Yesterday was my birthday, the last one with 4 in the front. All 3 Bankses headed out to Da Pasquale again, which is now my favourite place to eat in Lucca. Nonna Clara is great, but Pasquale’s place is just such a treat in every way. The olive oil on the table is fantastic, the service so good, they should bottle and sell it. The food. Where do I start. Third time in a row Florek had their beef tartare and was forced to share it with us. Grilled filled steak, my main last night so tender, it must have been resting a long time. Delicious truffle mayo on the side, of which I asked for some more, sooooo good.

Izzie had some pasta with seabream, but while we had starters she received a small portion of house caponata. She famously detests olives and aubergines, but she was bribed by Florek and ended up eating almost half of her portion and got paid for it. I helped with the rest- a wonderful caponata, sweeter than any of those I tasted in Sicily. Without peppers, without tomatoes, lots of raisins. I would so love their recipe. So that was a first for Izzie, who also was wearing a bit of mascara for the first time ever last night….

My favourite thing last night was one from the specials board, grilled octopus with chickpea puree, some grilled peppers on the side, I could eat three times as much of it. I think the time will come when I’ll have to master cooking octopus.

Pasquale sells the wine he serves in his restaurant, so we went home with a handsome bottle of Bolgheri we enjoyed with dinner.

Can’t wait to go back, maybe we’ll take the Swedes with us, Daniel just said they have never been there.