Caprese - The Best Salad Allison Ever Had!



View From a Bridge in Venice - Photo By Alli

     A few years ago we visited Venice, Italy.  The day we arrived had been a long one; we had gotten up early and took the slow train through the Swiss and Italian Alps to Venice.  After arriving, we had to figure out how to get to our hotel, and the language barrier was more of a problem than we had anticipated.  Finally we figured out we could take a private water "taxi" or spring for a several day pass on a large boat that ferried people around to lots of different stops.  We opted for the big public boat, but misread the route map and got off a little too early.  Dragging our luggage with us, we twisted up and around tiny streets.  When we finally figured out how to reach our hotel, we were hot, tired, and hungry.  The desk staff recommended several outdoor cafes.  After dropping off our bags, we wandered around the main square until we stumbled on one of the places that had been mentioned.  The waiter suggested we try a Caprese salad.  It was so beautiful to look at - tiny Roma tomatoes were cut in half, fresh mozzarella was mingling with fresh basil, and it was drizzled with delicious Italian olive oil.  Alli took a bite and declared that it was the best salad she had ever had.  It was so pretty she took the picture of it shown below.  We really enjoyed eating that salad in the open square almost as much watching other families pushing luggage behind them while reading maps and trying to find hotels...

The Best Salad Allison Ever Had



The Yates Version

      We continue to love this simple salad!  I keep a small pot or two of fresh basil growing on my window sill which makes it easy to assemble this yummy combination - just add fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and a little splash of vinaigrette made with 1/4 cup red wine vinegar whisked with 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.