cozy friday night

Beginning with Stella Artois and scallops wrapped in bacon and ending with board games and Guinness, Leah and Tray hosted a delicious evening, it was a perfect way to wind down from a long work week.

There was so much good food! The springy scallops which had been marinated in mustard and maple syrup and coiled with smokey bacon to begin the evening were fantastic. A salad of lightly dressed greens in balsamic and olive oil was the perfect transition course, featuring crasins, almonds, avocado and tomato. For the main course we feasted on a juicy herb encrusted roast pork loin in mushroom gravy with baked red russet potatoes and baby carrots. We drank a firm, fruit forward red wine with dinner, a bottle of Carchelo C from Jumilla, Spain. After a few rounds of Cranium and Apples to Apples, we dug into a box of Modern Pastries including cannoli, crème brulee and tiramisu. We played Guesstures well into the evening, it's a hilarious game, especially when lots of wine and beer are involved.

Many thanks to our gracious hosts!

101st Annual Fisherman's Feast

Summer time in the North End is marked by a slew of weekend long festivals embracing years of Italian tradition. The 101st annual Fisherman's Feast honoring Madonna Del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help) took place on August 18th through 21st. During this poignant four day long celebration, North and Fleet Streets are closed down prohibiting motor vehicle traffic. In other words, the party outside my door step is non stop. Pedestrians flock, the smells of sausage and fried dough waft through the air, carnival games and red white and green vendor booths line the streets, all the while various bands take the stage playing music loudly from 11 am - 11 pm. I embrace the feast, as its name rightly infers, by indulging in all the things. This year happened to include deep fried oreos and ice cream filled cannoli. Since I know you're curious, here's an at home close up of the powdered sugar topped, fried dough stuffed oreo. Unreal. They came six to a bag, much to my absolute shock. (I ordered "one" and he starts to pile them in a bag...um.)Of course, the usual Arancini or two were not to be missed. And since photo shoots ensued last year in epic proportions this year, as you most likely already gathered, I decided to let Instagram capture the scene. Bright lights twinkle against brick facades, carney booths explode with colorful items to be won, Italians shout joyfully amongst one another while locals and tourists meander in the beer gardens and dance in front of the bandstand. It was a heck of a celebration, as usual. Until next year....

TreMonté Restaurant & Bar

Chef/Owner Anthony Contarino opened TreMonté Restaurant & Bar in the bustling downtown area of Woburn Center back in 2003. As a boy growing up in Medford with not one, but two Italian Grandmothers, his curiosity in the kitchen stemmed from a young age. Sunday mornings rolling pasta dough with his grandmothers combined with formal training from Johnson and Whales, his food is a heartwarming exemplification of both passion and technique. I arrived at the complimentary blogger dinner to a table set for ten with bread baskets and accompanying red pepper and herb infused olive oil, uncorked bottles of wine ready to be consumed and a waitress eager to take our drink order should wine not suffice. I helped myself to the bread and started with the 2009 Colterenzio Pinot Bianco Weisshaus a light bodied combination of fresh fruit with a hint of minerals that paired nicely with the array of appetizers that shortly followed. Each antipasti presented was impeccably prepared with an unmistakable Italian authenticity. I would not hesitate to recommend every single one, the only deciding factor should come down to what you're in the mood for. The Arancini ($8.99) deserves my highest compliments. Living in Boston's Little Italy, I've tasted some of the best and this is right up there with it. Melted cheese encased by ground meat cascades out of crispy fried rice balls. Flavorful marinara, fresh grated Parmesan and a chiffonade of basil prove no detail was overlooked. In the Melazana ($8.99) breaded eggplant is layered with tomato basil sauce and mozzarella cheese, then baked and generously topped with a silky, creamy, basil pesto alfredo sauce. That sauce was something to appreciate! Often individual sauces are a pesto or an Alfredo, however, the combination of both, to me, felt adventurous! The egg battered Shrimp Grand Mariner ($11.99) offered something entirely different to the antipasto round up. Foregoing the typical savory sauce, the citrusy orange liqueur is reduced to a sweet glaze that complimented the well cooked, lightly battered shrimp. The next appetizer is simply labeled on the menu as Sausage ($9.99) which is a grilled garlic and cheese sausage over a bed of spinach and cannellini beans. That flavorful broth lent a comforting element to the dish, proving another worthy antipasti choice. Often the defining factor of an Italian chefs prowess, the Bolognese ($17.99) uses Chef Contarino's own special recipe combining beef, pork and veal in a white wine based sauce. When the hearty flavorful sauce meets with long flat strands of undeniably fresh homemade tagliatelle, this dish outshines even some of the most satisfactory Bolognese I've tasted in the North End. (I can't help but compare!) At this point I decided a glass of the red wine was in order. The 2006 Villa di Vetrice Chianti Rufina Riserva is a classic Italian dry red wine. It had rich red berry notes and a clean finish. For my entrée I chose the Veal Saltimbocca which was one of the evenings specials. Given a choice of homemade pasta, I chose the Fusilli at the strong urging of the waitress. Two generous slabs of breaded veal are pounded thin and topped with melted cheese and salty slices of prosciutto. Long thick grooved ribbons of al dente fusilli were tender while remaining firm, their freshness unparalleled. Bright, lemony flavors bring the dish together enhancing the veal and fusilli all the more. The entire table was equally as impressed with their entrees, many ordered the same thing as me, others the classic Chicken Parmigana and Grilled Swordfish. Preceding dessert we were offered coffee or espresso. I added a "tini" onto the latter and our waitress happily obliged. With a full bar and a lengthy martini menu to match, it only felt right to sample one at some point. The cold frothy Espresso Martini ($9) did not disappoint. Neither did dessert. Imported Italian sweets include Tiramisu ($6), Cannolis ($6) and Profiteroles ($6.50). The desserts remain traditional with exception of the profiteroles, which are filled with cappuccino gelato! (Usually its vanilla or pastry cream.) I loved this swap! Our waitresses genuine hospitality resonated throughout dinner; as well all our dishes were delivered timely and with precision. As for Chef Contarino, I could embark on a paragraph about the characteristics that make him who he is and as a result, this restaurant what it is. However, I'd simply like to let this snapshot speak for itself. If you find yourself seeking an alternative to all that city dining entails, look no further than Woburn's TreMonté Restaurant & Bar. I actually found it refreshing to experience Italian fine dining outside the confines of the North End. Serving up hearty portions of Italian cuisine from the classics to some new creations in an unpretentious space with reasonable prices to match, Tre Monté is deserving of all the praise I have to offer.

TreMonté Restaurant & Bar

397 Main Street

Woburn, MA 01801

G'Vanni's Ristorante

Between all my Italian neighbors it is never an easy choice when deciding who to visit next. I want to try them all, I think! I had not yet dined at G'Vanni's Ristorante a tiny window front with a bright blue awning at 2 Prince Street, occupying an unassuming nook tucked between Artu and 5 North Square. 

It is always nice to fill in the gaps so to speak. When Adam suggested we make use of the Christmas present his boss so generously gifted - I happily obliged - with expectations set neither high nor low, just somewhere in the middle.

Being a big fan and supporter of the blog, Adam's boss knew I would also appreciate this gift. (Thanks, Joe!) We entered into a tiny narrow space with worn red carpets underfoot and lights emitting a soft rust colored glow. The smells were tantalizing as home cooked Italian meals go, the room filled with comforting aromas of bubbling tomato sauce and warm bread. We were seated at the back table closest to the kitchen, up against a corner wall centered between one of the Tuscan style archways housing rows of wine bottles and Gvanni's signature pasta sauce. The rustic décor was charming, the chairs old and worn-in, the vibe cozy and intimate. I would imagine this is as close as it gets to dining in Italy. The hostess inched apart a four top to create a table for two. Moments later, another couple was seated next to us in such close proximity that we might as well have been on a double date. In all my experiences, three years of eating out in the traditional establishments that this neighborhood is known for, I have never been seated in such close proximity to another couple. I understand better than anyone, this style of dining comes with the territory. I believe certain (most?) restaurants do a great job of maintaining intimacy in small spaces, keeping in mind a couples privacy. This just didn't feel like one of those times.

{We'll get to the food. First note the table spacing.}

Add to that I was unsure why (early on a Monday night) the couple was not seated at the empty two top across the aisle, where I noticed coats stacked on one of the chairs. Despite our awkward seating situation, we were up for making the best of it. It didn't help that the aforementioned table across from us remained empty the duration of our meal. (I tried to reason in my head, it was clearly an advanced reservation. No dice. Apparently it was only reserved for for miscellaneous coats.) I will say, the way about which our waitress flawlessly slipped behind our neighbors backs to take our orders and deliver our food combined with her warm smile and genuine disposition served to minimize the feeling of invasiveness. The photo on my menu gave me a good laugh. (umm??) And our food?! Well here's where it gets good my friends, because the food was excellent; certainly up to par, not to mention the wine. Generous heaping portions were more expensive than we assumed. The average price of an entree clocks in at $25. We each drank a glass of the  House Cabernet ($9), full bodied and smooth with a liberal pour in large glasses.The standard loaf of bread was anything but, it came toasty warm and in unlimited supply. I inhaled half the roll with olive oil and used the other half to sop up the incredibly flavorful garlic butter broth in the Garlicky Steamed P.E.I Mussels ($13).

Then I requested another basket to do the same with the piping hot tomato sauce piled over my G'Vanni's Layered Meat Lasagna ($25). I rarely think to order lasagna so this was a real treat. The portion was huge, boasting layers of prosciutto, spinach and eggplant mingling with red sauce and fresh ricotta cheese. See below my lunch leftovers, which does justice to the dish with better lighting.

I swear this is the leftovers. I swear I ate at dinner! It looks just as large as the portion at the restaurant, but I definitely got through about half my entrée while there. The prosciutto in the first layer lent textural contrast with an incredibly salty kick that I embraced before the sautéed spinach greens and thinly sliced eggplant worked their way into the mix. The tender eggplant was delicious, but this is a prosciutto and spinach lovers lasagna for sure. The well portioned (read: lots) of mozzarella melted to form a thick blanket over the pastas surface. Adam's Chicken Parmesan ($20) and Side of Penne ($4) got the job done. He seems to order this traditional dish often and was pleased with the result. It was satisfying, comparable to the others. Living in close proximity for three years now, only to have a gift certificate finally coax me in, G'Vanni's food, service and décor spoke to me. The liberal portions of excellently prepared Italian dishes with well made house marinara sauce would please the most discerning of palates. The cramped dining situation, something I could have taken in graciously had there truly been a full house, didn't stand to impress. Next time, I'd make it a legitimate double date!

Nothing like keeping it traditional with dessert to-go in the form of a Modern Pastry mini cannoli.

The best! There's something about a crispy sweet shell hand filled with velvety ricotta custard dipped in chocolate chips and sprinkled with powdered sugar that follows up a hearty Italian meal in perfect form.

G'Vanni's Ristorante

2 Prince Street

Boston, MA 02213