Italian Dining with a view...

Date: April 4, 2009

Location: A very hip Downtown LA Loft (a.k.a. Bert and Diana’s home)

This past Saturday I had the true joy of cooking dinner for not one, but two very fabulous individuals…. Diana, whom I’ve known and been friends with since our high school days, and her wonderful significant other, Bert. The intention was to spend a comfy night at home and catch up…. And that we did. Of course, in this case "home" is a very sexy, contemporary Downtown LA Highrise condo... so the ambiance was undeniably fantastic!

 We started with great conversation and threw in a couple rounds of my Basil Lychee Martinis…. (SOOOO GOOOD! They are quickly becoming my favorite!!)

I planned the menu with D beforehand, and we had agreed on a Tuscan Italian 4 course meal. Fortunately for me, I have already made this dinner a few times in the past… and has always been a winner… so given the ease of the meal, I thought it would be perfect so that we could do an interactive dinner of sorts… and I was right…

We started with some Tuscan Stuffed Mushrooms. I had pre-made the stuffing at home so that we could just throw the mushrooms in the oven quickly. The mix is pretty much an equal mix of green olives, grated Pecorino Romano, roasted red peppers, shallots and scallions… a little olive oil… The recipe calls for jarred red peppers, but because I’m huge on freshness (and a bit of an overachiever…LOL) I roasted my own! The stuffing goes into crimini mushrooms and in the oven for 20 mins…. Place on serving plate and sprinkle with fresh chopped basil… your guests will love them, guaranteed!

 The second course was Wheat Fettucine with Shrimp, Arugula and Lemon Oil. A friend of mine who is an amazing cook, made this recipe for me a few months ago, and I was taken aback! There is a true freshness about this dish, though it is a pasta, (I stick with wheat pastas to try to keep it healthier), it is light and simple, but when cooked al dente, hardly ordinary. The lemon infused oil creates a light sauce on the pasta and this helps to create an extraordinary dish!

The third course was another favorite of mine… I like this so much that I make meal size portions for lunch on occasion, it is easy to prepare, but exceptionally delicious! This dish is the now infamous Tuscan White Bean/Tuna salad on Arugula. You mix a can of cannellini beans (rinsed) into a can of Yellowfin tuna (packed in olive oil), mix in some Red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. I drizzle some Extra Virgin Olive oil and toss into the Arugula, then serve the tuna on a bed of arugula. This may sound unusual, but it is always a hit! It compliments the pasta dish, as the arugula ties them in together.

A white wine is best paired with this meal, as it is light and complements the seafood well. We had a William-Hill Chardonnay (2005 reserve)… and though when it comes to a white wine, I tend to enjoy a Sauvignon Blanc, or my favorite, a Pinot Grigio… I must say this particular wine is amazing! Lighter than most Chardonnays, I will definitely be enjoying this one again in the very near future!

Great conversation was a huge part of this evening. Diana and Bert shared projects they had going on, as I shared my plans for culinary school in 2010. I must make special mention that Bert has a particularly wonderful project going on. Having survived cancer at a young age, he has chosen to give back to the world on a very positive note. He is the co-creator of a pilot for a show called “THE FEEL GOOD SHOW”… but because it is still in the beginning stages, I am very limited to the details I can divulge, however, I will keep you posted in future blogs about details on the show and the premise of the project… I do promise, you’ll love the concept, I did! 

After chatting up a storm and sharing great conversation… dessert was ready. I decided to go with another favorite, Berry Strata, which in essence is an Italian bread pudding. The beauty of this dish, is that you are required to prepare ahead, as the bread has to “marry” (or marinate, if you will), with the custard; so this makes it easy to pop into the oven so that it bakes as dinner is being enjoyed; frees the host/hostess to be a part of the dinner and conversation! The custard in this recipe is infused with orange and the berries are lightly mixed in over the mixture before you bake. We served “a la mode” with Vanilla ice cream… (as per Bert's request!) what a treat! I have managed to tweak this recipe over the last few times that I have made it, but it never disappoints! Always a crowd pleaser... and the leftovers... need I say?? :)

 On a side note...I will have to mention that all these recipes are available on Food Network.com. The original chef/creator was Giada de Laurentiis, of whom I am a huge fan. I have managed to put my own touch on every one of these, but with any recipe, a great cook will create their version from time to time. I do encourage you to visit this website and try some of these; all downloadable and user friendly!

(Except for the recipe for the fabulous martini... that was a creation of my own! So not giving Giada the credit for that one! LOL)

 Anyway, back to my evening! I must say that all in all the night was a huge hit! An evening with like-minded friends whose company you love, great drinks, amazing wine and a simply delicious dinner! MMMMM! Truly priceless! :)

Thanks Bert and Diana for being such gracious hosts and for the lovely company and overall memorable evening!! Looking forward to doing it again soon! :)