La Tagliata – Part 2
We must have had quite the overwhelmed look on our faces because the couple sitting next to us were almost finishing up their meal. The gentlemen leaned over to speak to Trenton and he said with a deep Scottish accent, (Yoos might as well hold on ’ cause there is loads more food coming". With the antipasto out of the way and the warning from the Scottish couple, we were treated to a brief rest from the dining while our next course would be served. We welcomed the respite and reveled in the view and the wine. However, soon we would experience another amazing treat, because now it was time for our pasta course. We didn’t receive just one pasta dish – no we received 4 different types of pasta. 1) Gnocchi in a mild red sauce, 2) a course noodle (it looked like a tube shape pasta that had been cut lengthwise, served with a zucchini based sauce, 3) ravioli with a savory mushroom sauce and 4) “Mama’s Special Pasta”, a ricotta stuffed pasta. It was made with a large square piece of pasta then stuffed and folded (like a burrito) and then covered with a creamy red marinara typo sauce and then covered with cheese. Although, Elisa could only have the Gnocchi she did sneak a taste of each of them. Each of the pasta dishes were once again amazing. Our pasta course was again concluded with a brief rest. This time our enjoyment of the view was now enhanced with the performance of 2 musicians, one on an accordion and the other playing a large tambourine. They played traditional Napolitano songs and music. It was thrilling.
After a few songs, which we all would participate in clapping in time – except for me that is – I was clapping but unfortunately not in time; I’m horrible at that, we would now experience our main course – the “Prima Piatti”. First, potatoes and salad were brought to the table followed by a huge platter of different grilled meats. The meats included beef, sausage, lamb, rabbit, pork and some skewers (shish-kabobs). Each of the meets were grilled perfectly. Carolyn couldn’t bring herself to try the rabbit – since they have a pet rabbit at home. Trent on the other hand dove right in and decided that he really likes rabbit, to which Carolyn told him not to get any ideas about their bunny. I liked everything. Italian grilled meats are a bit different than the way some other cultures do their grilling. Each of the meats is only lightly seasoned and then delicately grilled to slightly above medium-rare and slightly below medium. They like the flavor of the meat to be the dominant flavor of the dish. It was fantastic. The beef and lamb were tender and tasty. There was scarcely any room on our plates for the potatoes and salad. Miraculously we made a serious dent in the main course.
We were then treated to another round of singing and dancing from the Italian duo. This time around they encouraged audience participation with clapping, dancing and one lucky diner got to join the band playing an odd Napolitano instrument. With the music out of the way, now it was time for desert. Once again, we didn’t receive just one type of desert we received 4 different deserts; each an Italian specialty. The first were 1) small profiteroles smothered in a dark chocolate sauce, 2) a rum Baba cake – a delicate sponge cake smothered in rum and whipped cream), 3) an almond cake made with almond paste and 4) a dessert that none of us recognized – it has a white doughy consistency (like moochie). The texture of this last one was odd but it was also delicious.
Finally, the last course of the meal was the “digestivo” after dinner drinks that included a high alcohol beverage made from pomegranates and an ariancello. Both were very potent but they served as the perfect sedative for our trek back down the mountain to our hotel. Our driver was in a slightly smaller van than the one that brought us up, so the ride down in the pitch black of night didn’t seem to be quite as thrilling as the ride up. Perhaps its because in the darkness we just couldn’t see how close we came to death flying around each curve.
With the evening concluded, we all determined that this by far was our best meal yet on our trip to Italy. The food, service and entertainment were authentic and we felt like we were guests in the home of an Italian family. The absolute topper to this amazing and fantastic meal was the price. When we arrived, we were not greeted with menus, nor were we told the price; the food simply started coming and coming and coming. The price per meal (less servicing) was only 40Euro/person. This included 2 bottles of wine. It was quite the treat.
So remember, if you are in the Amalfi Coast area do check out La Tagliata.
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