For years now, Pino and I have raised our glasses and clinked “saluti!” to each other in Orvieto on December 30th, our anniversary. We’re always there for a couple of days for Umbria Jazz Winter: what better way to celebrate? 
And what a better place than in Orvieto, medieval gem on the tuff rock plateau with a majestic 13th-c cathedral as urban centerpiece?
Our”anniversary dinner” had to be at Trattoria del Moro Aronne, logicamente. 
Years ago, the legendary Aronne regaled trattoria customers with tales of the history of Orvieto while his wife Sira worked wonders at the burners. This spot is still “all in the family”: nowadays, smiling daughter Rolanda welcomes guests and her sister Eliana is in the kitchen, creating culinary delights.
The menu varies dependng on Eliana’s inspirations for that day. What temptations for our anniversary dinner on December 30th:
The antipasto selection just couldn’t be overlooked:
Who could resist that flan of winter squash on a Parmesan cream (and topped with caramelized red onion)?
I couldn’t but Pino could: he opted instead for tripe with pecorino cheese. (I knew that would be his choice). Waiter Stefano served us with a smile, Pino’s tripe in one hand, “just a taste” of the chestnut/chickpea soup for me in the other:
The choice of primi was a culinary panoply ranging from carbonara with pork cheek and fava beans (my choice ) to pasta “nests” with honey and pecorino cheese to wild boar pasta to lasagne with black truffles and porcini:
Having had two “tastes” of antipasti, I asked for just a mezzaporzione of my carbonara. Smiling young waiter, Gabriele, served me the goodness:
As he often does, Pino skipped the primo, opting instead for a secondo. The enticements were many, including a chicken dish with black truffles and almonds, artichoke flan with truffles, a steak dish topped with gorgonzola cheese and dark chocolate (!), stuffed squab, rabbit in wild herbs, and wild boar braised in red wine:
Pino chose a steak dish, served up by Gabriele:
Side dishes? Grilled vegetables and wild chicory sautéed in garlic and olive oil:
Dessert? Why not? After all, it was our anniversary. We decided to share a slice of ricotta/almond tart. Both Stefano and Gabriele served us this one together with “complimenti” from Rolanda; it was her anniversary treat to us:
Grazie mille, Rolanda, Eliana and team. We’ll be seeing you again on our next outing to Orvieto.
Read about a reason we love Trattoria del Moro Aronne
Don’t miss this read on the amazing Aronne
Read about Orvieto’s Umbria Jazz Winter
One certainly cannot go wrong with Anne’s recommendations and this restaurant was no exception. Scrumptious food and friendly, sweet waiters serving us fabulous dishes. Orvieto is a jewel of a city from the minute it is seen from the autostrada to the stunning cathedral to all the vicoli radiating from the central square. Even if one can only wander about for a few hours it is well worth the visit, especially with all of Anne’s suggestions in mind.