I recently spent a delightful evening of great food and conversation with some new friends, at a restaurant that was new to me, Firenze Osteria. (www.firenzeosteria.com). It's just minutes from Universal City, right on Lankershim Blvd. The decor is warm, contemporary and inviting. I particularly liked that the tables were not on top of each other. You could actually talk to your guests without the next table being part of your conversation.
You may remember executive chef and owner Fabio Viviani from the TV show Top Chef. He's charming, good looking, and a fabulous cook. He describes his cooking as Northern Italian comfort food. Fabio has been working in the food industry for most of his life, and his passion for food and expertise in the kitchen are showcased nightly at Firenze Osteria.
There were four of us on the night I ate there, which gave me a chance to sample several dishes. I will have to go back again and try others, as the menu is extensive. The menu is a mix of old and new, which I really like.
Starters include prociutto e melon, carpaccio de Manzo (beef carpacio with shaved parmesean), two old favorites, along with some more contemporary items, like tartara di manzo (filet mignon tartar), polenta con le quaglie (quail and polenta), and calamari e zucchini (fried calamari and zucchini) I shared a delicious cesare salad, complete with whole anchovies (which I love) and a crusty crostino. Carole had a soup of the day, a very hearty minestone with barley. Delicious and enough for a whole meal.
Firenze Osteria offers a light menu and a regular menu which health conscious people will appreciate. The light menu inclued skillet sole with sauteed cherry tomatoes and roasted vegetables, sesame encrusted ahi tuna steak with baby greens and several roasted vegetables, and whole wheat spaghetti, chicken breast with arugala, roasted cherry and sundried tomatoes, in a light pesto sauce.
I opted for the Pollo Arrosto, roasted chicken. It was one of the best roasted chickens I have ever had. Semi boneless, roasted to perfection with a crisp dark skin, but moist and juicy inside, it was heaven. It was served with roasted potatoes, again among the best I've ever eaten, roasted a long time so they were dark and crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside.
Others at my table enjoyed the ravioli di brasato, braised short rib ravioli. This was a beautiful dish of ravioli stuffed with braised short ribs, topped with a balsami reduction. It was so good. Many pasta dishes are aviaible, including penne with a rabbit ragu and black olives, lobster ravioli, risotto with carmelized fennel sausage and wild mushrooms and fettuccine bolognese. As you can see they mix long time favorites with new, contemporary ideas. I can't wait to go back and try some of these homemade pasta dishes.
We had some gelato with Creme de Menthe for dessert, which was light and refreshing, but they also offer cannoli, panna cotta, tiramisu and a flourless chocolate cake.
Firenze Osteria's goal is to make your experience a special one, and they have a unique way of doing so. If you reserve a special evening in advance, the chef will be available during the evening to help you plan your menu and talk to you about the food he is serving. It's a very nice experience for those wanting a special meal and special attention. The restaurant also offers occasional cooking classes, so check the website for information. Finally, chef Fabio has released his first cookbook, Cafe Firenze Cookbook, Mangia e Bevi. It is available at the restaurant.
Next time you're in North Hollywood and want to treat yourself to a fine dining experience, try Firenze Osteria. Great food in an inviting atmosphere, it's a place you'll want to come back to again and again.
No comments:
Post a Comment