Ornella's Corzetti, Pork Osso Bucco and More

What I love about Ornella so much is that they never cease to reinvent themselves, always thinking up new, exciting dishes that are firmly rooted in Italy.  The last time I was there with my mom, I tried a couple of new things that still aren't officially on the menu, but will be soon. And let me tell you, one was more delicious than the next.

Corzetti Pasta - My favorite dish of the night, unsurprisingly, was fresh pasta called Corzetti.  Originating in Liguria (Northwest Italy) it's made by stamping out circle shapes with a special stamp that also has imprints for the pasta's interior.  Not only do these imprints make the Corzetti look spectacular, they also enable the sauce to stick to the pasta, thus making it richer and more flavorful.  Ornella used a traditional cream pesto sauce for the Corzetti, which worked very well.  It was incredibly flavorful and so filling that it could satisfy as an entree.

Mixed Steamed Seafood - My mom and I shared a big helping of seafood, steamed in a foil envelope.  Cooked in a simple tomato and white wine sauce, it gave the seafood just enough flavor without overpowering it.  You can distinctly taste the fresh out-of-the-sea deliciousness of the mussels, clams, calamari and the tilapia that served as a soft bed for all the crustaceans. Yum!

Pork Osso Bucco - Giuseppe, Ornella's co-owner was excited to serve us a non-traditional take on Osso Bucco, which was made with pork.  When most of us think of this dish, it's undoubtedly with veal in mind.  Giuseppe explained how he likes to take an unpopular part of an animal and make it look and taste attractive, which he did with the pork.  Both my mom and I marveled at how soft and succulent the pork was, cooked down into delicate meat that separated beautifully from the bone.  Like any good Osso Bucco, this one also rested on a bed of creamy risotto, prepared Milanese style with parmesan cheese, butter and onions.  I'd confidently call this dish a show-stopper.

Ask about these amazing specialties or some of their others such as the imbustata, chesnut pasta, gnocchi with gorgonzola dolce sauce and much more.

Ornella Trattoria Italiana - 29-17 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
718.777.9477
N/Q Train to Ditmars
www.ornellatrattoria.com

Michael Angelo's Sophisticated, and Always-Classy Sophia Loren Pizza

After countless raves about the greatness of Micheal Angelo's Pizzeria from friends, Meg and Tom, it was evident that I was clearly missing out on something spectacular.  Both friends are usually spot on when it comes to good food, that I was somewhat disappointed in myself that  I still hadn't tried it.  Well they finally fixed that and I thank them profusely. 

As you can see from the above picture, we ordered Michael Angelo's Sophia Loren thin-crust pizza this weekend, and let me tell you, it didn't stay in the box for long.  Next time we'll have to account for seconds (and thirds).

Sophia Loren Thin-Crust Pizza - A very classic, sophisticated yet simple pizza pie, not unlike Sophia Loren herself, this pizza was topped with only the best quality ingredients such as fresh mozzarella, tears of fresh basil, tomato sauce and thin tomato slices too.  The thin-crust dough was perfectly crispy near the crust, but soft enough to bend in the middle.  Each bite was perfect and felt super light - I didn't get a weighed down feeling I sometimes get when I indulge in store-bought pizza.  The spices were just spot on, not too strong but still packed with flavor.  I think this is a great option for traditionalists and pizza connoisseurs alike.

Cost:
All these amazing ingredients come at a premium, as their small Sophia Loren will set you back $10.75, while the large one is a whopping $19.50.  So worth it though!

3 Mmmms

Michael Angelo's Pizzeria - 29-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
718.932.2096
N/Q Train to Ditmars Blvd
www.michaelangelospizzeriaastoria.com

Vesta's Thanksgiving Menu is Here

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought I'd start rolling out some helpful info about restaurants that will be running specials.  One such neighborhood darling, which is extending a celebratory menu for this holiday is Vesta.  In addition to being a big fan of this restaurant myself, I've never heard any complaints from friends or readers. 

I hope you enjoy their special Thanksgiving menu and give them a try, whether if that's with close family, friends or with your special someone.

Vesta's Thanskgiving Menu:

Appetizers:

Caramelized Onion Soup - Grana Padano croutons, parsley...$7

Roasted Butternut, Acorn & Pumpkin Soup - Vincotto & pumpkin seeds...$8

Charred Apple Salad frisee - Radicchio, arugula, & endive lettuce, candied pecans...$8

Prince Edward Island Mussels roasted fennel, potato & tomato...$9
Fudge Farms Short Ribs - Sweet potato puree, roasted shallots and prunes...$10

Pizze:

(Vesta's thin crust pizza can also be prepared with whole wheat dough for $ 2.00 extra)

Margherita...$12

Potato, pancetta, caramelized onions, apple & goat cheese...$13

Yukon potato, provolone, Grana Padano, truffle oil & parsley...$15

Blue cheese, caramelized red onion, & tomato...$13

Entrees:

Ravioli (open faced) - Sausage, potato, pumpkin puree & sage bechamel...$15

Roasted Turkey Breast - Mashed potato, cranberry sauce & cornbread stuffing...$19

Gnocchetti Sardi - Toasted garlic, cauliflower, cheddar cheese, tomato & seasoned bread crumbs...$13

Roasted Cod - Lemon butter, roasted potato, cipollini, pearl onions & leeks...$24

Grass Fed Rib Eye - Braised greens & roasted tomato garlic sauce...$25

Dessert:

Pumpkin Pie - With pecan shortbread, cranberry caramel & spiced whipped cream...$6.50

Chocolate Ganache Tart - With salted caramel peanuts and whipped cream...$6.50

La torta del piccolo bambino Gesu christo (aka Baby Jesus Cake)...$6.50

Vesta - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
718.545.5550
N/W Train to 30th Avenue
www.vestavino.com

Ornella's Sweet Reinventions Never Cease to Amaze

Last weekend, Dan and I had a lovely dinner with friends, Meg and Tom at one of our all time favorite Italian spots, Ornella.  For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know how much I care for their homemade pasta dishes, which are renditions of regional delicacies straight from Italy.  I'm always impressed when co-owner Giuseppe rattles off a plethora of new items they've added to the menu and the unique story behind each one of them.  So in addition to eating like kings and queens every time we visit Ornella, we also receive an interesting history lesson on Italian culture and cuisine.  What more can you ask for?

Here are some of the new and wonderful delicacies that we're still thinking about:

Appetizers:
We ordered a couple of starters for the table, including the burrata and prosciutto special, the zuppa di pesce as well as gnocchi Gorgonzola.  We haven't had the first two yet at Ornella but the gnocchi was a repeat order.  I'm happy to say that it's gotten even better than the last time we ordered it.  The gnocchi recipe has come a long way from torpedo-shaped pieces with little ridges, to soft, smooth, pillowy bits of heaven.  They're a lot lighter now and together with the sweet-tangy cheese (they use Gorgonzola dolce instead of the sharp) they just melt in your mouth.  It has to be said that Dan and Tom who normally don't even look at Gorgonzola, devoured this.

The burrata was soft as cream and quite wonderful when paired with the smoky prosciutto.  I like that it came with a generous helping of arugula, which gave it nice pepperiness.

As for the zuppa di pesce...well just look at it.  The presentation was really lovely, with a round piece of toasty bread, nestled on top of a round bowl, topped with a baked clam.  Its contents were so fresh - luscious pieces of seafood such as mussels, clams, calamari, shrimp and more. A true mixture of seafood goodness!

Entrees:
Ornella's menu is quite diverse and that's why we each went for something completely different.  Meg had her favorite, chestnut pasta, Tom went for the short ribs and gnocchi special, Dan got the traditional chicken parm and I tried a vegetarian risotto dish.  We also indulged by receiving a fifith entree, our all time favorite Imbustata (a pasta envelope filled with mushrooms, veal, chicken, mozzarella, spinach, mascarpone cheese - simply...the works).

Out of all these dishes, I loved Tom's short ribs the most.  The tender meat was slow cooked in a 70 year aged wine from Giuseppe and Ornella's private family stash.  I thought this was super cool and we were given a little whiff of the pungent liquid, straight from the bottle.  If you happen to be there on a night they feature this dish, I'd highly recommend it.

I liked my vegetarian plate of risotto too, which was enhanced by pieces of bitter radicchio, sweet chunks of pears and salty, sharp Gorgonzola.  It was just delicious and very, very filling. I can confidently say that I didn't miss the meat at all.

Dessert:
Surprised in a good way, we received an entire dessert platter of Ornella's signature desserts and some new ones too.  I'll only talk about the latter here and they included an unusual but really delicious eggplant cake as well as a lemon custard cake.

For adventurous and curious palates, I highly recommend the eggplant cake. It has an interesting texture and tastes wonderfully refreshing.  And just so you know, it's not all eggplant--what makes it a true Italian dessert is the rich ricotta, mascarpone cheese as well as chocolate. YUM!

The lemon custard cake is perfect for the summer, sporting a sunshine yellow color.  The taste is clean and refreshing and overall it's a light way to end your meal.

Service and Cost:
The service at Ornella is always second to none. As I already explained, not only do you get welcoming, personal treatment, you also get a helpful history lesson. It's really wonderful to see the passion behind each menu item and how much owners, Giuseppe and Ornella enjoy what they do.

We paid about $60 per couple for the aforementioned meal including tax and tip.  The dessert and the extra entree were on the house.

3 Passionate Mmmms

Ornella Trattoria Italiana
29-17 23rd Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
718.777.9477
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)
www.ornellatrattoria.com

It's a Pasta Fest at Da Franco's

 

Last night, the Joey in Astoria girls, Meg, Mackenzi and I, dined at Da Franco Ristorante.  We had a delightful meal with plenty of fresh veggies, homemade focaccia bread, pasta, and even a Nutella pizza.  I'll shed more light on our experience next week, but in the meantime, I wanted to let you know about a great pasta special they're featuring on weekdays. 

It's called their weekly "Pasta Fest" and it includes 3 dishes and wine for $19.95 per person. I'd call that a steal, and for the quality of food you get, I think it's one of the best deals in town, especially if you love homemade Italian food.  Here are the deets:

Da Franco's Pasta Fest: Monday - Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

$19.95 per person

Includes:

Fresh baked focaccia (pictured above)

House salad

Glass of red or white wine

And...choice of one of the following pastas:

Ravioli Al Pomodoro - Homemade spinach, cheese or meat ravioli served in tomato sauce

Rigatoni All'Matriciana - Rigatoni pasta with pancetta, onions, Pecorino Romano in a light tomato sauce

Penne Alla Bolognese - Penne pasta served in a bolognese meat sauce

Orecchiette Alla Barese - Homemade orecchiette pasta sauteed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil, broccoli rabe and pork sausage

The special is running from now until the end of the month.  I hope that you enjoy it.

Da Franco - 23-92 21st Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.267.0010
N/W Train to Astoria Blvd
www.dafrancoitalianrestaurant.com

Sac's Place - Holiday Specials Now Until January

Sac's Place, the long-time pizza and Italian food staple in Astoria is giving back this holiday season by offering customers great specials from now until just after the new year (January 3rd).  Whatever the day of the week, stop in for one of these enticing deals:

Monday: Free live music
Tuesday: Up to 3 free toppings on any pizza (in-house dining only)
Wednesday: 20% off of every item on the menu (in-house dining only)
Thursday: Free sampling of Sac’s estate wines and one free glass of your choice with any entrée. Not a wine drinker? Enjoy Sac’s ½ price Martinis all night.
Sat/Sun: Italian Holiday Brunch with a Free Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini or Iced Tea cocktail

Sac's Place - 25-41 Broadway, Astoria 11106
718.204.5002
N/W Train to Broadway
www.sacsplace.com