A birthday dinner at Sofia's
Yes that Sofia - well she always spelt her name with a ph but the Italians don't have a ph so in Italian it would be Sofia - and she is Italian. Anyway the pizza restaurant in Camberwell where the family met for my granddaughter's ninth birthday last night, is obviously named in Sophia Loren's honour as there are large pictures of her in her heyday scattered around the place.
Sofia's is a Melbourne institution and has now got several other branches, but the one in Camberwell is the original. It was founded, I discover, the year we arrived in Australia - 1969 - so has been going for a very long time. And every year on Good Friday they donate the entire day's takings to the Children's Hospital Appeal. Pretty generous - a cynic would say they must be doing pretty well - and I guess they are. It's always pretty busy.
It is huge, noisy, cheap and cheerful. A perfect place for a kids' birthday party - like most Italians they really do not mind the children running around and making a noise. So if you want a quiet romantic dinner don't go here. There are always large groups of people - we were thirteen plus a baby ourselves, although here and there there are young couples having a cheap meal out. And lots of Chinese. But that's Australia for you isn't it?
The other thing it is famous for is it's huge portions. Never ask for the large size unless you are sharing with someone. That ice-cream is one serving - we ordered one for all four children - they love it - but actually just about everyone had a bit of it. I must admit I've always had a problem with the size of the portions - it must lead to an awful lot of wastage - it's a bit obscene really. Although I think that mostly the leftovers are put into takeaway containers and taken home for later. That's certainly what happened to some of ours.
On the plus side though - the pizzas anyway - were actually pretty good. Mine (a small size) was a seafood one with olives - but my kind of seafood - prawns and clams (though I don't remember seeing any clams) and anchovies. You have to have anchovies on a pizza to my mind. And a lovely thin and crunchy crust.
So happy birthday to our oldest grandchild. See they even do candles and everyone joined in singing Happy Birthday - well those on the next tables. Nine years! They've just flown by. So grown up.
