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Coffee Semifreddo in Trieste

Coffee Semifreddo In Trieste

 I ate well on my visit to Trieste last month – very well in fact – including the coffee semifreddo above (recipe at the end of the post.) I owe my culinary good fortune there to these two people – Chiara Giglio and Furio Baldassi. Chiara is a food blogger who lives in Trieste and writes “La Voglia Matta” and Furio is a journalist with Trieste’s daily newspaper, “Il Piccolo.” In addition to writing news stories, Furio is also a restaurant reviewer and knows all the best places to eat in town, while Chiara acted as our own personal tour guide. The enthusiasm she holds for her hometown was contagious, but then again it’s easy to love Trieste, with its great food, historic caffés and beautiful sights. 

 

The night we arrived we were in luck. It was the first night of a wine tasting for Vitovska wines (see this blog post here for more info about those wines) The tasting was held in the Salone Degli Incanti, along the waterfront.

The huge hall was once the site of a fish market, and was also used as a stand-in for Ellis Island in the Godfather 2 movie.

 

In addition to wines, we sampled lots of different foods, including these mussels resting on a bed of sweet and sour anchovy puree.
 You can’t visit Trieste without stopping at Miramare, the 19th century home built for Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium.  Unfortunately, he lived only briefly in the castle before being assigned to reign as emperor of Mexico, where he was executed in 1867.

 

Another beautiful castle to visit is Duino, built in the 14th century. Unlike Miramare, it’s still inhabited by the owners, who open up many of the rooms to visitors. The elegant staircase was designed by Palladio, and you can also view the piano played by Liszt here.
Right across the way from Duino are the ruins of an even earlier castle that dates back to the 11th century.
 Both Miramare and Duino are located on the rocky cliffs overlooking the Gulf of Trieste, where the waters were clear and inviting.
 Trieste’s port is a busy one, for shipping as well as a mooring spot for cruise liners. Standing guard at the water’s edge are the statues of two seamstresses, or “sartine.”
 Trieste’s Piazza d’Unità is the largest seaside piazza in Europe and is flanked by elegant buildings on three sides, and the Gulf of Trieste at the other.

 

Sunsets can be spectacular as you look out to the Adriatic from Piazza D’Unità.

 

 While it’s hard to tear yourself away from the water’s edge, there’s so much else to see in Trieste, including a stop at the castello San Giusto, named for the city’s patron saint —
 And the cathedral of the same name, dating back to the 1300s.
 Roman influences are evident throughout the city, including this arch, and remains of a Roman amphitheater.
The Irish poet and novelist James Joyce also lived here for a while, and the city has honored him with a statue by its Grand Canal.
 Trieste is also known for its coffee (Illy coffee was founded and is still based here) and its historic caffés, including this one — the elegant caffé Tommaseo.

But just because you’re at a caffé doesn’t mean you have to order coffee. A glass of prosecco, which was born in this region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, is always welcome, and comes with a selection of munchies – a common occurrence at bars in Italy.
 And speaking of food, Furio directed us to a restaurant called Ego, where we enjoyed an exquisite meal, including a first course of these homemade orecchiette with the tiniest, most delicate squid I’d ever eaten.
Another day we ate at “Trattoria Dei No,” – again recommended by Furio. This dish of mixed seafood atop panzanella is a sample of the delicious food that awaits diners there.

 

 

 The seafood is great in Trieste, but so is the meat, since the city has long been a crossroads of Slavic and Italian culture. One place you’ll find the Slavic culinary influence is the much beloved Buffet de Pepi, a 100-year-old restaurant featuring all things pork, including this platter of mixed cuts. It’s not the way I normally eat, but it’s an experience not to be missed.
 Back at home, I had to try to recreate the coffee semifreddo I ate at “Trattoria Del No.” It may not be the same as enjoying it in Trieste, but until I get back to this beautiful city on the Adriatic, this will do just fine.
Coffee Semifreddo
4 egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
3 – 4 Tbsp. instant espresso mixed with 1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup coffee liqueur or rum or amaretto
1/4 cup chocolate covered candies or chocolate covered espresso beans, crushed
amaretti cookies, crushed, for sprinkling on top.
Beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and light yellow in color. Mix the instant espresso with the milk, then combine with the egg yolks. Place the mixture in a pot and cook over low heat, stirring all the while until it increases in volume to nearly double.
Remove from the heat and add the liqueur.  Pour into a bowl and place in the refrigerator until it cools. Once it’s cool, whip the cream until it holds its shape. Fold into the cooled egg mixture, then stir in the crushed chocolate covered candies or espresso beans. Pour into individual molds or a rectangular loaf pan. Place it in the freezer at least six hours and preferably overnight.
To unmold, take a hot washcloth and place it on the bottom of the mold for a minute or two. Make sure you have a dish on the underside, so the semifreddo doesn’t slip onto the counter. Don’t keep the washcloth on too long, or you’ll melt the semifreddo. Take a knife and run it around the inside rim of the container, and the semifreddo should slide out of the mold. Serve surrounded by more coffee, and with amaretti cookie crumbs on top. Sprinkle a little instant espresso powder on the rim of the serving dish.
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This Post Has 17 Comments

  2. Oh my goodness, Linda, what a wonderful photo journey that you took us on in Trieste! I had no idea of all that this gem of a city has to offer. It's a must visit for me now! Also so nice to see that you met up with Chiara; such a great food blogger! Enjoy that semi-freddo . . . yum!

  3. Thanks for the virtual journey. Splendid! When I did make coffee semifreddo 2 decades ago, I used the loaf pan method. The individual mold takes it up a notch. XO

  4. What a beautiful photo recap of your visit, Linda! It truly is a beautiful city and the port and water is just gorgeous. I love the shot of the 11th century castle on it's rocky pedestal.

    I would love to try this coffee semifreddo. It's looks delicious!

  6. You met Chiara! Lucky you! And wonderful, wonderful – the sea, the food, the artifacts – a hall in Italy doubling as Ellis Island???? Laughed at that! Low-carb-Claudia will be making this. The summer heat has just begun and this will keep me cool! (In all ways!)

  7. Wow ~ coffee semifreddo in Trieste doesn't begin to cover the experience! What a memorable trip. I enjoyed seeing pics of all those palazzi and landmarks. I have yet to get to Trieste and this post just moved it up on my "must go" list. Years ago, my mom used to make a frozen coffee soufflé ~ which was more or less a semifreddo. We all loved it, but it fell out of rotation and I haven't had it in ages. Will have to try this version. xo

  8. How spectacular! For an armchair traveler and coffee lover like myself, this is a slice of heaven. Plus Illy is my fave coffee. What more could I ask for?

    You must have had the most wonderful time, and how terrific to have your own personal tour guides! I'd call this one "Blogging with Benefits"!!!

  9. Beautiful photos Linda, I've been waiting for more to see and how awesome to meet Chiara in person how fun! Being the coffee obsessed person that I am, I would be all over that semi-freddo, I shall attempt to make it, wish me luck!

  11. Dear Linda, What a memorable experience and to have Chiara as your guide is wonderful. She is a lovely blogging friend. It is such a blessing to be part of this blogging world.
    The pictures are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
    Blessings dear. Catherine

  12. We actually went to a Trieste wine tasting in NYC (Skerk wines)….very interesting and earthy.
    Your trips are always so beautiful, food and scenery!

  13. Thanks for your kindness, Linda. It's been a real pleaure to be your personal food guide for a while in my beloved city. Hope next time will be even better (lots of new spots opening and you have to see the incredible Porto Piccolo, fantastic relais on the coast…). Hope to see you soon, hugs and kisses

  14. Wasn't Lidia Bastianich from Trieste? The food and views there looks heavenly! It must have been so nice to have esteemed blog friends be your personal tour guides. Your coffee semifreddo looks very refreshing and delicious!

  16. I've never made a semifreddo before and would love to try this recipe! Can you please tell me when the cream is introduced to the mixture? I've re-read the recipe a few times and it's not apparent to me. Thank you!!!

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