I guess Italian food is starting to grow on me. I always bitch about how it's my least favorite type of cuisine...how it really has to blow my socks off to elicit kudos...how it's not very exciting...blah, blah, blah. Yet, I keep eating and LIKING it. Maybe my mind is stuck in the Spaghetti Warehouse past of the 90's. I had an epiphany at Caffe Paradiso last night. I actually DO really like Italian food when it's done well. WTF...who knew??? 
It's tough to eff up fried cheese and Paradiso did this appetizer proud. Lightly breaded and beautifully presented on a puddle of tangy marinara sauce with anchovy accents, these guys were little works of culinary art that vanished in no time.
The Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon was also an excellent starter...everyone loved the sweet and salty combo of ripe, juicy melon enrobed with razor thin slices of dry-cured ham.
All of the entrees we tried were off the chain. UD ordered one of the specials which was veal ravioli with mushrooms in a cream sauce. I'm sure I'm not doing it justice with my description...but it was amazing. Does this look good? I thought so.
After having read online that the chef would whip up an off-the-menu lump crabmeat, white wine sauce and angel hair pasta dish on request, I tested that theory...with positive results. Maybe I use the word "orgasmic" too often in my blog, but if the shoe fits...
Dad ordered a verylovely Veal Scallopini, tender and perfectly breaded and fried, with more of the tangilicious marinara sauce we'd already come to love.
The psuedo-pescatarian Ms. Carole went with the grouper piccata, which tasted like it had just been pulled from the Gulf of Mexico and was accented with lemon sauce, chopped tomatoes and capers. The only complaint the folks had was that the mashed potatoes were served cold.
UD loves creme brulee more than life itself, so (despite bursting seams) there was no way he was leaving without ordering it. This proved to be an excellent choice. Wobbly, runny creme brulees make us both cranky...but this one was sheer perfection. It was creamy yet sturdy, and topped with a finely torched hard caramel crust.
I ordered mini cream puffs for dessert. Small and drizzled with chocolate sauce, they were a delightful sweet ending and ideal for sharing with the rest of the table.
I love you, Dad! Thank you guys for joining us last night...good times!
UD and I took his folks to the Most Precious and Oozing Beautiful, Well-Heeled People that is the south end of MacDill to check out Caffe Paradiso on the recommendation of one of his clients. This cozy little joint did not disappoint.
Let's get down to "bidness". The bread was fine...warm and crusty, but standard issue with no adornment available other than bottled olive oil. Cheese, herbs, SOMETHING would've turned the bread offering from "meh" to "marvy".
It's tough to eff up fried cheese and Paradiso did this appetizer proud. Lightly breaded and beautifully presented on a puddle of tangy marinara sauce with anchovy accents, these guys were little works of culinary art that vanished in no time.
The Prosciutto-Wrapped Melon was also an excellent starter...everyone loved the sweet and salty combo of ripe, juicy melon enrobed with razor thin slices of dry-cured ham.
All of the entrees we tried were off the chain. UD ordered one of the specials which was veal ravioli with mushrooms in a cream sauce. I'm sure I'm not doing it justice with my description...but it was amazing. Does this look good? I thought so.
After having read online that the chef would whip up an off-the-menu lump crabmeat, white wine sauce and angel hair pasta dish on request, I tested that theory...with positive results. Maybe I use the word "orgasmic" too often in my blog, but if the shoe fits...
Dad ordered a verylovely Veal Scallopini, tender and perfectly breaded and fried, with more of the tangilicious marinara sauce we'd already come to love.
The psuedo-pescatarian Ms. Carole went with the grouper piccata, which tasted like it had just been pulled from the Gulf of Mexico and was accented with lemon sauce, chopped tomatoes and capers. The only complaint the folks had was that the mashed potatoes were served cold.
UD loves creme brulee more than life itself, so (despite bursting seams) there was no way he was leaving without ordering it. This proved to be an excellent choice. Wobbly, runny creme brulees make us both cranky...but this one was sheer perfection. It was creamy yet sturdy, and topped with a finely torched hard caramel crust.
I ordered mini cream puffs for dessert. Small and drizzled with chocolate sauce, they were a delightful sweet ending and ideal for sharing with the rest of the table.
I love you, Dad! Thank you guys for joining us last night...good times!
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