Destinations

DESTINATIONS

Taverna del Pescatore

Casteldimezzo, Italy

ENJOYING ITALY’S WEALTH OF regional cuisine is an integral part of my visits there to sample that country’s latest in two-wheeled hardware. Somehow, whenever I strap the prova (test) license plate onto a new Bimota, Ducati, Benelli or Guzzi, there’s a subconscious autopilot ready to take over and direct me to the Taverna del Pescatore in the tiny, medieval village of Casteldimezzo, perched high atop a hill overlooking the Adriatic Sea in one direction and the Appentine mountains in the other. The Baffoni family’s rustic restaurant serves a huge variety of local seafood, landed that morning at the nearby port of Cattolica, and meant to be washed down with the fruity local Trebbiano wine. And though the Taverna’s cuisine is sufficient to earn it a coveted rosette in the prestigious Michelin Guide, the sight of a customer entering in motorcycle leathers and carrying a helmet doesn’t rate a second glance. But be prepared to face a barrage of questions from the staff and customers alike about your mount, especially if it’s a new model, and especially if you park it close to the front door for safekeeping—an important consideration in Italy. Café racing may be the favorite pastime for riders in other countries, but in Italy it’s much better to go ristorantehopping instead. —Alan Cathcart

Alan Cathcar

Information: Italian Tourism Office 360 Post Street Suite 801 San Francisco CA 94108 Phone: (415)392-5266