Anniversary Dinner at Marea

Today marks our one year wedding anniversary! Was it really a year ago that we said, “I do?” This also means that one year ago we were jetting off to Italy for two weeks. I would give anything to be back there.

…but since that is not currently an option, I’ll share a story instead.

Halfway through our trip, we arrived at Cinque Terre (for more on these coastal towns, see here).

If you enjoy hiking or laying out on a beach with breathtaking views, this might be the place for you. If, however, you prefer eating delicious foods, you should probs go elsewhere.

We are the latter. After walking around the town and “hiking” over to dinner, we settled in at a small seafood restaurant, Il Porticciolo.

The food was nothing stellar. In fact, it was mostly forgettable. I went with a small whole sea bass, prepared simply with roasted veggies, while John got cioppino (fish stew) with calamari, clams, some fish, and one langoustine (kind of a cross between a shrimp and a lobster).

As a general unspoken rule, we always share our food. He’ll take a few bites from my plate, and I’ll take the better bites from his. If I order something that I don’t love, we switch. These are simple rules, people! Given that John had a variety of seafood on his plate, it was only fitting that I receive one bite of each item.

And I did. With the exception of the langoustine, which he greedily devoured without so much as a glance in my direction.

Unbelievable, right?! For the rest of our trip (and perhaps, occasionally throughout the year), I’d bring this up and remind him how he stole my one bite of langoustine. How I was robbed of a once-in-a-lifetime seafood experience at his expense! My (over)reaction is usually met with an amused smile and a halfhearted apology. Continue reading Anniversary Dinner at Marea

Parm

I’m a firm believer in eating your vegetables. Asparagus, spinach, broccoli… I love them all.

I especially love when my veggies are fried and covered with cheese and marinara sauce.

During a recent craving for eggplant parm, John and I headed to NoLita to check out Parm. This small restaurant hails from the owner’s of next door’s Torrisi Italian Specialties, an institution for gourmet Italian food. Unlike Torrisi (where a six-course meal is the norm), Parm is more of a sandwich and lunch shop. They’re serving traditional Italian-American fare (mozzarella sticks, pizza knots, baked ziti), but the real stars of the show are their parmesan sandwiches.

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Scarpetta

If you’re searching for a transcendent dining experience, look no further. I’m here to tell you that in NYC’s Meatpacking District lies one of the finest Italian restaurants I’ve ever been to. Continue reading Scarpetta

Nica Trattoria

The UES’s Nica Trattoria is the epitome of “neighborhood gem.” The first time my then-boyfriend and I walked past the small restaurant, we checked out the menu and decided, “Sure, why not?” Waiting to greet us as we walked inside was owner and Italian aficionado, Giuseppe Nicolosi. In his thick Sicilian accent he told us they were completely full for the next few hours — there are approximately 20 seats in the restaurant, and the average meal lasts at least an hour — but he urged us to come back. Stepping foot into Nica was the happiest accident we’ve ever made.

*Photo take from http://www.uppereast.com/nica-trattoria

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