EATALY!

Cosenza, Calabria

Calabria is a region in southern Italy. Not a well known touristy place for North Americans but it’s mention from friends made it attractive and worthy of my extensive, places to visit list.

When you plan a 10 day Italian road trip you have to start somewhere.

I put my hand up and said ‘I want to visit Calabria’ and everyone was cool with that so a plan was put into place.

A very fluid, no straight lines kinda plan and that worked just fine for us.

It turned out to be one of the most memorable places we visited but not why you would think.

Shopping

Cosenza is a big city compared to all the little sea side towns we were hitting.

It was October 2023 just before Halloween and nearing the end of our 10 day road trip with friends.

Cosenza downtown is about the shopping. We even got sucked in and we aren’t ‘shoppers’.

Stevo finally caved in and bought a legit euro adidas track suit. We were all in shock both for actual purchase by Stevo ( of all people) and the price ($$$).

I did not realize track suits were a bling item.

Perusing the restaurants available for dinner was not successful.

It seemed like every restaurant had the same overpriced menus.

We were disappointed but not defeated.

After a walk about, nap and quick refresh we hit the town on a mission.

Find good food.

Now I’m not gonna say we were successful but…

We totally were.

From outside it didn’t look like much but when we stepped in!

The Wine Wall

There was a wall of wine stretching the whole way down the building, really impressive. Truly.

The ambience was everything.

There was a beautiful classic bar on the other side of the wine wall and a glow of soft lighting that made everything sparkly and comfortable.

Add the smell of fresh ground coffee and baked bread and we were sucked in.

There was more to Mosto97 than just wine and coffee though.

Where to start…

The Food

There was an entire deli you could select your meats from for your charcuterie board.

As well as a bakery.

And a fromagerie (cheese deli).

These were all within 10 steps of our table.

Drumroll please…

Creamy cheeses with different profiles mixed in with delicately sliced cured meats, nuts, olives and raspberries.

We were thrilled with just that and the beautiful selection of wines.

But no.

The Steak!

Here comes our waiter with this.

Could he interest us in some aged steak?

And the answer was yes! So off we go to the steak fridge to select the perfect cut.

And so it came to be.

Stevo had the 2nd best steak of his life and possibly a new hobby (aging beef).

Overnight was enough time to dip our toe in Cosenza and I’m gonna say we spent 1/4 of our time at this restaurant.

If your in Cosenza – go to Mosto97.

If your a budding entrepreneur looking for a fresh new restaurant vibe to open up here in Ontario go experience beautiful Mosto97.

Why can’t we have nice places like this here I ask you.

Why?

To see the other cool places we were on this road trip start here

One destination left after this!