cream, blend of herbs and spices.) Both
soups were delicious! The Minestrone
had a broth base and was chuck full of
flavorful veggies and potatoes giving it
a light, fresh taste. We all thought the
Chowder was outstanding—just the
right thickness, not heavy like some
chowders. Steve opted for the dramatic
La Barbabietole (Red beets, ricotta
Salata, mixed baby greens, orange
dressing.) It was a flavorful, one
person salad.
As we got close to our Paste and
Secondi Piatti, three of us shared
a bottle of Hahn SLH Pinot Noir
(Santa Lucia Highlands Estate 2017)
while J.Chris had a glass of Joullian
Chardonnay (Monterey CA 2016.)
Before long our plate of Ravioli Zucca
e Amaretti (Butternut squash ravioli,
sage butter sauce, Amaretti cookie
crumbles) arrived. They were the hit of
the evening. In and of themselves, the
Ravioli was delicious, but the sauce
and the cookie crumbles made for an
outstanding taste treat.
Next, we ordered our entrees. Teri
ordered the Stinco di Maiale alla Birra
(Beer-braised pork shank, porcini
Parmigiano risotto). Steve went for the
Brasato al Barolo (Barolo braised bone-
less short ribs, cippolini agrodolce,
Polenta). J.Chris ordered a Calamari
Steak off the Specials Menu while I
opted for the Saltimbocca Alla Romana
(Thin Veal, mozzarella, ham, sage
marsala demi sauce). The presentation
of each entrée was appealing. The
sauces on each were tasty and the
aromas tantalizing. The pork shank,
served on a bed of aromatic risotto,
was extraordinarily tender and "over
the top" good. Likewise the short
ribs were tender, cooked to perfection
and sat on a bed of perfectly prepared
deep-fried Polenta. The pearl onions
(cippolini), prepared in a sweet & sour
(agrodolce) manner, were delicious.
Both the Saltimbocca veal and the
calamari steak sat on a bed of expertly
prepared potatoes and vegetables. The
veal had just the right touch of salt and
seasonings. J. Chris said her Calamari
was very tender and perfectly prepared.
We topped off this fantastic meal
with some expertly prepared decaf
cappuccinos and called it a night.
When in Monterey a trip to Osteria Al
Mare is well worth a visit. If fact, Osteria
Al Mare is worth the trip all by itself!
SLH Pinot Noir
Calamari Special of the Night
Stinco di Maiale alla Birra
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
august/september 2019
Brasato al Barolo
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