Episode 9-Week2- Italia Ristorante

mmm-yoso is on vacation.  The part usually played by Kirk will be played by Cathy in the interim.

Happy Columbus Day! In honor of all of my Italian friends, today we can all be a little Italian...and will go to one of our favorite places not in Little Italy, Italia Ristorante, in Santee.

I must confess, I have an ulterior motive, besides really liking this place.  There is a *lot* of construction going on on Mission Gorge Road and the left turn lane onto Carlton Hills is closed until January at least.  All of the businesses in this area have seen a tremendous drop in foot traffic since the street has been narrowed.  I do not want Italia to close.

The Mister and I have been to Italy.  We liked the food.  We like quality Italian food wherever we go.  Italia has it. This is the whole menu.  Fairly simple, quite elegant. Quality ingredients prepared fresh for you. We started out with the traditional "first date" appetizer- fried calamari. Lightly breaded rings and tentacles served with a fresh, warm marinara that is mostly crushed tomatoes and basil. ($7.95)

Then we shared the medium antipasto salad ($7.95) which had mortadella, salami, provolone, olives, marinated cauliflower, celery, carrots and red peppers, pepperocini and romaine lettuce.  The side of anchovies is for me. (something else besides onions the Mister will not touch)

We ordered only one main course, knowing it was a large portion, and that came with either soup or salad.  We got the minestrone soup, made with large chunks of celery, carrots, zucchini and had kidney beans also, all in a rich tomato broth.

The main course arrived, freshly made for us. Tortellini carbonara. Cheese tortellini, ham and mushrooms in a creamy Parmesan sauce.  This sauce has garlic in it..and butter...and cream and its just wonderful!  I have tried to make the sauce at home but cannot emulate it...I don't keep heavy cream around the house...

Italia Ristorante 8918 Carlton Hills Blvd (next to Al's Sports Shop at Mission Gorge) Santee 92071 (619) 449-7960

Open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Its worth the U-turns....

and when you leave, take a right onto Mission Gorge and just past the first light, at Fanita, on your left is Mary's Donuts...I told you about them in Episode 7...open 24/7...you won't need dessert after you eat at Italia, but for breakfast tomorrow...

Cathy's Favorite pasta dish

Cut 1/4 lb bacon into little pieces and cook until clear in a stick of butter.  Heat 1 cup milk in small saucepan and add bacon and butter. Add 2 Tbs wine vinegar. This will turn the milk to cheese.  Simmer for about 15 minutes until the sauce cooks smooth.

Boil your favorite pasta al dente (1 lb), drain  (do not rinse) and return to pan. Immediately toss in two whipped eggs, the above sauce and 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, salt and pepper.  Toss and serve.

Comments

[elmomonster]

I've been enjoying your posts this week. You're doing a bang-up job filling in for Kirk. I just had to comment finally on what you said about calamari being "first date" food. That rang a bell with me. I didn't realize I was the only one who thought so. But it makes me wonder now more than ever why this is!

[RONW]

how about this riddle: Since Columbus didn't set sail from a port in Italy for the new world or ever returned to Italy, why celebrate Columbus day with Italiano food?

[cathy]

Thanks elmo, I like your site. I know I had read or heard about calamari for a first date...but now cannot recall why... and it wasn't for me and the Mister, then again...difficult to find calamari in Michigan, back when we started dating...but Italian food...pizza and all, makes sense for a first date I think...easy, unformal and all that.

Ron...making me have to think, eh? Columbus, if he was a person, was Italian and all Italian-Americans embrace him as one of their own...so that's reason enough for me...forget that Spain to Bahamas part of it all.... AND if I can "be a little bit Irish" on March 17, then I can "be a little bit Italian" on October 12 - or the second Monday of October, whatever the new rules are....gosh I hate change!