Anna Bolena Met Opera HD Live
The Met wows us again in a spectacular performance. I was thrilled from the first note of the orchestra and loved every minute of this spectacular performance.
Anna Netrebko was the star in her performance of Anne Boleyn, the doomed wife of King Henry. Her voice is superb and as an actor she was flawless.
In fact every performer was first rate. The sets were minimal and it allowed your attention to fully focus on the performance.
The music by Donizetti was splendid and the chorus was at its best.
It is an emotional story. I found myself rooting for Anne Boleyn throughout hoping there would be a different ending.
Her former lover, Percy was brilliantly sung by Stephen Costello.
I always enjoy the interviews during the intermission. The costume designer explained her historic research to make the costumes authentic. Stars in the performance are interviewed.
It is amazing to get a first hand look behind the scenes. Those paying high prices in New York do not have some of the advantages of the film production.
I purchase tickets for the whole series at one time. You can opt to buy for a single performance or for several. Most operas are probably sold out by this time. Try to plan ahead. There is always an encore production. If you have never been you owe it to yourself to have this amazing experience. The best of the Metropolitan Opera Company is transferred live by satellite. Over 30 countries around the world watch the same performance at the same time. In my opinion it is the best value for a cultural experience.
I’m actually upset that I am missing the next two operas because of a wedding in Israel. Shame on me. I will try to see the encore productions.
This was one of the better operas. I am still haunted by the dramatic ending as Anne Boleyn goes forward to meet her executioner. It doesn’t get much more dramatic than that.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Fishbar
Fishbar 217 Ossington Ave 647 340 0227
Ossington Ave is the hottest street in town. Fishbar is the new kid on the block and so exciting and fresh. William Tavares is a creative genius. He is not formally trained and yet he has the street smarts and the creativity to make Fishbar a big success.
It is appealing the minute you enter the premise. The brick exposed walls at the front give a warmth and blend with the wooden floors. The walls at the back are a deep grey color. One wall has 8 convex circular mirrors suspended on the wall. The seating along one wall features wooden church pews. The bare Edison light bulbs are an example of Tavares’s ingenuity.
The menu suggests you dine tapas style and encourages sharing. The portions are not large so you can freely enjoy several items from the menu. The main thing is the food is ocean wise. In chatting with Tavares I was so impressed with his business integrity and philosophy of serving food. Working along with Tavares is a well seasoned staff that hails from some of the top restaurants in the city. Even the business card is creative. The skeleton of a fish graces the card. I am guessing we are to presume that some happy client enjoyed the total flesh of the fish. Local seasonal food dominates the menu.
Oysters are a specialty. The featured oysters of the evening are listed on a blackboard. A Seasonal Platter offers oysters, cocktail crab claws, peel n’ eat shrimp, fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce and fresh lemon.($22.00 per person). You might choose to begin with Steelhead Trout Fille Rillette with house made pickles and crostini.($8.00) Blueberry Smoked Salmon is served with a chevre mousse and wild blueberries.($8.00) Cold appetizers also balance the menu. Baby Arugula is offered with botarga pickled mushrooms and ramp vinaigrette.($9.00) Wild Caught Shrimp Cocktail is a favorite with the Mississippi bottom horseradish cocktail sauce.(15.00))
I saw Swordfish ($!7.00) on the menu and went into ecstacy. This fish is not often offered. The grilled swordfish is harpoon caught and served with sautéed peppers. The fish literally melted in my mouth. It was perfectly delicious.
I ordered a side of Ontario Green Beans.($6.00) Imagine getting excited with green beans. They were crisp and perfectly cooked. The butter tarragon sauce with slivered almonds made this a delicious choice. My dining companion was elated with the Grilled Sardine. ($10.00) I didn’t know a sardine could be so large. It was served with salsa verde and fresh baby arugula. She also chose the Pan Seared Arctic Char with grilled potato and basil.($17.00)
The food is beautifully plated. All the senses come to play with this creative gourmet food.
Ossington Ave is the hottest street in town. Fishbar is the new kid on the block and so exciting and fresh. William Tavares is a creative genius. He is not formally trained and yet he has the street smarts and the creativity to make Fishbar a big success.
It is appealing the minute you enter the premise. The brick exposed walls at the front give a warmth and blend with the wooden floors. The walls at the back are a deep grey color. One wall has 8 convex circular mirrors suspended on the wall. The seating along one wall features wooden church pews. The bare Edison light bulbs are an example of Tavares’s ingenuity.
The menu suggests you dine tapas style and encourages sharing. The portions are not large so you can freely enjoy several items from the menu. The main thing is the food is ocean wise. In chatting with Tavares I was so impressed with his business integrity and philosophy of serving food. Working along with Tavares is a well seasoned staff that hails from some of the top restaurants in the city. Even the business card is creative. The skeleton of a fish graces the card. I am guessing we are to presume that some happy client enjoyed the total flesh of the fish. Local seasonal food dominates the menu.
Oysters are a specialty. The featured oysters of the evening are listed on a blackboard. A Seasonal Platter offers oysters, cocktail crab claws, peel n’ eat shrimp, fresh horseradish, cocktail sauce and fresh lemon.($22.00 per person). You might choose to begin with Steelhead Trout Fille Rillette with house made pickles and crostini.($8.00) Blueberry Smoked Salmon is served with a chevre mousse and wild blueberries.($8.00) Cold appetizers also balance the menu. Baby Arugula is offered with botarga pickled mushrooms and ramp vinaigrette.($9.00) Wild Caught Shrimp Cocktail is a favorite with the Mississippi bottom horseradish cocktail sauce.(15.00))
I saw Swordfish ($!7.00) on the menu and went into ecstacy. This fish is not often offered. The grilled swordfish is harpoon caught and served with sautéed peppers. The fish literally melted in my mouth. It was perfectly delicious.
I ordered a side of Ontario Green Beans.($6.00) Imagine getting excited with green beans. They were crisp and perfectly cooked. The butter tarragon sauce with slivered almonds made this a delicious choice. My dining companion was elated with the Grilled Sardine. ($10.00) I didn’t know a sardine could be so large. It was served with salsa verde and fresh baby arugula. She also chose the Pan Seared Arctic Char with grilled potato and basil.($17.00)
The food is beautifully plated. All the senses come to play with this creative gourmet food.
The Ides of March
The Ides Of March
I am a political junkie. Everyday there is so much to devour in local, national and international politics. People are getting angry and the disfavor with politicians is reaching epic proportions. I was interested in the film because of the topic. It’s a story about a governor fighting his rival in the primaries to become the candidate for President of the United States. Initially he is a man of integrity and high values. That is until things change.
The all star cast is amazing. Each actor performs his part to perfection. I believe that Ryan Gosling is the real star. He plays the part of Steve working in a high level position to help the Democratic Governor Mike Morris’s get elected. He works long hours and never seems to take his focus from his work.
Governor Morris is played by George Clooney. At the beginning of the film he is charming, sincere, dedicated and above all full of integrity with the highest values.
Steve has a working relationship with a reporter. She tells him,” Mike Morris is a politician. He is a nice guy. Sooner or later he’ll let you down.” That almost becomes the key to the rest of the story.
Steve works directly under the campaign manager played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Steve neglects to tell his boss that he has been propositioned for a job by the manager of the opposing candidate. Paul Giamatti is superb as the opposition manager.
What a cast! There is suspense, sex, intrigue, slander and blackmail.
Steve uncovers a deep dark secret. Things begin to unravel. He finds himself without a job. The opposition doesn’t want him anymore. The intrigue and dirty dealings are so believable.
Of course there has to be sexual undercurrents and this evolves into a major part of the story. It won’t surprise you to learn that a young intern gets herself into trouble. When will they ever learn?
I sat on the edge of my seat. I was fascinated. I kept hoping that the handsome intelligent Democratic candidate would win in an honorable way. I guess politics just doesn’t operate that way.
I am a political junkie. Everyday there is so much to devour in local, national and international politics. People are getting angry and the disfavor with politicians is reaching epic proportions. I was interested in the film because of the topic. It’s a story about a governor fighting his rival in the primaries to become the candidate for President of the United States. Initially he is a man of integrity and high values. That is until things change.
The all star cast is amazing. Each actor performs his part to perfection. I believe that Ryan Gosling is the real star. He plays the part of Steve working in a high level position to help the Democratic Governor Mike Morris’s get elected. He works long hours and never seems to take his focus from his work.
Governor Morris is played by George Clooney. At the beginning of the film he is charming, sincere, dedicated and above all full of integrity with the highest values.
Steve has a working relationship with a reporter. She tells him,” Mike Morris is a politician. He is a nice guy. Sooner or later he’ll let you down.” That almost becomes the key to the rest of the story.
Steve works directly under the campaign manager played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Steve neglects to tell his boss that he has been propositioned for a job by the manager of the opposing candidate. Paul Giamatti is superb as the opposition manager.
What a cast! There is suspense, sex, intrigue, slander and blackmail.
Steve uncovers a deep dark secret. Things begin to unravel. He finds himself without a job. The opposition doesn’t want him anymore. The intrigue and dirty dealings are so believable.
Of course there has to be sexual undercurrents and this evolves into a major part of the story. It won’t surprise you to learn that a young intern gets herself into trouble. When will they ever learn?
I sat on the edge of my seat. I was fascinated. I kept hoping that the handsome intelligent Democratic candidate would win in an honorable way. I guess politics just doesn’t operate that way.
Rapido
Rapido 1089 Bathurst St at Dupont 416 535 3500
There are different reasons for going out to dine. On some occasions I welcome dressing up and experiencing a high end gourmet restaurant. I equally enjoy a relaxed home style atmosphere wearing my old dungarees.
Rapido is an interesting concept. Marco is mainly a caterer Santaguida Fine Foods is his creation established at 966 Bathurst St and can be reached at 416 918 9674. A reliable source tells me the catered food is outstanding. The restaurant is across the road from the catering establishment and is open from 8:00a.m.until 4:00. p.m.
My friend Shelly recommended Rapido for a light delicious lunch. I jumped into my car and we both set out for an adventure. (For me a new place and for her a return visit.)The large kitchen at the back is so functional and charming. It is completely open. The enormous sky light offers warmth and light. In fact the last table is right beside the stove. You could actually reach out and stir the soup. On this occasion two large pots of Turkey Soup and Squash Soup were bubbling away. The exposed brick wall makes for a homey atmosphere. One wall of plants adds a garden atmosphere. A large wooden block table is in the middle and obviously all the preparations take place here. Outside at the back is an inviting garden with tables and chairs. It was great to chat with Marco, chef /owner. He told us how much he loves his job, his kitchen and his work. It showed with his charming smile.
Jars of home made preserved peppers are on sale at the front counter. My friend purchased two jars of the sautéed peppers. I couldn’t resist the Biscotti.($2.00) There are several flavors. I opted for the poppy seed biscotti. I had just finished a big lunch and couldn’t even wait until I reached the car. In fact it was all gone before I crossed the road. I love biscotti and these were the best. I felt better when Shelly also devoured hers immediately.
The home made Pizzas are very flavorful. There was a lot of fresh tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. It was also topped with grilled kale. The slice was a generous portion. We both enjoyed our lunch. She also opted for the home made Turkey Soup and said it was so full of flavor. Soup is offered at $5.95 for a bowl.
You can have a combination of soup and salad or Soup and Panini. for $9.95.
The paninis are displayed in a cooler. They will happily grill them for you. The Paninis are enormous in size. Turkey, Chicken & Brie, Veggie, roast Beef, Corned Beef and Tuna are all available. Fresh salads are also on display. You can enjoy one salad for $5.25 or have a sampler plate of several for $9.95 The Vegetable Medley is prepared with purple potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower. The Asian Noodles is a composition of egg based noodles in Hosein Sauce with sesame seeds and mixed veggies. The Pesto Salad comes with tomatoes and cucumbers in a tasty pest sauce.
My friend Shelly told me she has used Marco’s catering for several parties and highly recommends his service and food. He came to her house and provided all that was necessary for a successful delicious cocktail party.
This is such a friendly spot. Drop by for coffee and a Muffin or a Home Made Sweet. Have a lunch or light snack. The atmosphere is relaxing. I was made to feel very much at home. We then strolled on Bathurst St just south of Dupont. I was amazed at the number of restaurants and clothing boutiques. This is obviously a neighborhood in transition. What fun!
There are different reasons for going out to dine. On some occasions I welcome dressing up and experiencing a high end gourmet restaurant. I equally enjoy a relaxed home style atmosphere wearing my old dungarees.
Rapido is an interesting concept. Marco is mainly a caterer Santaguida Fine Foods is his creation established at 966 Bathurst St and can be reached at 416 918 9674. A reliable source tells me the catered food is outstanding. The restaurant is across the road from the catering establishment and is open from 8:00a.m.until 4:00. p.m.
My friend Shelly recommended Rapido for a light delicious lunch. I jumped into my car and we both set out for an adventure. (For me a new place and for her a return visit.)The large kitchen at the back is so functional and charming. It is completely open. The enormous sky light offers warmth and light. In fact the last table is right beside the stove. You could actually reach out and stir the soup. On this occasion two large pots of Turkey Soup and Squash Soup were bubbling away. The exposed brick wall makes for a homey atmosphere. One wall of plants adds a garden atmosphere. A large wooden block table is in the middle and obviously all the preparations take place here. Outside at the back is an inviting garden with tables and chairs. It was great to chat with Marco, chef /owner. He told us how much he loves his job, his kitchen and his work. It showed with his charming smile.
Jars of home made preserved peppers are on sale at the front counter. My friend purchased two jars of the sautéed peppers. I couldn’t resist the Biscotti.($2.00) There are several flavors. I opted for the poppy seed biscotti. I had just finished a big lunch and couldn’t even wait until I reached the car. In fact it was all gone before I crossed the road. I love biscotti and these were the best. I felt better when Shelly also devoured hers immediately.
The home made Pizzas are very flavorful. There was a lot of fresh tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. It was also topped with grilled kale. The slice was a generous portion. We both enjoyed our lunch. She also opted for the home made Turkey Soup and said it was so full of flavor. Soup is offered at $5.95 for a bowl.
You can have a combination of soup and salad or Soup and Panini. for $9.95.
The paninis are displayed in a cooler. They will happily grill them for you. The Paninis are enormous in size. Turkey, Chicken & Brie, Veggie, roast Beef, Corned Beef and Tuna are all available. Fresh salads are also on display. You can enjoy one salad for $5.25 or have a sampler plate of several for $9.95 The Vegetable Medley is prepared with purple potatoes, broccoli, and cauliflower. The Asian Noodles is a composition of egg based noodles in Hosein Sauce with sesame seeds and mixed veggies. The Pesto Salad comes with tomatoes and cucumbers in a tasty pest sauce.
My friend Shelly told me she has used Marco’s catering for several parties and highly recommends his service and food. He came to her house and provided all that was necessary for a successful delicious cocktail party.
This is such a friendly spot. Drop by for coffee and a Muffin or a Home Made Sweet. Have a lunch or light snack. The atmosphere is relaxing. I was made to feel very much at home. We then strolled on Bathurst St just south of Dupont. I was amazed at the number of restaurants and clothing boutiques. This is obviously a neighborhood in transition. What fun!
Gamberoni
Gamberoni 3238 Yonge St 416 482 3063
Many years ago the servers were opera students and would sing opera arias while serving the clients. The food has always been great. The music was an added touch. I haven’t been at Gamberoni for a few years now.
My daughter-in-law had a knee replacement and walking is a painful difficult task. They live in the Lawrence Yonge area. She needed an outing especially to celebrate their anniversary.
It is always busy but comfortable and not too noisy. The menu is extensive and offers so many wonderful Italian specialties. The black board lists the daily specials. A printed card also informs you of daily specials. I find the service efficient and friendly. The food is wonderful and the prices are very fair.
We started by sharing a Caesar Salad ($7.95). We all commented on the crisp romaine lettuce. The creamy dressing was very tasty. We ate it all immediately. We also devoured a basket of tasty crunchy bread enhanced with a fine olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
My daughter-in-law told me she has always enjoyed the Shrimp Diavola. ($17.95) We both ordered it. A large portion of spaghetti in a tasty garlic tomato sauce was presented. The shrimp were mildly spicy and so flavorful. It was a real treat.
My son ordered the Veal Medaglioni.($19.95) It is prepared with a red wine, mushroom and cream sauce. The veal was tender and he loved the sauce. We did consider the Eggplant Parmigiana ($14.95) but decided that would wait for a future visit. Pasta comes in every shape and form and there are a variety of sauces.
Rigatone Pastore features mushrooms, pink sauce and ricotta cheese.($14.95) Linguine Gamberoni features scallops, shrimp with olive oil and garlic.($18.95)
Fresh fish is available at market price. Salmon and Red Snapper were the specialties on this occasion. All main courses include pasta and vegetables.
The Tartufo was a delicious conclusion to our celebration.
Gamberoni has been around for many years. It is a neighborhood institution. It was so lovely to return to a favorite place after many years and enjoy every aspect of the visit.
Many years ago the servers were opera students and would sing opera arias while serving the clients. The food has always been great. The music was an added touch. I haven’t been at Gamberoni for a few years now.
My daughter-in-law had a knee replacement and walking is a painful difficult task. They live in the Lawrence Yonge area. She needed an outing especially to celebrate their anniversary.
It is always busy but comfortable and not too noisy. The menu is extensive and offers so many wonderful Italian specialties. The black board lists the daily specials. A printed card also informs you of daily specials. I find the service efficient and friendly. The food is wonderful and the prices are very fair.
We started by sharing a Caesar Salad ($7.95). We all commented on the crisp romaine lettuce. The creamy dressing was very tasty. We ate it all immediately. We also devoured a basket of tasty crunchy bread enhanced with a fine olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
My daughter-in-law told me she has always enjoyed the Shrimp Diavola. ($17.95) We both ordered it. A large portion of spaghetti in a tasty garlic tomato sauce was presented. The shrimp were mildly spicy and so flavorful. It was a real treat.
My son ordered the Veal Medaglioni.($19.95) It is prepared with a red wine, mushroom and cream sauce. The veal was tender and he loved the sauce. We did consider the Eggplant Parmigiana ($14.95) but decided that would wait for a future visit. Pasta comes in every shape and form and there are a variety of sauces.
Rigatone Pastore features mushrooms, pink sauce and ricotta cheese.($14.95) Linguine Gamberoni features scallops, shrimp with olive oil and garlic.($18.95)
Fresh fish is available at market price. Salmon and Red Snapper were the specialties on this occasion. All main courses include pasta and vegetables.
The Tartufo was a delicious conclusion to our celebration.
Gamberoni has been around for many years. It is a neighborhood institution. It was so lovely to return to a favorite place after many years and enjoy every aspect of the visit.
Margaret
Margaret
Lisa is a very intense seductive teenager. She goes to a private school. She lives with her stage actor mother and younger brother .Mother cares about her children but is never home. Her job requires her to work in the evenings. Lisa can ‘fly off the handle’ at anything. She is often loud and speaks her mind. She is flirtatious beyond her years. In many ways she is more mature than her classmates and in other ways she is still a young kid. She wears her skirt so short (really short) and thinks nothing of being flirtatious with the boys in her class as well as her teachers. Anna Paquin plays the role of Lisa. She is the total picture and quite amazing.
I did enjoy the classroom scenes. There are several discussions amongst the students on political topics. The discussions are a reflection of what is happening throughout the world. One young girl is from Syria and she has a different perspective on the Arab population from many of the other students. Lisa and the Arab student have very strong screaming matches. They get into fights on the Middle East situation as well as yelling out their opinion about terrorists. The students sit in a circle and the discussions are loud and fearful.
The classroom situation seems rather informal at times. Matt Damon has a small role as the math teacher. He isn’t on the screen for a long time but his relationship with Lisa is very powerful. We see Lisa at her most flirtatious self and view the teacher as weak and not taking charge. Mathew Broderick is the English teacher. He reads a poem to the class. It is this poem that gives the title to the film. (Very obscure)
Lisa flirts with a bus driver on her way home from school. He is actually driving and she runs after the bus calling out to him. There is an accident and a woman is killed. Lisa cradles the dying woman in her arms. Initially Lisa lies to the police and tells them the light was green when the bus crossed the road.
She is troubled by the accident and by her lying. It all begins to affect her behavior. She gets into constant fights with her mother. She yells out at the students during discussion in class. She does drugs and tempts several of the young boys. We witness her first sexual encounter.
She realizes that she has made a mistake and tries to locate the dead woman’s family. Lisa goes to the police to give her latest version of the accident and tries to get the driver fired.
The story is about the trauma in Lisa’s life and how she goes about trying to repair the damage to her soul as well as the family of the dead woman.
It is an excellent cast. I found the story very upsetting. It is certainly not a feel good story but I did have to admire the production.
Lisa is a very intense seductive teenager. She goes to a private school. She lives with her stage actor mother and younger brother .Mother cares about her children but is never home. Her job requires her to work in the evenings. Lisa can ‘fly off the handle’ at anything. She is often loud and speaks her mind. She is flirtatious beyond her years. In many ways she is more mature than her classmates and in other ways she is still a young kid. She wears her skirt so short (really short) and thinks nothing of being flirtatious with the boys in her class as well as her teachers. Anna Paquin plays the role of Lisa. She is the total picture and quite amazing.
I did enjoy the classroom scenes. There are several discussions amongst the students on political topics. The discussions are a reflection of what is happening throughout the world. One young girl is from Syria and she has a different perspective on the Arab population from many of the other students. Lisa and the Arab student have very strong screaming matches. They get into fights on the Middle East situation as well as yelling out their opinion about terrorists. The students sit in a circle and the discussions are loud and fearful.
The classroom situation seems rather informal at times. Matt Damon has a small role as the math teacher. He isn’t on the screen for a long time but his relationship with Lisa is very powerful. We see Lisa at her most flirtatious self and view the teacher as weak and not taking charge. Mathew Broderick is the English teacher. He reads a poem to the class. It is this poem that gives the title to the film. (Very obscure)
Lisa flirts with a bus driver on her way home from school. He is actually driving and she runs after the bus calling out to him. There is an accident and a woman is killed. Lisa cradles the dying woman in her arms. Initially Lisa lies to the police and tells them the light was green when the bus crossed the road.
She is troubled by the accident and by her lying. It all begins to affect her behavior. She gets into constant fights with her mother. She yells out at the students during discussion in class. She does drugs and tempts several of the young boys. We witness her first sexual encounter.
She realizes that she has made a mistake and tries to locate the dead woman’s family. Lisa goes to the police to give her latest version of the accident and tries to get the driver fired.
The story is about the trauma in Lisa’s life and how she goes about trying to repair the damage to her soul as well as the family of the dead woman.
It is an excellent cast. I found the story very upsetting. It is certainly not a feel good story but I did have to admire the production.
Black Skirt
Black Skirt 974 College St (at Dovercourt) 416 532 7424
A gem! A winner! A great new find!
Black Skirt is named after the grandmothers in Sicily who wear black clothes in memory of loved ones. Agata Decina and Rosa Galle are the owners and chefs. They are not professionally trained in Sicilian culinary art but practice the recipes handed down by their family and friends, Trust me. They know how to cook in the Sicilian style
This is one bustling place. You have to have a reservation. The front of the restaurant houses two large tables. Both were full with a large group. The long bar takes up one side of the restaurant. The other side of the room houses large wooden cupboards and shelves filled with exotic goodies from Sicily. A variety of canned of vegetables. flour, pastas, olive oil and condiments offers great ideas for gifts. Fresh prepared foods and cheeses are also available for take out.
We enjoyed viewing the operations of the open kitchen while waiting for our food to be prepared. We also did a lot of chatting back and forth. What a perfect combination for an evening, great company and superb food,
This is such a friendly place. Kit, our server, was very busy but was so willing to answer all our questions. Apparently the restaurant has only been opened since January. It was packed and apparently it is always crowded. There is a buzz in the air.
Three friends were dining on this occasion. We were starving and ready for a feast. We shared two salads. They arrived in an enormous white bowl. Each salad was sufficient for 4 persons. The Arugula Salad ($6.95) was lightly refreshed with tasty vinaigrette. Shavings of delicious cheese enhanced the peppery taste of the fresh greens. The Beet and Spinach Salad ($8.95) was also totally enjoyed. The greens tasted as if they had just been picked. The beets had been roasted and were perched on the side of the bowl.
While enjoying the salads we devoured the scrumptious bread. We dipped the bread in the superb sauce served in an olive wood bowl. The sauce was composed of extra virgin olive oil, garlic, basil and tomatoes. You are told to mash the concoction with the pestle to free the flavors.
It was beyond delicious. We were so content with our choices. The young couple beside us was celebrating a birthday. They told us that their food was also ‘spiritual’.
The pastas were served al dente and the flavoring was absolutely perfect. The Sicilian Pasta was prepared with spaghetti, tomatoes, pine nuts, raisins, fresh white anchovies, olive oil, basil and dill.($15.95) One pasta dish was flavored with aioli. Fretta Pasta is an offering of spaghetti tossed with ricotta and parmigiano cheese.($10.95)
I enjoyed the Shrimp from the Antipasto list.($10.95) Pan seared shrimp were served in a spicy pizzaioli sauce with grilled Italian bread. This was supposed to be an appetizer. There were 5 very large perfectly flavored shrimp.
Panini selections included one prepared with Veal or Chicken and served with mushrooms and a sweet tomato sauce.($11.95)
Main courses are served after 5:00p.m. Osso Buco, a house specialty, is served with potatoes.($25.00)
Black Skirt opens in the morning for breakfast or lunch. It is open from Monday to Saturday. Charming! Delicious! It is almost as good as being in Sicily.
A gem! A winner! A great new find!
Black Skirt is named after the grandmothers in Sicily who wear black clothes in memory of loved ones. Agata Decina and Rosa Galle are the owners and chefs. They are not professionally trained in Sicilian culinary art but practice the recipes handed down by their family and friends, Trust me. They know how to cook in the Sicilian style
This is one bustling place. You have to have a reservation. The front of the restaurant houses two large tables. Both were full with a large group. The long bar takes up one side of the restaurant. The other side of the room houses large wooden cupboards and shelves filled with exotic goodies from Sicily. A variety of canned of vegetables. flour, pastas, olive oil and condiments offers great ideas for gifts. Fresh prepared foods and cheeses are also available for take out.
We enjoyed viewing the operations of the open kitchen while waiting for our food to be prepared. We also did a lot of chatting back and forth. What a perfect combination for an evening, great company and superb food,
This is such a friendly place. Kit, our server, was very busy but was so willing to answer all our questions. Apparently the restaurant has only been opened since January. It was packed and apparently it is always crowded. There is a buzz in the air.
Three friends were dining on this occasion. We were starving and ready for a feast. We shared two salads. They arrived in an enormous white bowl. Each salad was sufficient for 4 persons. The Arugula Salad ($6.95) was lightly refreshed with tasty vinaigrette. Shavings of delicious cheese enhanced the peppery taste of the fresh greens. The Beet and Spinach Salad ($8.95) was also totally enjoyed. The greens tasted as if they had just been picked. The beets had been roasted and were perched on the side of the bowl.
While enjoying the salads we devoured the scrumptious bread. We dipped the bread in the superb sauce served in an olive wood bowl. The sauce was composed of extra virgin olive oil, garlic, basil and tomatoes. You are told to mash the concoction with the pestle to free the flavors.
It was beyond delicious. We were so content with our choices. The young couple beside us was celebrating a birthday. They told us that their food was also ‘spiritual’.
The pastas were served al dente and the flavoring was absolutely perfect. The Sicilian Pasta was prepared with spaghetti, tomatoes, pine nuts, raisins, fresh white anchovies, olive oil, basil and dill.($15.95) One pasta dish was flavored with aioli. Fretta Pasta is an offering of spaghetti tossed with ricotta and parmigiano cheese.($10.95)
I enjoyed the Shrimp from the Antipasto list.($10.95) Pan seared shrimp were served in a spicy pizzaioli sauce with grilled Italian bread. This was supposed to be an appetizer. There were 5 very large perfectly flavored shrimp.
Panini selections included one prepared with Veal or Chicken and served with mushrooms and a sweet tomato sauce.($11.95)
Main courses are served after 5:00p.m. Osso Buco, a house specialty, is served with potatoes.($25.00)
Black Skirt opens in the morning for breakfast or lunch. It is open from Monday to Saturday. Charming! Delicious! It is almost as good as being in Sicily.
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