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In honor of the World Cup-winning Italian futbol team, we’ve assembled our own team of Italian delicacies to be had right here on the third coast. Mangia!
• Meatball Sandwich and Macarpone Cheesecake at Enoteca Vespaio
This sandwich with crusty white bread, juicy and spicy meatballs, warm melted cheese and sweet tomato sauce provides a very intricate marriage of flavors for something so, well, simple. Pair with something from an obscenely large collection of antipasti choices if you wish, but promise to order the Mascarpone cheesecake. Promise. If you don’t do that stupid eye-roll orgasm face, we’re throwing in the towel.
Enoteca Vespaio
1610 S Congress Ave
• The Guiche Pizza at East Side Pies
Named after a very special body piercing, this new classic is covered with spinach, goat cheese, green chiles, sun-dried tomato and roasted garlic. Is it in you? It should be.
East Side Pies
1401 B Rosewood Ave
• Seafood special, Polenta and Caesar salad at Vespaio
This one’s easy: go to Vespaio, and order a something with the word “fish.” Make sure it comes the smoothest, creamiest, tastiest polenta in town and a Caesar salad that lives up to its name. Your work here is done.
Vespaio
1610 S Congress Ave
• Focaccia and Prosecco at Taverna
The facaccia at Taverna, which is served with a plate of subtle vinegar and a delicious green olive oil for dipping, is consistently pleasing. Especially with one of the bar’s perfect Prosecco picks. Just what il doctore ordered.
Taverna Ristorante
258 E. 2nd St
• Anise Cookies and Cannoli at Mandola’s
Go directly to dessert. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. This uniquely delicious, mellow caraway flavored cookie is perfect for breakfast, brunch, or your bizarre, habitual sleepwalking spells. The crispy cannoli is filled with ricotta, sugar, orange, chocolate chips and pistachio. We’re pretty sure that covers all the food groups.
Mandola's Italian market
4700 W. Guadalupe
• Central Market baguette with fresh goat cheese, basil pesto and Davina roasted tomatoes.
Even we can’t screw this one up. Serve this to your friends and convince them you’re relatively fancy. Because you are. These tomatoes don’t lie.
Central Market
4001 N. Lamar
• Coconut Gelatto at Dolce Vita
Yes, we ARE talking to you. Don’t make us come over there.
Dolce Vita
4222 Duval St
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The mascarpone cheesecake at Enoteca didn't do it for me. I generally like low-sugar desserts and I generally like everything at Enoteca, but it was too much like a solid block of marscapone. Mixed with almost any flavor it would have been lovely, but by itself I didn't dig it.
1. Futbol is spanish. The word you're looking for is calcio.
2. Baguettes and chevre are French. Perhaps you meant pagnotta or ciabatta and fresh mozzarella.
Ahaaa ... thank you for keeping me honest, stronzo. It's hard to know everything. But no, I had to bow a little to the french on that one ... a slight compromise. Calcio? Really? I'll have to do my homework a little better.
Shilli, have you had the lemon mascarpone cheesecake at Mandola's?
Romeo's can treat you right with a little bruschetta e pizza di mare. Magnifico. Nice lunchtime action.
I'll hump this recommendation to the end too: Hog Island Deli!!! Their Italian meat selection is tops and the cheesesteak is outta sight. Cherry cola on tap too.
I have't been to Madola's (South Side til I die, y'all), but a little lemon would have made the Enoteca marscapone cheesecake work for me. I'd actually love to try it with some nice balsamic drizzled over it - balsamic on ice cream is awesome and it seems to me like it would work here. Similar idea to the lemon - acid to cut the fat and some flavor on top of the bland indulgence of the marscapone.
A sprinkle of black pepper on a scoopa French vanilla (not that triflin' eggless Philly biz) is pretty great. Fun flava contrast.
Don't go celebrating Italy's victory too loud at Vespaio. Claude, one of the owners, is French and a rabid fan of "Les Bleus".
What about the pizza happy hour at Cippolina on West Lynn?
cipolina's pizza happy hour now ends at like 5 and their prices for pies non-HH have gone through the roof. bosh
A pizza named after genital piercing? All I can say is "Ewww".
Sam "don't call me Lance" Armstrong, I can hear you getting fatter!
Please stop listening to my fat cells.