Thursday, October 27, 2016

ENDLESS PASTA AND SAUCE COMBINATIONS AT BOTTEGA FIORENTINA

For some time, I've been looking for a quick-serve pasta place. Somewhere where you don't have to necessarily sit down and have a full, long meal for pasta. A "to go" pasta spot. I found one in Newton, Massachusetts with Bottega Fiorentina. 

First, choose your pasta. They have penne, spaghetti, bow ties, linguine, fettuccine, gnocchi, tortellini, spinach gnocchi and a ravioli of the day. THEN, go crazy trying to figure out which sauce you're going to top your pasta with. There are a number of sauces on their everyday menu from classics like pomodoro, butter & sage, alfredo, carbonara and bolognese to more exotic sauces like the "Fedora," which is made of tomatoes, garlic, rosemary and cream. They have a very long list of specialty sauces that change daily. There's "Corinna," a sauce of chicken cubes, mushrooms and cream. There's the "Medici" with prosciutto, mushrooms, tomatoes and cream. Or go for the "Fiesolana" sauce with chicken, peppers, mushrooms, peas, cream and tomato. This list goes on and on. They actually have a chart of the sauces they offer each day. What an excellent concept! And let me tell you, it's tough deciding which sauce to order with so many choices.

So, what did I order? I enjoyed their fettucine carbonara with chicken. We also split an arugula and pear salad, which was a perfect portion for two. Bottega Fiorentina also offers a bunch of sandwiches like caprese, prosciutto di parma and pollo. 

What a place! I can't wait to try more of their pastas and sauces. OHH! Bottega Fiorentia also has a killer deal on Wednesdays and Sundays. Get any pasta plate with any sauce for just $4.99. They also have another location in Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts. They've been there since 1994.

www.botteganewton.com
www.bottegabrookline.com ,

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

(Closed) DELICIOUS ITALIAN AT OSTERIA POSTO IN WALTHAM

UPDATE: Sadly, Osteria Posto has closed for good.

B
uona sera! Eat Up New England and Mrs. Eat Up New England are just back from a breathtaking vacation in Italy. We have been craving Italian food, so we checked out Osteria Posto in Waltham, Massachusetts. In Italian, Osteria means a restaurant that serves wine and simple foods. Posto means "sit and relax." Perfect!

We were struck by the beautiful decor at Osteria Posto. It's really quite elegant, modern and spacious inside. Of course, they have a full far stocked with wine, beer and all kinds of spirits. I kept it local and ordered a Jack's Abbey. They brought us several rounds of bread with butter and olives. It was starting to feel like we were back in Italy again.

Appetizers include Caesar, sugar pear and arugula salads. They also have spicy mussels, shrimp cocktail and the ever-so-tempting "Nonna's meatballs." We enjoyed their lemon arancini, rice balls with mozzarella with just enough of a hint of lemon.

For dinner, I loved their "Mezzi Rigatoni," a veal, pork and beef bolognese. It was so tasty and so filling. Other pastas right now include a spinach ravioli, gnocchi with braised short ribs and squid ink pasta. Entrees right now include salmon, swordfish, steal, a Tuscan seafood stew and roast chicken.  I say "right now" because their menu is ever-evolving and changes with the seasons. Osteria Posto is so fresh that they grow their own herbs. They are in several bins outside to the left of the entrance.

Perhaps the most fascinating item on their menu is the "Whole Roasted Pig." They describe it as a "locally raised VT pig" served with herb sausage stuffing, roasted vegetables and a seasonal salad. It serves as many as 10 people. The pig is yours for $675 and requires two weeks notice.

Osteria Posto has a second location in Somerville. Eat Up New England can't wait to come back to try those meatballs!

www.osteriaposto.com
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