Kickoff Cookout & Antipasto Salad

A number of my extended family members flew in from out of town earlier this week for my cousin Kenny's wedding which would be taking place in Laconia, New Hampshire. Leah and Tray hosted a cookout at their apartment on Wednesday evening, welcoming the travel weary to Boston and kicking off the family celebrations.Our hosts served up a feast of marinated grilled shrimp, chicken and corn on the cob preceded by number of appetizers including fresh made guacamole. I missed the main courses on the grill but here we have the corn!I prepared an Italian Pasta Salad which proves a simple and satisfying summertime side dish. The authentic antipasti ingredients purchased at Salumeria Italiana made all the difference!! Living in the tourist infused mecca that is Boston's Little Italy does have its perks.

Ingredients

-1 box of rotini pasta

-2 green peppers, chopped

-1 package cherry tomato, halved

-1 cup black olives, pitted and halved

-1 can of cannelini beans

-1/2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped

-1/4 lb salami slices quartered

-olive oil, to taste-balsamic vinegar, to taste

-salt & pepper, to taste

Pitting olives is quite a project!

The cured salami from Salumeria Italian is some of the best I've ever tasted.

I bought extra of certain ingredients which made some excellent salami & mozzarella sandwiches for our road trip to NH - not to mention I have been eating them by the slice regularly.Back to the directions - which are pretty self explanatory but here they are none the less.1. Cook the pasta until just done to al dente tenderness - about 8 minutes. Drain well and cool completely.

2. Toss with peppers, olives, beans, tomato, mozzarella and salami.

3. Stir in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper as desired.

4. Chill for approximately one hour before serving.Antipasto Salad is an excellent compliment to grilled foods, or even a quick and easy weeknight meal on its own, not to mention an ideal way to feed a crowd!

I'll leave you with a few shots of some of the gang........there's plenty more where those came from. I have soooo many wedding pictures to sort through and a family dinner in the North End still to recap! It has all been such a whirlwind, a non stop party, and truly a blessing to spend time with family I see once or twice a year if that.

It's back to the grind today, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm looking forward to some relaxing weeknights at home at least in the beginning of the week. Summer lunch series has been a miss but it's not gone forever! Between the July 4th holiday week (Monday off, not Friday) and traveling out of town for the wedding, it has been on a two week hiatus but will return this Friday for sure!

Easter Eats

Upon arrival to my Mom's house on Cape Cod late Saturday afternoon, I was starved. She provided quite a spread to kick off the Easter celebrations starting with deviled eggs. How appropriate. Following the luscious deviled eggs was a cheese board boasting three types of cheese; Jarlesberg, Triple Cream Brie and Gruyere, as well as cherry tomatoes and crusty loaves of bread. Triple Cream Brie
Jarlesberg Red wine + Gruyere
After I stuffed my face with cheese, a warm bowl of Minestrone Soup perfect for dunking in some of that hearty bread was served! And with stars and stripes pasta to boot. Adam and I brought dessert in the form of lobster tails and red velvet whoopie pies from Bova's Bakery. The red relvet whoopie pies are one of my favorites. Dense yet pillowy deep red cakes sandwich a rich fluffy buttercream that is out of this world. You should probably try one the next time you're in the North End. Or make a special trip here for them. Either way. We stopped eating long enough to take in a movie at the Cape Cinema, a single theater historic venue located just off Route 6A in Dennis. It is one of the only theaters on Cape Cod where you can view independent films. Showing this evening was Win Win, one of this years Sundance Film Festival movies. It ended up being a really enjoyable film that I'd recommend if Independent flicks are your thing. The movie generated a lot of laughs, and struck a good balance of funny and lighthearted to meaningful and heartwarming. The Cape Cinema serves the usual concessions as well as beer and wine. I sipped an un-pictured Sam Adams Noble Pils. Right next door to the theater is the newly opened Harvest Gallery Wine Bar. It's a cute spot to relax with a glass of wine or a draft beer (they don't serve hard alcohol), listen to live entertainment and enjoy some tasty bar bites surrounded by local works of art including paintings, photography and sculptures. My Mom just so happens to hostess here(!) and seated us at two empty stools at the bar where I sipped a glass of Cava ($8) and Adam and I shared the Three Meat Antipasti Plate ($17). The day's house cured meat offerings included prosciutto, salame and bresaola. Once my Mom was off her shift we shared a classic dessert of Creme Brulee ($8), the sweet custard was paired with a tart and fruity rhubarb compote. I paired dessert with a glass of Ruby Porto ($9). A jazz duo played well into the evening as I drank a nightcap of Stone Pale Ale, one of two choices on tap. Vacationing on Cape this summer? This place is a fantastic little addition to Dennis Village for some light eat and drink in a cozy artsy atmosphere. The next morning my Mom served a hearty Easter Brunch of Strawberry and Raspberry buttermilk pancakes and Yarlesberg cheese and pepper omlettes with applewood smoked bacon. Complete with warm blueberry compote and pure Vermont Maple Syrup, it was the perfect way to celebrate Easter morning and fuel for a long day of exploring the beaches of the lower Cape!To be continued....

Villa Francesca Summer Blogger Festa

I feel like Ristorante Villa-Francesca and I already have a special relationship. There is something about her, she always knows how to brighten up my day. Walking home from work I round the corner off Hanover onto Richmond Street and their she is beaming proudly along the Freedom Trail. Flower beds with an abundance of bright green plants line the outside edge of the wide open windows. A huge raw bar in the shape of a boat sits in one open window section, and even more brightly colored pink and purple flowers hang in pots above.

Villa Francesca's positive vibes encompasses this block, there is no doubt about it. I've visited for drinks, but never a meal. When Kristen Haley of Beantown Socialite invited me via Facebook to the Villa Francesca Summer Blogger Festa she was hosting, I was delighted to attend and experience what this well established North End spot had to offer. After all, I'm not going around recommending restaurants based on a feeling they exude on my walk home from work. ;) I arrived around 6:00 and was welcomed by the hostess at the door who lead me around the bar and down a small dark stairway to the open beamed-low ceiling, exposed brick walled wine cellar. Here I was greeted with a glass of Prosecco and freshly shucked oysters. The attention to detail at the Oyster bar, complete with lemon wedges and cocktail sauce was impressive. The constant refills of my Prosecco glass were welcomed as I mingled and conversed with blog friends - some I'd recently met, and others I hadn't yet had the pleasure. Here goes blog community, my respective shout outs, so be sure to check them out:
Megan @ Delicious Dishings (If it wasn't for this girl, I wouldn't have known about the event, thanks Megan, you rock)
Michelle @ Fun and Fearless in Beantown
Meghan @ Travel Wine Dine
Katie @ The Small Boston Kitchen
Lara @ Good Cook Doris
Alicia @ The Clean Plate Club
Renee @ Eat.Live.Blog
Melissa @ The Foodies at Work
After a good hour of mingling, we sat down to dinner. I'm slightly buzzed at this point, but was more than happy to accept a glass (or two) of the house white wine. 
Soon after our drinks were taken care of, the appetizer course began with the Antipasti Dela Casa.
This large platter, shared between about 4 persons each included: prosciutto, salami, provolone and olives, as well as a caprese salad containing buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes drizzled in olive oil, finished with a chiffonade of fresh basil and a dusting of cracked pepper. I especially adored the presentation of salami pyramids. The antipasto plate was fresh and inviting. I have had a number of excellent antipasto dishes at traditional North End spots, and to be honest I am not sure what they are "supposed" to include. Personally, I enjoy variety. A fresh bed of lettuce and some hot peppers are always welcome, but place a plate of fresh cheese and thinly sliced meats in front of me, and I'm a happy gal.
I'm also in a happy state with a plate of pasta and seafood in front of me. Here we have the Fettuccine Con Gamberi. I could tell this pasta was homemade before the owner Bill came over and presented us with that fact. I swear! This pasta had an unmistakable authenticity. It was tender and texturally flawless topped with firm flavorful shrimp in a vibrant tomato basil and cream sauce.

Villa Francesca was packed tonight! After all, it was the first Monday of Restaurant Week. The atmosphere upstairs is just as inviting as the wine cellar we were dining in. Hardwood floors, exposed brick archways, elegant wine racks and a chic marble bar are all part of the bustling scene.Above: Renee & Megan. Below: Me, Lara & KatieFor the main course, we had our choice of two entrees. 

Sogliola Alla Meditteranea. Fillet of Sole prepared with extra virgin olive oil, a touch of butter, lots of fresh basil and a sprinkle of fresh tomato. Served with roasted potatoes and escarole with cannelini beans.

Pollo Monte. Chicken layered with Eggplant and mozzarella, topped with artichoke in a white wine sauce. Served with roasted potatoes and spinach. Megan ordered the Pollo, I ordered the Sogliola, and we shared! Both were excellent choices. The Chicken and Eggplant - a combination I'm not sure I've ever experienced in a layered fashion in one dish were complimentary and unique. The Sole - a melt-in-your-mouth light and flaky fish was the perfect entree after a heavier appetizer course. I admit, I see Cannoli on the dolce menu and think - tell me something I don't know. Well, Francesca did just that.
ummmmm.

wow.

Olga hand filled these fresh baked cannoli shells at our table.

And topped them with our choice of chocolate chips, walnuts and/or powdered sugar. I'll take all three, please and thanks! While Olga filled and topped, Bill explained the secret to inquiring minds. His cannolis are filled with fresh ricotta, vanilla and that's it. He explained most places refill them with a flour mixture, and that creates a heavier texture, which clearly is not the same. You simply can not achieve that velvety smooth texture any other way.

Heaven on a plate.

And heaven in a tiny mug. I drank some espresso. Why?! I don't know, maybe I'm pretending I'm on vacation in Europe.

It's 12:31, and I'm wide awake. Oops.

I had an absolute blast dining with these guys!! Thanks so much Kristen (the red head in the grey/blue top and black skirt) for organizing this event and Bill (the tall dark Italian on Kristen's left) for your generous hospitality.
Another North End gem discovered. My walks home past Ristorante Villa Francesca will forever be filled with fond memories of this night.