It's birthday month for Denise. We don't wait for the one day to celebrate, we try to stretch it out over the entire month. We've been a little bit distracted by other events this month, so we really have let things slide a bit where celebrations are concerned. She's been a pretty good sport about it, though. So good a sport has she been, I wanted to have a really special dinner with her.
It's always a little chancy, we've found, trying new dinner spots. We've had so many rude awakenings in Los Angeles restaurants we have sworn off new places several times already. I felt good about this one, though. And it turned out to be just fine.
Pane E Vino on Beverly Boulevard is an Italian restaurant - a nice one - that we hadn't visited for quite some time. Why we hadn't been there in forever was a mystery to both of us, but we are both glad we stopped staying away.
We opened with a shrimp and Feta cheese appetizer and a plate of melon and prosciutto. Denise had the lobster tortellini while I ordered the spaghetti with calamari and leeks in a light marinara sauce. It was delicious all the way around the table.
On the suggestion of the waiter, I ordered the 2007 Barbera d'Asti from Michele Chiarlo . I'm glad he suggested it, because I get into a Sangiovese rut in Italian restaurants. Not that it's a bad rut to be in, but I like to keep it varied when I can.
This Piemonte red is medium in color with aromas of cherry cola and some soft spices. It feels medium full in the mouth with a big, fresh taste of cherry and raspberry. The oak shades the fruit with a very light touch of leather. It pairs well with marinara sauce and would no doubt be a hit with pork, too.
It's always a little chancy, we've found, trying new dinner spots. We've had so many rude awakenings in Los Angeles restaurants we have sworn off new places several times already. I felt good about this one, though. And it turned out to be just fine.
Pane E Vino on Beverly Boulevard is an Italian restaurant - a nice one - that we hadn't visited for quite some time. Why we hadn't been there in forever was a mystery to both of us, but we are both glad we stopped staying away.
We opened with a shrimp and Feta cheese appetizer and a plate of melon and prosciutto. Denise had the lobster tortellini while I ordered the spaghetti with calamari and leeks in a light marinara sauce. It was delicious all the way around the table.
On the suggestion of the waiter, I ordered the 2007 Barbera d'Asti from Michele Chiarlo . I'm glad he suggested it, because I get into a Sangiovese rut in Italian restaurants. Not that it's a bad rut to be in, but I like to keep it varied when I can.
This Piemonte red is medium in color with aromas of cherry cola and some soft spices. It feels medium full in the mouth with a big, fresh taste of cherry and raspberry. The oak shades the fruit with a very light touch of leather. It pairs well with marinara sauce and would no doubt be a hit with pork, too.
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