinner, they absolutely refused to allow us to pay anything -- not even to split the check. They said "This is not the Roman way" to allow a visitor to pay. Of course, since they spoke much better Italian than we did, they were able to communicate to the waiter and hijack the check! Fortunately I had brought her a gift from the US, so at least I felt we had contributed something.
I know I am getting concerned about details etc. My info says there is one restaurant on the island which actually sounds good- Ca Vignotto which has a fixed price multi course dinner including wine. The only other place is essentially a bar.
I probably am bringing a suitcase for wine and it will be empty on the way out but bringing California wine? RR
Well, even if it means treating the whole family to dinner....one must remember the kindness one has been given on past visits with Italians, and how generously one has been treated, often by strangers. It is a case of giving forward instead of giving back. All good things come back to you in the end.
From my experience of Italians, I would say that the odds of Patrizia letting you pay for dinner are 1 in 10, tops. The odds of her accepting the invitation and expecting you to also pay for her husband and children, maybe 1 in 1000.
I would also see bringing a bottle of California wine or even of Tocai Friulano as putting the onus on her to invite you to dinner. A gadget of some kind related to running or kayakking would, I think, be more appropriate as a thank-you gift for her time, and if she chooses to invite you to dinner, at least you won't have come empty-handed.
Sant'Erasmo's undergone a bit of a facelift in recent years. It's lovely, and the best produce still comes from there (the artichokes and piselli are to die for).
I invited Patrizia to dinner and I just recieved the following response. It looks like she likes the place I suggested (my info says the only restaurant on the island) but I'm sure the other place would be good, has anyone heard of it?
The last time we were on the Island it was christmas so the frost was on the ground. I'm sure we are in for a treat!
Hi, My daughter Rosa lives with her boyfriend but she can come anyway. We can go in kayak on wednesday in the afternoon because she probably can have a day without working and she can come with us and then we can go out for dinner. Ca Vignotto is a good place to eat but it is not always open in the evening, so if you agree we can ask if they are open that evening or we can go somewhere else: there is place in the Vignole (a little island near S.Erasmo), Trattoria Da Toni. See you in September. Patrizia
cheers!
NWD!
