Monday, April 11, 2011

Acque al 2


Best night of my life. Hands down. Eating at Acque al 2 was unbelievable, an absolutely life changing dining experience. Once we got to the restaurant we could tell it was going to be amazing. The smells were overwhelming. Salads on dispaly were mouth-watering. And with a line out the door, we were thankful for our reservation. Soon after we arrived, they sat us at a perfect table in the corner where we began the best meal of our lives.

We began with the caprese salad. I can't even describe the freshness of the tomatoes and the creaminess of the mozzarella. The fresh flavors blended into a harmony of scrumptiousness. They brought us bread in a brown paper bag that was devoured within second of reaching our table. We decided on ordering three of their specialties: the pasta sampler, the blueberry steak, and the balsamic steak.

It seemed as though they kept bring us plate after plate. The food was unending and completely divine. The pasta sampler included a spinach rigatoni, gorgonzola macaroni and cheese, bowties with a parsley green sauce, rigatoni with meat sauce, and a final pasta with spicy sauce. Each one uniquely delicious and memorable. Once the steaks arrived we had reached food heaven. The tenderness of the filets was out of this world. The flavor pairings complemented the steak beautifully, something that truly surprised me. Blueberry steak? I'd never think of that- but it was pure bliss, something I could eat every day for the rest of my life. The balsamic steak was also to die for, especially since balsamic has become my new favorite ingredient. With steak this good, it will be hard to compare now that we have returned to America.

Four hours and four bottles of wine later, we decided to complete our perfect ending with a dessert sampler of tiramasu and chocolate cake. Because we were the last customers in the restaurant, leaving at 1:30 am, we were able to meet the owner. He was fabulous, such an inspiration! He even let me peek into the kitchen-such a dream come true! Acque al 2 has two locations in the United States- one in San Diego and one in Washington DC. I will definitely be paying those locations a visit.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

The Sweetest Thing



As much as I love a great scoop of ice cream on a hot sunny day, there was something about Italian gelato that took this cold treat to another level. Not knowing much about gelato to begin with, I originally thought it was more like sherbet. Well, I was wrong, it’s actually much more similar to ice cream. In addition to the amazing variety of flavorings, what makes this Italian dessert spectacular is the presentation. Gelaterias line the old streets of Italy and lure in customers at all times of day. Beautiful mounds of colorful gelatos fill coolers and are decorated in chocolate shavings and fresh fruit, making it completely irresistible. We made a point to get it each and every day. My favorite flavor was Nutella, a yummy chocolatey hazelnut combination that I ordered on multiple occasions. Italy certainly has mastered this fabulous afternoon snack.