While visiting my local family, I wanted to take them to dinner, as they had been providing me with homemade meals all week long. My parents and cousin in the states had eaten at La m=Macina (the Millstone) many times and had recommended it. Daniele, the owner of the hotel I was staying in (highly recommend as well-just next door at the Palazzo Ducale) , said the same, and took me over to introduce me to the owner, Filippo Balsano.
I wanted a family style dinner so that no one felt uncomfortable ordering off the menu. Filippo suggested the following menu and at a very reasonable price for 8 guests.
For antipasti (starters), we had:
1. La caponata di carciofi, a sicilian caponata with artichoke
2. Il Crostone di terra, a crostini topped with buffalo milk stracciatella, nduja
spice, and sautéed turnip greens.
3. Patata in cocotte, a bubbling hot dish of potatoes, porcini mushrooms,
guanciale (pork cheek-used in carbonara) and parmesan fondue.
Everyone loved the three but the potato dish was out of this world.
For our Prima piatto (First course), we had Pappardella alla zucca rossa, which was handmade pappardelle pasta noodles with porcini mushrooms, smoked provolone, tossed a red pumpkin sauce that was to die for.
For our Secundo piatto (Second Course), we had calamari fritte, fried calamari, as I had asked specifically for this.
For dessert, we had two offerings: a homemade semifreddo with a hot chocolate sauce and to be honest, as I had not asked for a second dessert choice (but a guest asked the server), they brought out what I think was Ricordi di tiramisù, a "memory of tiramisù" that was more of a deconstructed chocolate biscuit with marscapone and coffee spumone.
There was copious amounts of gorgeous, delicious food. There was so much food that I was glad we had two hungry growing teens as they helped ensure everything got eaten.
The service was exceptional as was the decor and the table setting. We had delicious Nero d'Avolo (they offered white as well, but everyone wanted red) and sodas, mineral water as needed and desired. There was even a digestivo at the end.
This was a 3 hour meal well worth every penny. What was really sweet, was that the owner knew my local cousin and was pleasantly surprised to see him; he said to me, in Italian, "you told me your family name and there are many in the area, but you didn't tell me it was THIS family and my good friend!"
The food and the ambience are exceptional and as this will not be my only trip "home," I will spend more time eating here in the future. read more