A mega brioche covered in melted white chocolate served alongside the mega cappuccino at Le Strane Delizie in Spilimbergo, Italy, on Aug. 17, 2024. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes)
My travels during my assignment to Aviano Air Base in Italy have impressed upon me that for many people here, breakfast is not much more than a brioche and a cappuccino.
That has become my routine as well. I like to frequent a cafe where I can eat a pistachio brioche and sip a latte macchiato. But the menu at Le Strane Delizie, a pastry shop whose name translates to The Strange Delights, was a revelation for me.
My family and I checked out the shop in Spilimbergo, which is about 30 minutes by car from Aviano.
Simply put, I wish I had found this place sooner. It serves the mega brioche, a mammoth creation that feels like it weighs about 5 pounds, and sells for 25 euros.
It can be paired with the shop’s mega cappuccino, which is made with almost 34 ounces of milk and eight shots of espresso. The drink is too much for one person to consume, so be sure to have a companion or two along to share if you order it.
Two brioches and a latte macchiato ready to be enjoyed at Le Strane Delizie cafe in Spilimbergo, Italy, on Aug. 17, 2024. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes)
We ordered a mega brioche with white chocolate drizzle and cookies on top, and we chose chocolate-and-pistachio filling. I was expecting it to be lightly drizzled, but the chocolate was applied so thickly that our dish barely looked like a brioche.
It was served warm, which really enhanced the creamy consistency of the filling and brought out the indulgent chocolate flavor.
This breakfast item made such an impression that for my next birthday, I think I will ask my wife to get me a mega brioche instead of a cake.
All the rich baked goodness made me long for a drink to wash it down, so it was time to take the mega cappuccino plunge, which I did after adding six packets of sugar.
A display case at Le Strane Delizie cafe in Spilimbergo, Italy, is well-stocked with pastries Aug. 17, 2024. The name of the restaurant translates to The Strange Delights. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes)
A family walks toward the entrance of Le Strane Delizie in Spilimbergo, Italy, on Aug. 17, 2024. The cafe is on the Piazza Borgolucido. (Brian Erickson/Stars and Stripes)
I did not come close to finishing the drink, which in retrospect was a good thing.
Beyond the mega madness, there are plenty of other Italian bakery standards on offer, including brioches with jam and small pastries of all kinds, as well as cannoli and bite-size desserts.
The restaurant also advertises “latte art” courses for those interested in the presentation of the perfect cup of coffee. I’ll leave the art to the experts for now. But I’m happy to indulge in what they’re creating.
Le Strane Delizie
Address: Piazza Borgolucido 11, Spilimbergo, Italy
Hours: Wednesday to Monday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; closed Tuesday
Prices: Brioches range from 2-3 euros, but the mega brioche costs 25 euros; regular espressos and lattes range from 2-4 euros, while a mega cappuccino costs 15 euros.
Information: Phone +39 371 599 0847; online: lestranedelizie.it
