Birthday Dinner @ Cavalli‏

After many months, and some bad press along the way... we made our way back
to an old haunt, Ristorante Cavalli. Being my mom's birthday and her favorite
restaurant… it was inevitable. So a little after 7:00, my dear mom, my sister
and I made our way back to that familiar, expansive entryway to the Food Porn
Palace.
There are definitely changes to the decor... more on that in the coming
month... but the first thing you notice… no more famous 'Pink bar', but
replaced by a more subdued version…. all dressed down and welcoming:
a perfect place to come in from the sweltering summer heat.
I was greeted like no time had passed (smiling) and MY regular, round table
was still in the same spot. In a matter of moments... I was sipping my glass
of Cabernet Sauvignon... and began to look at the updated menu. An added bonus…
the personnel was very similar... including executive chef Frank Gioffre...
who assured me I would sample a plethora of new appetizers.

And the dance of culinary delights began… a 'Beef tartar' with tomato,
olives, capers, shallot accompanied by zucchini fries. Light golden, slightly
battered, and oh so delicious. Then it was the always tangy 'Tuna sashimi'
with celery leaves, green olives, shallot, and spicy lemon and mayo capers.
Followed by a dish my sister raved about, 'Burrata and heirloom tomatoes
caprese' with figs, arugula, prosciutto crudo di Parma and grilled pine nut
focaccia... because she recently returned from a week in Paris where she
enjoyed that very dish at several bistros in the arrondissement where she
stayed.

The rest of the meal continued in the same manner: technically assured
cooking that typifies the simplicity of the Italian kitchen... like a main
course of 'Rack of lamb' with split pea puree, roasted carrots, sauteed
escarole, grilled banana pepper and feta salsa. Or the inspired 'Chilean
sea bass' on a bed of crab, cucumber and avocado salad, sticky rice, with
a Wasabi Tobiko Ginger/Coriander Emulsion. It was like sex on a plate!

'They say the measure of a great restaurant is in the consistency of
its dishes.' ~ ©Frank Borsellino

* From Where I Sit!
www.fromwhereisit.co
June 27, 2014

* Ristorante Cavalli
2042 Peel St.
Montreal, H3A 2R4
(514) 843-5100
www.ristorantecavalli.com