This year, I have had some amazing meals throughout my travels, near and far.
Most of the time, when I talk about food, it's usually about an entire dining experience, which takes into consideration the food, the atmosphere, the service and the pricing.
But for this little little ditty, I want to focus strictly on the food and specifically on one culinary genre - Italian! I've composed a list of my Top 5 Italian meals during 2015 and here it is!!
5) Calogeros Restaurant
919 Franklin Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
www.calogerosgardencity.com
Menu
A beautifully renovated restaurant on Long Island, Calogeros was our dinner choice for Mother's Day this year. I started with the Pera mesclun greens, poached pears, prosiutto di parma, gorgonzola, candied walnuts, port wine vinaigrette (without the prosciutto and cheese - I know, I change everything). I'm usually not a huge fan of mesclun greens, but these were fresh and yummy. The port wine vinaigrette was light and mixed well with the greens.
I chose the Penne Alla Vodka for my main course and I couldn't have been happier. One of my biggest pet peeves when eating pasta out is when it is served overcooked and tastes pasty.
This was not the case at Calogeros! My penne was cooked to perfection and utterly delectable and I was happily accommodated with no prosciutto.
Dessert was decadent and devine. And although I partook in the tiramisu, I ate it way too fast because it was deelish, forgetting to snap a photo. However, I tasted the tartufo, which was to die for as well!
For full review CLICK HERE
Most of the time, when I talk about food, it's usually about an entire dining experience, which takes into consideration the food, the atmosphere, the service and the pricing.
But for this little little ditty, I want to focus strictly on the food and specifically on one culinary genre - Italian! I've composed a list of my Top 5 Italian meals during 2015 and here it is!!
5) Calogeros Restaurant
919 Franklin Avenue
Garden City, NY 11530
www.calogerosgardencity.com
Menu
A beautifully renovated restaurant on Long Island, Calogeros was our dinner choice for Mother's Day this year. I started with the Pera mesclun greens, poached pears, prosiutto di parma, gorgonzola, candied walnuts, port wine vinaigrette (without the prosciutto and cheese - I know, I change everything). I'm usually not a huge fan of mesclun greens, but these were fresh and yummy. The port wine vinaigrette was light and mixed well with the greens.
I chose the Penne Alla Vodka for my main course and I couldn't have been happier. One of my biggest pet peeves when eating pasta out is when it is served overcooked and tastes pasty.
This was not the case at Calogeros! My penne was cooked to perfection and utterly delectable and I was happily accommodated with no prosciutto.
Dessert was decadent and devine. And although I partook in the tiramisu, I ate it way too fast because it was deelish, forgetting to snap a photo. However, I tasted the tartufo, which was to die for as well!
For full review CLICK HERE
Mother's Day 2015 (me and Rebecca, my oldest)
 PENNE A LA VODKA |  TARTUFO |
4)Bond 45
154 W 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-869-4545
www.bond45.com
Menu
With an amazing antipasto table and a selection of homemade pastas, my meal consisted of both! My selection of three items from the extensive Antipasto table included Baked Tuscan Kale and Cannellini Beans; Zucchini Parmesan and Fava Beans and Pecorino Cheese Toscano.
I also couldn't resist trying the House Specialty, Roman Fried Artichokes Alla Giudea. These were fabulous, as were the other appetizers!!
For my main course, the Pesto Ravioli Grandi Alla Brando was my choice. The Ravioli was filled with ricotta, arugula, spinach and pecorino. Usually, I find pesto sauces very heavy, but this was rather light and so very tasty!
For full review, CLICK HERE.
 APPETIZER TABLE |  PESTO RAVIOLI GRANDI ALL BRANDO |
3) Azalea Restaurant
224 West 51st (between Broadway & 7th)
New York, NY 10019
212-262-0105
www.azalearistorantenyc.com
Menu
With a wonderfully eclectic atmosphere in the theatre district, Azalea also happens to be one of my favorite NYC restaurants. I ordered the spinach ravioli, which was homemade - filled to perfection with the right amount of ricotta-spinach mixture in these homemade pasta pillows!
My daughter, Kelsey, who never tries anything (but does enjoy plain, cheese ravioli), asked if she could taste the spinach ravioli as I was eating! This is a kid who will not eat anything green!
Something about these particular "ravs" just appealed to her and she decided to taste them without the usual coaxing and begging. After one bite - she was in love!! I had mixed feelings about her new discovery. In the end, she tried a new food, which was fantastic; but now, I had to share my dish with her, which by the way was the lightest spinach ravioli I have ever eaten!
Dessert was just as wonderful, as I ordered the Tiramisu and it was heavenly.
For full review CLICK HERE.
 SPINACH RAVIOLI |  TIRAMISU |
2) BECCO
355 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-397-7597
www.becco-nyc.com
Menus
One of my all-time favorite New York City restaurants is Becco on Restaurant Row on West 46th Street owned by celebrity chef and restauranteur, Lidia Bastianich. This meal was exceptional from start to finish!
I started my eating fest with the white bean spread doused with olive oil and assorted olives. Combined with the bread, this could have been a meal in itself. Ashamed to say, me and my dining partner, my sister, Danielle, indulged on a second helping of bread - goodbye waistline!
We decided to "split" a salad to satisfy our obligation to be healthy, yet still leave room for more. The salad of kale, pine nuts, currants and shaved Grana Padana was delectable and the dressing was so light, complementing the bitterness of the kale but not overpowering the crunchy green.
Becco is famous for their mid course featuring three pastas of the day. The day I dined, they featured Rigatoni with tomato and basil, Fresh Fettucini with Broccoli in an oil and garlic sauce and Mushroom Ravioli in a creamy, savory mushroom sauce. So good!
For the main course, it was "splitsies" again - this time with two different chicken dishes - the Pollo al Limone - sautéed boneless, chicken breast with lemon, Cerignola olives, Selina caper berries and sautéed baby spinach and the Parmigiana de Pollo con Grana Padano - pan fried, breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Grana Padano.
Who would have thought I would have any room for dessert, but I did - a refreshing trio of sorbet!!
For the full review CLICK HERE.
355 West 46th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-397-7597
www.becco-nyc.com
Menus
One of my all-time favorite New York City restaurants is Becco on Restaurant Row on West 46th Street owned by celebrity chef and restauranteur, Lidia Bastianich. This meal was exceptional from start to finish!
I started my eating fest with the white bean spread doused with olive oil and assorted olives. Combined with the bread, this could have been a meal in itself. Ashamed to say, me and my dining partner, my sister, Danielle, indulged on a second helping of bread - goodbye waistline!
We decided to "split" a salad to satisfy our obligation to be healthy, yet still leave room for more. The salad of kale, pine nuts, currants and shaved Grana Padana was delectable and the dressing was so light, complementing the bitterness of the kale but not overpowering the crunchy green.
Becco is famous for their mid course featuring three pastas of the day. The day I dined, they featured Rigatoni with tomato and basil, Fresh Fettucini with Broccoli in an oil and garlic sauce and Mushroom Ravioli in a creamy, savory mushroom sauce. So good!
For the main course, it was "splitsies" again - this time with two different chicken dishes - the Pollo al Limone - sautéed boneless, chicken breast with lemon, Cerignola olives, Selina caper berries and sautéed baby spinach and the Parmigiana de Pollo con Grana Padano - pan fried, breaded chicken breast topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Grana Padano.
Who would have thought I would have any room for dessert, but I did - a refreshing trio of sorbet!!
For the full review CLICK HERE.
A BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION LUNCH - ME AND MY SISTER, DANIELLE
 HOME MADE BREAD  PASTA TRI OF RIGATONI WITH TOMATO & BASIL, MUSHROOM RAVIOLI, FRESH FETTUCINI WITH BROCCOLI  POLLO AL LIMONE |  WHITE BEAN SPREAD AND OLIVES  SALAD OF KALE, PINE NUTS, CURRANTS AND SHAVED GRANA PADANA  SORBET TRIO |
1) Scarlatto Restaurant & Bar
250 West 47th Street
(Between Broadway & 8th Avenue)
New York, NY 10036
212-730-4535
www.scarlattonyc.com
Menus
Making a choice about my favorite meal was not easy. All of the above restaurants are amazing and the food I enjoyed while dining at each establishment was exquisite and memorable.
However, when a dish is so unforgettable that you can taste it long after eating it, that is the way to know your favorite meal.
My recent visit to Scarlatto in New York City's theatre district, served me just that kind of dish! The Pumpkin Ravioli was beyond a shadow of a doubt, the best Italian meal I have had all year and quite frankly, one of the best to date!
These little homemade pasta pillows were so incredible - from the filling of pumpkin and ricotta, which was sweet and savory, to the pasta itself which was cooked to complete perfection. The sage butter sauce was filled with chopped asparagus and crispy sage leaves that was seasoned just right.
This was, by far, the best pumpkin ravioli I have ever tasted! My mouth is watering just thinking about this dish!
For full review CLICK HERE.
PUMPKIN RAVIOLI IN SAGE BUTTER SAUCE AT SCARLATTO - #1 ITALIAN MEAL OF 2015
Here's to more great meals!!!
-Elisa
-Elisa
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