A Rare Evening of Leisurely Dining

   Somewhere and somehow the art of long leisurely dining with friends has slipped into the abyss of “it used to be…” or “remember when we…” category in our lives.  Why? I really cannot say.  However, I was recently reminded of the multiple pleasures of such long and leisurely dinners at a friend’s home the other evening.  It has been far too long since Linda and I have enjoyed such impeccably prepared cuisine amid lively conversation that extended long into the night.  Hopefully, this missive will entice or inspire others to have similar evenings with their friends.

   Our dinner started with a serving of homemade terrine de foie gras paired with a 1985 Chateau Segur.  Savoring a homemade terrine de foie gras or a 1985 Bordeaux are in and of themselves rare epicurean treats. The twenty nine years that this wine waited to emerge from the bottle softened its bold tannins to complement the foie’s delicate flavors while still possessing enough body to coalesce with the foie gras’ rich gel.  If this was all that we had for the entire evening I would still be singing the praises of a terrine de foie gras made personally  by our host and be wistfully recalling the taste sensations of a twenty-nine year old wine.  But this was only a prelude to what developed into five hours of dining, sipping wine and the telling of European travel adventures.

   After the foie, we savored a wedge of a leek tart brimming with chunks of charred leeks drizzled with a red wine reduction.  Immediately following the tart we served ourselves a  helping of fresh-made fish stew consisting of shrimp, salmon, tilapia, catfish and some diced sweet potatoes bathed in a thick, savory pink broth, topped off with freshly steamed clams that were prepared just minutes before we filled our bowls with the fish stew. For this course I contributed a 2012 Sancerre made by Lucien Crochet.  Although I found this wine to be somewhat acidic and lacking in the finesse that I expect from a Sancerre it thankfully did not prevent us from relishing each mouthful of an extraordinarily flavor-rich medley of fish and seafood.

   Then, in a most European fashion we followed our fish stew with a bountiful green salad that was laced with goat cheese and a vinaigrette dressing made from a very well-aged mother of vinegar.  For the grand finale to our gastronomical feast we ended our evening of culinary decadence with still more decadence, a bowl of fresh-made, creamy smooth lemon mousse with blueberries that we washed down with a glass of sparkling Prosecco.

   

   And so we came to the end of our unhurried culinary extravaganza.  But the Proustian memory of the luscious foie, charred leeks, braised fish and steamed clams plus the scrumptious lemon mousse will stay with us as joyful reminders of this incredible dining experience.

Lucia’s Italian Restaurant…One of a Kind

     Something rare and wonderful happened in Newport Rhode Island the other day; we lunched in a privately owned and operated restaurant. In a popular tourist area such as Newport, there are a growing number of chain and restaurant groups to choose from. As this number increases there seems to be less and less owner/operated options.  Consequently, we are gradually being deprived of the pleasure of dining in a restaurant where the owner is attentively watching over the dining room or better still, in the kitchen impressing us with his or her culinary skills. Hence, my delight in discovering Lucia Tacchi’s Italian restaurant and pizzeria in Newport Rhode Island.

     This moderately priced restaurant lived up to all of my expectations for warm and friendly service, plus an assortment of mouthwatering fare. Their lunch menu includes Croissant agli Spinaci, a jumbo croissant stuffed with mushrooms and creamed spinach laced with tangy, grated parmesan cheese or Croissant al Pollo e Pesto, a croissant filled with tender slices of chicken, fresh mozzarella cheese and a succulent pesto sauce, topped with mixed greens, to name just two of the sandwiches.  Pasta lovers, such as yours truly, will not be disappointed with Lucia’s offerings of Spaghetti alla Carbonara, spaghetti tossed in a rich blend of eggs, Pancetta (Italian bacon), cream and Parmesan cheese, one of my favorites, or Farfalle al Ragu' Bolognese, bow-tie pasta covered with the quintessential hearty, northern Italian meat sauce. Other lunch items include large and small pizzas with an assortment of tasty topping combinations, plus salads, an antipasto with cured meats and cheeses and more Italian favorites to choose from.  Their dinner menu also includes ravioli, tagliatelle and penne and other types of pasta with flavor rich sauces plus a wide range of delicious chicken and veal offerings.

     Linda’s lunch, a crispy, thin crusted pizza, topped with a generous helping of fresh-made tomato sauce, rich mozzarella cheese and thin slices of fresh cut eggplant was perfectly prepared. My dish of penne rigata pasta tossed in a savory combination of thick tomato sauce, chunks of slightly piquant ground sausage meat and tender morsels of green pepper titillated my palate with a wonderful array of taste sensations.  Adding to our luncheon repast was a pleasant, medium dry rosé from Provence that I selected from their moderately priced wine menu.  Linda concluded her lunch with one of their house-made desserts; to quote her it was scrumptious! Unfortunately neither one of us can remember the dessert’s name but the memory of the creamy mélange, similar to tiramisu in taste but richer in texture and the hints of hazelnut and cocoa flavors still linger.    

     In a world of formulated restaurant sameness, Lucia Tacchi’s Italian restaurant and pizzeria is a welcomed refuge from the humdrum, homogenized offerings of most group and chain restaurants —plus delicious food and the personal attention of the owner herself, Lucia Tacchi.

Lucia Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria

186B-190B Thames Street

Newport, RI 02840

401.846.4477

401.847.6355

www.luciarestaurant.com