Despite the fact that American national holidays are set on Mondays, the real day that Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas is today, October 12th. Since he was from Genoa, it gives us an excuse to mention a favorite restaurant in Genoa where we had the best pesto in our experience. This handsome place on the second floor of a building on a main thoroughfare by the train station is called Zeffirino’s, and it was recommended to us by a cab driver. It’s where the local political power people hang out, and it is really locals, except for a few tourists like us, who like to mingle with the locals. Everyone seemed to know each other, except us, though they couldn’t have been more welcoming. Most people from somewhere else who turned up there knew about it from somewhere, so they were deemed okay. A large place full of families too, it had a happy vibe. And the pesto was sensational, as was everything else we had. The service was also perfect.
This family-owned institution is in its fifth generation, eighty years in business. Sometimes places like this get tired, and the newer generations aren’t as invested in the business as previous ones, but that is definitely not true here. The cousins are in front and back of the house. It shows.
Don't miss this one, if you are ever in the area.
Zeffirino’s
Genoa, Italy
zeffirino.com
And if all this talk and this weather put you in the mood for something warm and comforting at home, here is a simple pesto sauce recipe.
Pesto
¾ cup olive oil, extra virgin
1 cup grated premium parmesan cheese
3 ½ cups fresh basil leaves
½ pod of garlic
½ cup pine nuts or sunflower seeds (optional)
⅓ cup parsley (optional)
Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend into a paste. Serve over hot pasta like Linguine, Spaghetti, Pappardelle, Tagliatelle, or Mafalda.
