As we prepare for our fantastical voyage to Belgium and Milan for the Formula One Gran Prix, we also plan to take advantage of the new travelers Global Entry program. Unfortunately by the time we submitted our applications for Global Entry, it was literally a six-month wait for the on-site interviews at LAX. So instead we decided to make an adventure of it and scheduled an appointment at the San Diego International Airport. We figured let’s spend the night in Pechanga Casino in Temecula, gamble up a storm, go to the airport in the morning and complete our interviews.

Arriving at San Diego International, we head upstairs to complete our interviews. The cool guy behind the counter happens to be both a fan of BBQ and recently traveled to Brussels, and recommends Brussels Grill to us. Not sure of where it's located, we google it, and like that, we have our first stop on the tour. This guy is pretty cool for a travel officer, but I do notice he keeps asking us little questions, as if we are going to slip up and reveal that we're smuggling Black Mamba. whatever dude! After we’ve completed our application at the airport, which is a pretty cool airport, granted, to me, every airport is cooler than LAX, we head over for some lunch, and decide let's hit Little Italy. Hey, I’ve got to start practicing my Italian sometime. Years ago, we carbed-up at some Italian restaurant when prepping for the Rock and Roll marathon. We knew it was somewhere on the main street of Little Italy, we remembered that it had a store in front, restaurant in back, (a culinary mullet) and remembered it was a lot of fun. Apparently there’s a lot of Chanti flowing at night. And since Little Italy comprises primarily of one main street, we were pretty comfortable that we'll be able to find it again. And find it we did! Filippi's Pizza Grotto Little Italy is a landmark here. The area was settled in the early 1900s by Italian immigrants (you hear that Trump?) and there are several monuments around town to pay homage to these settlers, including several monuments and plaques dedicated WWI and WW II veterans who gave their lives for our freedom. God bless them!

We head on in and yes this is the spot! Walking through the store just makes you that much more hungry for ordering food in the restaurant. Even the cans look good here, and of course the counter displays of Italian nougat began scratching my funny bone. I love that stuff, taste test coming up. We head back and are seated with the lovely Maria. She jokes with us once we tell her we're from Los Angeles, turns out she was born in LA, moved down to San Diego to marry a Navy man, and she’s been working here the restaurant for the last 25 years. She’s a wonderful woman and just her zest and smile makes the meal and the Chianti that much better. I love good food, but I really love great people. I go for my favorite, Lasagna. Nancy grabs a big plate of spaghetti, and soon we chow down on some old world Italian cuisine. We begin to dream of what it’s going to be like to dine at an Italian restaurant when we get to Milan. I wonder if they’re going to be like this? Do they actually have little restaurants with Chianti bottles hanging off the ceiling? I guess we’re going to find out another four weeks or so. We finish up lunch, and began our journey to Las Vegas via an overnight stay in Palm Springs. But first, I must stop at the counter and grab some nougat bars.

Ever since our stop at the Ferrara store in New York's Little Italy, I've been hooked on Italian nougat bars, called Torrone in native Ital-glish. I love the pistachio bars, the little crunchy nuts, the creamy nougat...heaven! I grab three bars with the idea of conducting a taste test when we settle down somewhere and I can clear my palate. And that opportunity came that night in Palm springs. Staying at our regular Hyatt spot, we open all three and cut off small taster samples. Each bar had it's own distinct taste, and that's the good thing. they actually have taste, not just flavored paper. The first is the Ferrara of course. Crunchy, with the extra honey punching through. Second, a bite of the Florentine. Oh my! Extra almonds give it a smokier, darker taste. Next, the Oliviero comes through with a rich nougat flavor. three tastes, three flavors. But this time, I have to give it to La Florentine. The extra almonds gave a it a little more punch of nuts and toasty flavor. The Ferrara came in second, the honey giving it an extra little sweetness, fitting my palate. But the Oliviero has nothing to be ashamed of. Any one of these would be my pick depending on the time of day. And as we broke open a bottle of red wine, the Oliviero actually began to taste a lot better and compliment the wine. Good times.

In the end, we spoke no Italian. And we had very little time to start practicing. I downloaded Babel in hopes that would supplement my high school Italian. Boun Giorno! Parlate Inglese?