Providence En Voyage #2: The Amalfi Coast…
This week, Chef Cimarusti takes us to the Amalfi coast, home region to Providence’s General Manager, the ever-charming and always affable Donato Poto. There, in the bucolic milling town of Vico Equense, sits a restaurant called La Torre Del Saracino. It was there that Chef Cimarusti was served on of the most comforting dishes he’s ever had: A simple pasta mista with seafood from the local fishermen. The simple and cozy joy of this local specialty is what I also got to enjoy this evening in this special take-out meal.
Unpacking: Here is the line-up, straight out of the bag…
Mise en place…
First Course - Crudo di Pesce: Hiramasa (young Japanese yellowtail), Maldon salt, greens, California olive, and citrus dressing… The citrus really plays up the qualities of the yellowtail here. This crudo served as a bright and meaningful intro to the meal.
Entrée - Pasta Mista al Frutti di Mare: Truffle Brothers mixed fresh pasta made with cuttlefish ink, Santa Barbara spot prawn, Manila clams, mussels, Santa Barbara uni, local squid, firefly squid, Maine lobster, basil, tomato soffritto (made by stewing all the shells and bits of seafood parts)… Served with semolina focaccia, this pasta and bread combo was fun to heat up and plate out. And the taste was out-of-this world! Both the pasta and the broth were imbued with all that goodness the sea has to offer. The tomato seafood broth was full of interesting character. Marvelous!
Dessert - Tiramisù, with Sfogliatella… Donato says “You can’t get more Italian than tiramisù!” And what a lovely one it was! The espresso-laden lady fingers, whipped mascarpone cream, shaved chocolate and cocoa powder, all in perfect harmony. (Not pictured: Espresso…)
Grazie mille!