The Blackhams are in Italy for the whole of last week. They stay in a cute little place just off the beach in Viareggio, today they came to Lucca, before heading back home to London tomorrow. I booked us lunch in Trattoria Nonna Clara’s, thinking- they need to remember Lucca for fantastic food, so this is the place.

We had a long, 2,5 hour long lunch. We started off with stuffed courgette flowers and a plate of cured meats and cheeses. Proceeded to some lasagne, some stuffed pasta, Alyssa had a mountain of roasted lamb, Louise and I went for today’s special, ossobuco with puree al tartufo.

We all tasted that puree and it was the best thing I tasted in a while, absolutely sensational. Then 3 tiramisu arrived for us to share, followed by a freebie of a wonderful sorbetto al limone, but liquid, in a glass, refreshing and wonderful. And coffee.

An absolutely delicious meal in a lovely company.