Bold. Big hearted. Bursting with flavor. BAM!!!
Sunday night at a dinner table full of friends (old and new), unusual selections of beer, impeccably chosen wines paired with delicious and hearty food! Laughter and camera flashes bursting every now and then. Unanimous oooh’s and aaah’s heard all around as each dish arrived at the table. Each unmistakably oozing with love, passion and pride that went into it. Conversation ranging from topics of food to nuances of wine to upcoming beer festivals to local gossip to who can drink the most alcohol to travel destinations to….. Don’t you just wish you were there?
Last week I attended a media dinner which turned out to be all that and more. Strada 18 in South Norwalk hosted a memorable night to showcase their seasonally updated menu. It was about going back to traditions and reveling in them. It was about setting high standards for self. It was about presenting food and ingredients that are to be proud of. It was about showing the warm welcome you receive as a guest when you are at Strada 18.
I loved it there. And one comment that kept coming up throughout the whole evening was - “why don’t we come to Strada 18 more often?”. What’s not to like here? This is a cool place to be. Especially - if you are a wine and beer lover - well! then you just HAVE to check it out! Their beverage menu certainly impressed the connoisseurs at our table.
Chef David Raymer is full of life and passion. His food is a true reflection of him because he takes great pride in everything he serves. With high standards, he often chooses to prepare ingredients in-house instead of buying them. Like the creamy burrata he had just prepared a few minutes before it was served to us. Or the yummy flavors of gelato (my fave was the gelato made with Curmudgeon beer)! Or the scrumptious platter full of desserts. Or the quinoa Pasta that he perfected the recipe for, recently! Seriously!!!
If you like arancini, this one is a must-try as its stuffed with oozy-gooey farmstead fontina cheese. You are going love the fried calamari- served with not one but three sauces - aioli, lemon-lime jalapeño cilantro and tomato sauce! Let your flavor-explorations take you to new heights with this dish!
Everything was served family style. Like the big platter of Sunday Sauce - with spare ribs, homemade meatballs and homemade Italian sausage served with rigatoni. I had never eaten an Italian style Sunday dinner before and I loved the casual heartiness of it. It was yum!!!
Strada 18 is one of those places that are a sure bet if you are looking for a place to dine. You know that each person in your entire group will find something to savor and love on this menu. You know there will be excellent selections of highly curated beer and wine to pair with your courses. You know the food and service will not disappoint. And I KNOW, you will leave murmuring : “we MUST come here more often”!
Strada 18, South Norwalk CT | http://www.strada18.com/index.html
