Spoletos in the heart of NOHO, MA

SPOLETOS

50 Main Street, Northampton, MA (413) 586-6313

Spoletos is a Northampton institution and the most expensive restaurant in town. This past weekend I ventured back to my alma mater for a meeting. But I was with some friends who were in NOHO for the first time. We decided to head to Spoletos for dinner.

One memorable dinner experience was when Nicole Kidman with then husband Tom Cruise was in town filming "Malice" with Bill Pullman and Alec Baldwin. I got her autograph and Tom's too (that night I had just gotten back from a long road trip from Philly.)

It was busy on Saturday night and our table of 4 was seated after half an hour wait. Our waitress was attentive and I always had my water glass filled and she asked to make sure if we wanted our more bread etc. She did give some great suggestions since there was a lot to choose from on the menu with strong recommendations for the Chicken Balsamico and the Black Peper Encrusted Duck.

We ended up getting the :

Saul's Mussels' (PEI Mussels cooked with lemon, capers, garlic butter, scallion, red chili pepper flakes, white wine and marinara served with garlic bread.)

Angel Hair Crab Cake (Crab cake served with a twist-chipotle pepper mayo)

Chicken Balsamico (Half boneless roast chicken served with roasted garlic mash, grilled portabello mushrooms, arugula and oven dried tomatoes with a balsamic demi glaze)

Black Peppercorn Encrusted Duck (fanned atop a herb parmesan risotto along with sauteed spinach and finished with a port-cardamon demi glaze)

Rainbow Trout (Farm raised Rainbow Trout cooked with lemon caper butter, juillened mixed vegetables served alongside some herb roasted potatoes)

The bread with olive oil was very good. Nice warm and crusty with lovely softness in the middle great for dipping sauces (olive oil and the mussels sauce too!). We enjoyed the hint of red chili flakes that added the intense kick to the marinara, garlicky broth that was delish! The crab cake was good but nothing special just one crab cake beautifully decorated with a good flavorful chipotle pepper mayo.

As for the entrees, our favorites were the duck and trout with the chicken coming in last. Though two waiters "supposedly" love love the chicken dish. Though it was delicious, it did not compare in taste to the trout and duck. It was a bit dry and all the good served had generous portions. Considered pricey for local area residences, for a Bostonian the costs, quality of food and quantity made Spoletos a great deal in my book. The balsamic demi glaze was intense, the grilled portabello mushrooms a dream alongside with a cannot fail garlic mash, the extra dry white meat knocked the dish down.

The rare duck meat fanned on the flavorful cheesy risotto was amazing! My friends thought the peppercorns enhanced the duck's flavor and the port-cardamon demi glaze added a nice hint of flavor. But another fave was the Rainbow trout, with the great julienned mixed veggies, flavor from the lemon and caper butter to have a great moistness and not be overly cooked or dry. This dish definitely held its own against the the other dishes.

Service--great

Food--very good

9 forks out of 10 forks

Rocca ---new Italian restaurant in the South End

In the newly developing and emerging art district in SOWA (South of Washington) art galleries and restaurants are emerging. One of them is Rocca on 500 Harrison Avenue (South End). I recently went with my friend and we nibbled on a few small plates of food. Portions are very small and not inexpensive but the quality of the food was fresh and well executed.

The space is nice with the bar at the bottom of the stairs, some nice out door seating but we went upstairs. There is a private events area that can be closed off. I had the house beer which was not bad. The bread was fine and the olive oil was lovely to dip our bread in. The prices were on the higher end and the portions miniscule in comparison the prices. A great places for just dabbling in the little plates but you will need a few of them to be satisfied.

Wild Mushroom Toasts with pecorino 5

Meatball Slider with provolone, fresh tomatoes & basil 6

Handrolled Trofie with pesto 10

Veal-Stuffed Zucchini with fresh tomato sauce 7

Cioccolata Bis chocolate ganache in a dark chocolate crust 7

(one not listed is the shrimp pasta dish)

Everything was great, from the earthiness of the mushrooms on the toasts, meatball slider with great sauce, the trofie and pesto (delicious), veal stuffed zucchini delicious and the pasta and shrimp lovely. The Cioccolata bis chocolate ganache was quality dark chocolate served with fresh whipped cream great to cut the chocolate's richness.

Service was great, location is not great (located in upcoming SOWA) my friend DW did not feel comfortable walking around as it was a bit far from places she knows. Space was beautiful, service attentative and they were trying to please as it just opened a few months ago.

I give it 9 forks out of 10 forks.

Domani Italian Bar and Trattoria -tasting menu

Last Wednesday, I hit Domani with my good friend Aud. I had met the Executive Chef Rene Michelena recently and thought him to be very cool. He actually won Food and Wine Magazines Best New Chef back in 1998 and has worked in our lovely nation's great restaurants including the luxurious Charlie Trotters in Chicago.

Entering the space, it is very cool and slick design. There is even a moped in one wall as part of the design. The open porch area is cool but it did get cooler as the night wore on. I decided to opt for the 4 course chef tasting menu. After inquiring with our waiter, I found out that it was actually five including the dessert. I wanted to say hello to Rene but he was not in and had the day off. I know how having a day off from work is SOOOO valuable! You treasure your time off from work! It is so important!

Anyways, we had a nice meal and the chef tastings menu was a deal at $50 for four courses (then the waiter shares it is actually five including the dessert). Our main waiter was very good who came over a few times and asked if we wanted to the door closed. See there are big open area and it was a cool night. We opted for it to stay open but it was nice to have great attention. There was one point, the host started moving our table then in the middle of moving our table asked if it was ok to do so. (Aud was not amused and thought it not well done of him). Otherwise, I had no problems with service.

Since I got the tasting menu, my friend would get her pasta dish after I had the first three courses of mine. (Usually not sold if not everyone is at the table getting it, but we were conducting a meeting so we were not in a rush.).

I was remiss in taking a pic of my caprese salad which was delicious! Cheese from Italy and the tomatoe and balsamic vineger etc were lovely. Following it, I got the ravoili with cheese truffle (very decadent) which was delicious! The texture of the pasta you can tell it is homemade! I am reminiscing the flavors the textures of the food I ate in Italy. YUMMY ! Next course, I had the indian spices rubbed salmon (not dry) but the fresh peas with roe accents were nice. The meat dish is the pork medallion over zucchini.

Dessert was the rhubarb shortcake. The fresh strawberries and cream were lapped up by moi. Unfortunately the rhubarb shortcake though lovely in taste was a bit on the "hard" side. I ended up not finishing it was TOO TOUGH!

I give the meal a 7 forks out of 10 forks because of the service (moving the table without informing us and the toughness of the rhubarb shortcake!).

Pomodoro in Brookline Village

BrSunday night, I met up with ALEE. It has been a while but she is a sweetie pie. I always love seeing her. She also went to a 7 sisters college as well. I just learned she went to her alma mater due to her parents. Cool chick and always great company.

This establishment also has another location in the North End and both do not take anything other than cold hard cash. My friend ALEE is on first name basis with the owner. Knowing the owner has its perks---glass of champagne (ok to lure us from our table to seat a party who had rsvped) or free appetizer of fried calamari. Yummy!

The bread was delicious and accompanied with the quality olives and olive oil, heaven! The nice chewiness and texture had a rustic feel to it. The calamari was just right lightly breaded and not overly greasy. The dipping tomato sauce was nice and thick with tomato chunks and not runny spaghetti sauce like sauce at other restuarants.

My seafood fra diavolo ($22) was a perfect blend of wi spicyiness and seafood chunks studding the dish with squid, clams, mussels, shrimp making it a heavenly dish. ALEE got the risotto with crab (got a pair of claws) ($22) and it was not overly done and great creaminess and the flavors were great. We did get dessert a trio of creme brulees ($8) in three tiny expresso mugs. Later we realized each one had a different fruit on the bottom (except for the middle one which was plain). The creamy texture and the nice hardened sugar crust was just right. Though in three small cups, it was a lot to have to consume.

Our drinks were good, I got a pomegrante martini ($8) which I thought was lovely. Not overly fruity but had enough bite of alcohol.

The restaurant space is definitely bigger than the North End location and much more inviting. I loved the exposed brick wall all around furnishings.

Sorelina---exciting new Back Bay Italian restaurant addition

Sorelina---exciting new Back Bay Italian restaurant addition

Recently I met up with two Smithie classmates whom I had not seen in a LONG LONG time. Both were roomies while we were at LAMONT HOUSE. It was a mini reunion and we celebrated (one is an ADA at Smith and the other a happily married wife in California. We headed out for an early dinner at the latest Italian restaurant in the BACK BAY to take the town by storm (after reading many positive reviews!).

Sorelina-one Huntington Avenue Boston MA 02116/ Phone (617) 412-460

Arancini --Crispy Jonah Crab riso ($15) This dish was great. The three lightly fried pieces were delectable on top of a tomato sauce. YUM! Plus the dish tasted surprisingly light and the service was attentive and wonderful. Our server was great and he gave wonderful advice. Verdure --green beans, sun choke, artichokes and black olive vinigrette ($13) My friend enjoyed this dish and it was very simple and refreshing. Insalata -market greens, bacon and creamy gargonzola ($12) the biggest starter of the three dishes and it was smothered in the smoky gargonzola dressing but still good with the crispy bacon giving the greens a nice kick of flavor.

Macheroncelli (half portion $14) two American Kobe beef meat balls, barolo sauce and percorino tuscano Both myself and Priya got this one. The portion was just right and the noodles were homemade and big, the sauce was wonderful (I used my bread to sop up the sauce). The two meatballs were delicious and decent sized. You could tell the meat had a nice flavor. Capellini (half portion $12) --baccala (salted cod fish), tomatoes, olive oil and sea salt This dish was surprising as there was a nice spicy kick to it. I thought it lovely.

Amarene Cherry -Chocolate Torta and Chocolate Marsala Zabaglione ($10) and Limincello-Citrus Tiramisu ($10) and Pineapple "today's special dessert" baked in a phyllo pastry $10
All the desserts were good. The Chocolate torte was not too dense or overly sweet. The pineapple dessert was a good balance of sweet and my dessert I would not call necessarily a tiramisu. I liked the flavors alot but sometimes after a few bites seemed a bit sweet though the lemony tartness saved it.