I'm off for an Italian meal tonight, the night before my 10K race tomorrow at Bedgebury National Forest. Going to Piccolino, one of the less-ubiquitous Italian restaurant chains in the UK. Obviously, like a good little runner, I have been preparing by stuffing my face with all things starchy.
A bowl full of fresh cantaloupe and natural yogurt, with sunflower seeds.
Lunch today was jacket potato with cheese and lots of salad.
For dinner, I'm not so sure. Here's the menu [pdf]. Now, obviously I'm thinking pasta, though I'd like to have a pasta dish that's not too incredibly heavy.
So I'm thinking perhaps the linguine with king prawns, garlic, chilli and courgettes. I like the sound of the fusilli with smoked salmon, but it also has asparagus, and that is just NOT in season.
And no wine. But maybe a dessert, if I'm still hungry. I need the fuel, after all! Wish me luck.
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UPDATE: I went for the linguine with prawns, garlic, chilli and courgettes in the end. I was glad I went for the lighter option, because it was quite heavy on its own. I'm sure there was loads of butter in it - my arteries were struggling to keep up. My husband had the veal piccata with spaghetti. Not sure I'd go back again, though it was very convenient. Now, for the post-race eating...
Showing posts with label italian restaurants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label italian restaurants. Show all posts
Friday, 11 September 2009
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
the village italian
I had dinner last night at a little Italian restaurant in the village of Stock , about 45 minutes outside London . Nestled in a quiet little village, Pietro’s is quite sweet. Its Italian chef came to England in 1978, where he has been working in the industry ever since, until he decided to settle into his own place, the old tearooms in Stock.
Dinner was well executed, with fresh produce and classic, simple and seasonal flavours. For the starter course, my antipasto misto con carciofini e olive, an antipasti plate with fresh buffalo mozzarella rolled with parma ham and rocket, served with green olives and fresh tomatoes, was excellent. The quality of the tomatoes completely set the dish apart.
My companions ordered starters as well: a first course of tagliatelle Bolognese and Gamberoni alla meridionale, or tiger prawns cooked in butter, garlic, chilli, parsley and white wine. The size of the prawns was particularly impressive.
As it was a cold, drizzly night, I went straight for warming pasta as my main course: tortellini stuffed with spinach and ricotta with a sage and butter sauce. It was slightly dry, though too much butter would have been equally distressing. More sage would have improved the dish further.
Also ordered were the veal chops with a side of risotto and swordfish meuniere. The veal was decent, though my companion suffered the fate of many who have ordered risotto at restaurants only to have it delivered just undercooked. Both mains were served with steamed vegetables, cauliflower cheese and roasted potatoes. The swordfish was excellently cooked, however and is likely one of the chef’s star dishes.
A respectable establishment that I would easily return to. The starters and fish were the highlights, without question, though the white wine, a Frescati, was superb as well.
Pietro’s Restaurant, 20 The Square, Stock, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 9LH. Tel: 01277 829772
Dinner was well executed, with fresh produce and classic, simple and seasonal flavours. For the starter course, my antipasto misto con carciofini e olive, an antipasti plate with fresh buffalo mozzarella rolled with parma ham and rocket, served with green olives and fresh tomatoes, was excellent. The quality of the tomatoes completely set the dish apart.
My companions ordered starters as well: a first course of tagliatelle Bolognese and Gamberoni alla meridionale, or tiger prawns cooked in butter, garlic, chilli, parsley and white wine. The size of the prawns was particularly impressive.
As it was a cold, drizzly night, I went straight for warming pasta as my main course: tortellini stuffed with spinach and ricotta with a sage and butter sauce. It was slightly dry, though too much butter would have been equally distressing. More sage would have improved the dish further.
Also ordered were the veal chops with a side of risotto and swordfish meuniere. The veal was decent, though my companion suffered the fate of many who have ordered risotto at restaurants only to have it delivered just undercooked. Both mains were served with steamed vegetables, cauliflower cheese and roasted potatoes. The swordfish was excellently cooked, however and is likely one of the chef’s star dishes.
A respectable establishment that I would easily return to. The starters and fish were the highlights, without question, though the white wine, a Frescati, was superb as well.
Pietro’s Restaurant, 20 The Square, Stock, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 9LH. Tel: 01277 829772
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
rainy night dinners out 6/27
Are you picking up a motif here?
Drip, drip, drip. It shouldn't be this cold and wet at the end of June. But it is, and it's depressing. And I just didn't feel like cooking tonight. Something about the constant deluge of rain made me want to run for shelter and have dinner served to me.
Unfortunately, the nearest shelter was Ask, the chainy Italian. The food wasn't bad (MUCH better than Pizza Express), but the staff at the Warren Street Ask were abrupt and sometimes rude. One couple were even so put off they left before ordering.
Despite that, we ate well. I had the insalate - baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushroom, avocado, parmesan and croutons. Definitely a good healthy option at a place like this.
I must confess, my main course was not quite so healthy - quattro formaggi pizza. But I do love it - it's a guilty pleasure. Five years ago on a trip to Rome, I had the quattro formaggi so many times I lost count. Ask's version wasn't quite as enticing, but nonetheless the mixture of salty gorgonzola with creamy mascarpone, a crumbly taleggio and the classic grana padano was enough for me. I did pour glugs of chilli oil on top for an added zing.
All in all, not worth the money. Better chain Italians - Prezzo and Zizzi. Zizzi is my favourite - their crayfish, mascarpone and lemon oil pizza is divine.
Drip, drip, drip. It shouldn't be this cold and wet at the end of June. But it is, and it's depressing. And I just didn't feel like cooking tonight. Something about the constant deluge of rain made me want to run for shelter and have dinner served to me.
Unfortunately, the nearest shelter was Ask, the chainy Italian. The food wasn't bad (MUCH better than Pizza Express), but the staff at the Warren Street Ask were abrupt and sometimes rude. One couple were even so put off they left before ordering.
Despite that, we ate well. I had the insalate - baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushroom, avocado, parmesan and croutons. Definitely a good healthy option at a place like this.
I must confess, my main course was not quite so healthy - quattro formaggi pizza. But I do love it - it's a guilty pleasure. Five years ago on a trip to Rome, I had the quattro formaggi so many times I lost count. Ask's version wasn't quite as enticing, but nonetheless the mixture of salty gorgonzola with creamy mascarpone, a crumbly taleggio and the classic grana padano was enough for me. I did pour glugs of chilli oil on top for an added zing.
All in all, not worth the money. Better chain Italians - Prezzo and Zizzi. Zizzi is my favourite - their crayfish, mascarpone and lemon oil pizza is divine.
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