Before we left the USA this past weekend for 8 weeks Down Under, we returned to Vienna, VA and one of our most favorite places to dine, Roberto's. It's rally more like having a meal with family when Roberto's charming and welcoming wife, Nancy, is at the door and immediately brings over prosecco to the table to make us feel at home.
Our first wine is a standard here which we now have in our cellar at home as well-Manincor "La Manina" from the Dolomites with a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc. It was super with my Cappellacci di Zucca, magnificent large "ravioli" stuffed with butternut squash in a divine sage, butter, black truffle and parmesan sauce. Insalata di Rucola was not a big hit with our friends, but they loved the Funghi al Forno with local mushrooms, spinach, pesto and polenta in a garlic sauce. The Lobster & Crab salad here is a real winner in a beautiful timbale with avocado, parmesan and cheese dressing.
The bread is always a treat, and we were lucky enough to get a little take-away bag to enjoy those cheese rolls for breakfast the next day, not to mention the yummy peppery breadsticks.
We moved on to another yummy Dolomite wine from Alto Adige, a Falkenstein 2018 Pinot Nero and after that our wonderful server Sara suggested the fabulous "Il Bacciale" 2018 from Braida, a full bodied Monferrato Rosso that we all adored.
Main courses were Calamarata which is a wonderful seafood stew of Shrimp, Mussels, Squid, Maine lobster all poached in tomato sauce; Cinque Buchi al Ragu Siciliano is a unique 5-hole rigatoni with a Sicilian meat ragu of pork ribs, pork shoulder and sausage that will fill your up for sure. The whole roasted Branzino comes fileted with salsa verde with basil, anchovies and garlic and sauteed spinach and was a huge and my Anatra Con i Fichi was a perfectly cooked Mullard duck breast served with potato pave, spinach, carrots and a divine fig port sauce.
We were all so full we agreed to share one dessert between the four of us, but I failed to write it down. Photos as always on FB. We are in Australia now where the food is amazing!
--
