Marketing 101

Venice, Italy - `Rialto' means many things in Venice. First and foremost, it refers to the canopied marble bridge that spans the Grand Canal. One of the most famous Venetian landmarks, he bridge also offers a spectacular view of the palaces that line this waterway.

`Rialto' also refers to the neighborhood on the northside of the bridge, the Rialto da qua, or `that side', as the left bank is known. Here, you'll find the sweet San Giacometto di Rialto, which is the oldest church in Venice, and the beloved Gobbo di Rialto, the humble hunchback sculpture that supports the steps to the public podium.

But most importantly, this neighborhood is home to the city's oldest marketplace. The names of the streets - like Ruga degli Spezieri (Spice Street) - reveal that this has been a mercantile neighborhood for hundreds of years. Now, brightly-colored canopies cover the fruit and vegetable vendors at the canalside erberia, or produce market, while the age-old pescheria, or fish market, is housed under the arcades of two neo-Gothic halls.

These days in Venice, we have house guests, so on Saturday morning, we took Mom and Dad to the Rialto market to shop for our evening feast. The place was packed with patrons admiring the fruits of the earth and of the sea.

We finally decided on this handsome Sicilian swordfish in honor of our recent trip. We would eat him later that evening topped with a salsa of tomatoes and garlic, and served alongside green and white asparagus sprinkled with balsamic vinaigrette. Deliciosa!