July's Wine & Dine

Saturday, July 18, 209

This months "Wine & Dine" group met at Pasta Al Dente in Naples for dinner. We sat outside and the weather was great. It was still warm but since we were 1 block from the marina and the bay it was very pleasant.

Since the menu that CJ had put together had more "white wine" food dishes I brought a 2008 Curran Grenache Blanc. It was a good choice. Quite a few other people had the same idea. There was 18 people in attendance. If was unique that most of the people that brought white wine were seated at on end and the red wine people were at the other. So we had the red zone and the white zone. I did bring a red wine just in case but it wasn't necessary to bring it out as there was an abundance of wine on the table

We started out with 3 appetizers. All of them winners.

Crostini di Formaggio - warm brie with pesto, carmelized garlic & onions, sun dried tomatoes on a toasted baguette.

Calamari Fritti - fried calamari served with a spicy marinara sauce.

Funghi Imbottiti - Baked stuffed mushrooms with pieces of chicken breast, green onion, cream cheese and herbs, finished with a Romano cheese bread crumb gratinat.

Pizza was up next. I could have stopped eating with this dish., I was taking small portions because of eating a few hours before and was starting to get "full". This pizza was outstanding
Parmigiano & provolone cheese, marinara sauce, breaded eggplant and zucchini, red & yellow bell peppers garnished with pesto vinaigrette

Next up was "Manicotti di Formaggio" - manicotti pasta stuffed with Ricotta cheese and topped with a garlic & roasted pepper cream sauce, scallops & shrimp.

A platter of breaded chicken breast topped with a lemon caper sauce showed up next. Along with a platter of Italian style grilled and roasted vegetables.

Dessert was a Spumoni Cake.

All the food was good. But as usual it was too much and you get stuffed really quick. Even tho the food was good I could have done without the calamari and the roasted vegetables. That way I could have stuffed myself with more pizza & mushrooms.

It was a great evening and a nice restaurant with fun people and good wines. It doesn't get better than this.

Next month we are off to Belacan. A Malaysian restaurant