and for dessert…
Basil panna cotta.
Fresh strawberry and plum garnish.
Topping of pistachios.
Sauce of nectarines.
@ Gabriella.
Dinner @ Gabriella
A succession of beautiful dishes arrived at our table at Gabrilla Cafe last Friday night, and some of our favorites turned out to be as delicious as they were good-looking.
After a salad of mixed butter lettuces, melon and hazelnuts we turned our attention to a split plate of housemade nettle tagliatelle pasta. A sensuous sauce of shellfish and Poblano peppers bathed the pasta, as well as bits of fresh calamari, sea bass, mussels, orange cherry tomatoes and slender ribbons of smoky poblano chiles.
A knockout dish.
Crisp Summer White
We are loving the oak-free finish and intricate interior of Ryan Beauregard’s 2009 Chardonnay “Metallique” — aged in stainless steel so that the heady grass, citrus and jalapeño oil varietal qualities of chard can reach forward.
Vibrant and refreshing, it’s available at Shoppers for a rock bottom $14.99. This one opens beautifully and is even better the second day.
a week in Milan
Now that I’ve been back for almost two weeks, the glow is beginning to fade. Milan’s architecture bears the legacy of northern European rulers, hence the faux Viennese appearance. Save for Leonardo’s justly famed Last Supper, (or il Cenacolo Vinciano) it hardly qualifies as a tourist destination. This means fewer tacky t-shirts and more resident Italians. Unless you’re continuing on up to Como and the enchanting lake district, you might never stumble across Milan.
Classy to the max, Milan was founded by Celts and made famous by Fendi, Ferrari, Armani and Zegna. Fashion rules here and designer eye candy is in full view 24/7. I was here to indulge in Wagner’s four-opera Ring cycle, performed at the elegant Teatro alla Scala in a seven day marathon. The Ring was performed at major opera houses all over the world this year in honor of the composer’s 200th birthday, but (more…)
Pascarosa Olive Oil
Former Santa Cruzans Catherine and Brian Faris fell in love with southern Italy many years ago. Many of us have done the same. But few of us have followed through and actually pulled up stakes, moved to Puglia, purchased an olive orchard, and proceeded to create a line of organic olive oils that give new meaning to the phrase “extra virgin.”
Pascarosa is the brand name of the latest Faris adventure. Named for a small village adjacent to the estate olive orchard, the olive oils—two styles, one lighter and 100% certified organic, the other richer, more complex, and made from olives grown under organic conditions—they are irresistibly delicious.
A lively tasting party two weeks ago at Soif Wine Bar gave locals a chance to see Catherine and Brian after many years absence, and also to sample the new oils accompanied by a few choice Italian wines stocked by Soif. The results were many sales and lots of oleoginous gossip. The attractively packaged oils in 16 oz. cans come with ingenious fastenings and a $19 – $25 pricetag. Our house salads love Pascarosa—currently available at Soif.
Inside the Flame
A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.