European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 25, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Review Clem Calls Venice Summit a class act by sgt. Ret Clement Lounder if anything goes hand in hand Beller Leanthe gentlemen of san Francisco it is politics and Chow a fact that was clearly proven at the economic Lype Summit Down in the City of he yodelling boat hands recently. There comfortable in the knowledge hat whatever their assistants did not work out beforehand heir assistants could work out afterwards the various Heads of stale got together for a series of palate punching meal that Are known in diplomatic circles As your working dinners. And so armed with a Blue Serge suit and a pair of mail order wingtips old Clem was told to take a Little time off from his italian vacation to answer the question that is burning its Way across that great country of ours what did Ibe president  and when did he eat it saturday june 6 the first couple is holed up in the spacious Villa co Dulmer just outside of Venice resting up for the hand shaking and head nodding that is bound to follow during the president s Summit and Nancy s just say no tour of Sweden. The Villa incidentally is no shabby Little place featuring As it does a big old swimming Pool and 10 bedrooms and More Marble than a Sara Lee Pound cake. A wealthy local has stuffed the place with Antiques and the Villa has been re curtained and upholstered Wilh the first lady s favorite colors. The reagans Lake a Quick trip to Rome to meet the Pope then hang by the Pool for awhile. Later they order up a meal from White House chef Eddie Serrano and his staff of 15. Believe it or nol cheeseburgers and salad. Sunday june 7 the Lallian morning papers Are outraged after word leaks that the reagans Are eating burgers and greens and ignoring the local Chow. As one paper puts it in an angry editorial about chef Serrano the while House Cook is Only engaged in a frenetic slicing of vegetables and the opening of  adding to their problems mrs. Reagan has not slept Well in the special bed flown in from Portugal. The burgers however appear to agree with the president. He sleeps until 10 . After a Light breakfast on the Villa s top floor the president lounges poolside with a Lilile Light briefing material. Finally the reagans order up their first Lallian Chow. Melon and shrimp for starters then Small hunks of sole from the nearby Adriatic Thol have been sprinkled Wilh a frightfully dry White wine. For dessert chunks of fresh peaches and cherries doing the backstroke in a puddle of amaretto liqueur. They Wash it All Down Wilh a local White wine a proud int Reagan right and Gennin Chancellor Helmut Kohl simple the Chow in Venice. Vintage so scarce that Only 50 in so bottles of the stuff ire produced annually. As promised by one of her Lallian aides mrs. Reagan sleeps much better with a Little pasta under the Belt. Monday june 8 the Start of the week and the reagans go their separate ways. Things do not got really cooking As it were until monday evening when the gang gathers for the first of the Summit banquets the slate dinner a meal put together by a half dozen food merchants of Venice. Things kick off Wilh a Little shellfish salad with mushrooms followed by cheese and spinach dumplings what the italians Call Ginocchetti i Ricotta e spinach. Fish fillets Wilh artichokes Are next then a round of Lamb chops in Rosemary and a pile of fresh vegetables. They Wash the whole thing Down with three wines a capital Foscarini classic Soave a 1900 Sassoon a marches Della Rocchetta and a Chulio Ferrari Reserva bottled in 1979, finally the most powerful Mouths in the world get to dessert a pleasant Little mix of peach ice Cream with wild strawberries and Kiwi faced with All that food the Heads of stale end up eating until after Midnight. Meanwhile the finance and foreign ministers Are having their own working real in a venetian Palace Down the canal a stretch fish risotto a fish main course and wild strawberries for dessert All served with a Little White wine. Light fare but hey these ire the Guys doing the real work right at about the same time the few wives who showed up Mila Mulroney of Canada and Italy s Maria Pia Fanfani gel together in the Pisani Morretta a cozy Little gothic Palazzo that seals 200, under flickering torches the ladies feast on shrimp and Rice fish fillets and chocolate meringue. Dinner companions Are a couple of local High rollers Gianni Agnelli the owner of Fiat and Carlo de bin Cretti president of an italian company that makes typewriters. Tuesday june 9 president Reagan and most of the other Summit leaders Are apparently still full from the night before. Those that in gel hungry later in the Day Are offered a Little pasta and some shellfish though i happen to know the pasta is store bought and not of the fresh variety. Margaret Thatcher spends most of the Day sipping from the Case of schweppes Malvern water she has brought along. Helmut Kohl sneaks out for s Ime local italian victuals which the Chancellor dotes on. I Don t know if the president had any More cheeseburgers on the sly. Wednesday Une 10 a Light morning schedule and then the gourmet Ireal of the Summit a three course goodbye lunch hosted by italian president Francesco Corsiga Over to the doge s Palace the big old gothic building thai blocks the View from Harry s bar things Start Olf Wilh pasta of course but two separate varieties. First noodles with Ham and asparagus next  with cheese and country herbs. They offered up a sea Bass after that a specially of the Region lathered Over in lobster sauce. For drinks either a while Soave by Bolla or sparkling a Yumante wine your Call. Hell no wonder a couple of the presidents and premiers looked a Little drowsy at the formal Reading of the communique after lunch. After the Summit leaning Hack in my chair on the suddenly deserted Island on the Back Side of Lido Island i had Lime to reflect and come up with some kind of rating for supping at the Summit. For starters i am willing Lobel the service was entirely top drawer. For another you can be basically sure the doge s Palace and the other spots were not wanting in what they Call ambiance. And hey everybody but the italians probably thought the Price was right. All in All though i got this lingering feeling the president would have been just As Happy Wilh hamburgers. Still Venice put on a hell of a feed. And for that they get a solid four pointy fingers. Ratings b 3 d b 3 awesome its. We re talking Paradise on a plate Here. 5j Sfa Vert Ine dining. Crack service and memorable food and drink i Fel solid Chow. Good food of atmosphere and pleasant service. Of Ftp. About equal to a Ponderosa Steak House. Ply cult. Crummy Chow so so service Semi rally Interior. 20 Tripet mtg Zine Une 2s, 1387