Cousin Monica arrives from Hong Kong and announces she wants pasta.
So we all gather at L’Opera to give her some pasta.
See, Monica? What you ask for, you will get.
So don’t stress yourself out. We love you! :)
Carpaccio di filetto di manzo con rucola alla Toscana – thin slices of cold beef tenderloin carpaccio on a bed of fresh rucola, topped with shaved Parmigiano and served with fresh limone to squeeze. Hello, freezer burns!
Insalata di rucola funghi e Parmigiano – rucola greens with shredded Parmigiano e funghi champignon, dressed with olio extra vergine di oliva, vinaigrette balsamico, and freshly squeezed limone. Too boring.
Granchio fresco alla Veneziana – steamed crabmeat Venetian style with fresh lemon cream dressing served in a crab shell. Auntie Judy sees people eating this at the next table and becomes instantly envious. And rightfully so. This is scrumptious.
Spaghetti alle vongole veraci con extra olive oil e vino bianco – spaghetti with fresh baby clams in light vino bianco sauce. Monica complains that this is overly salty.
Tagliatelle Al Nero di Sepia – black flat noodles with shrimp, squid, bell pepper, caviar in light cream sauce. Jill seems happy.
Taglierini al profumo di tartufo in camicia di prosciutto – thin egg noodles in truffle sauce wrapped in Prosciutto. My plate and also tonight’s best dish. Ha!
Ravioli allâ Aragosta – homemade lobster-filled ravioli in cream sauce. Also a good one. But bad photo, Danny! :P
Rotolini di Branzino con Zucchini - rolled sea bass and zucchini with sautéed fresh vegetables in olio extra vergine di oliva. Sorry, Ken, but this is totally forgettable.
Maremmana Rustica – fresh Italian sausage, mozzarella, sautéed onions with fresh pomodoro. We are too full to eat this so we have it wrapped. Okay, THEY are too full, and I am just too embarrassed to admit I am not.
Torta al cioccolato – chocolate cake. Dense and rich.
Tiramisu – the famous mascarpone cheesecake. This is good, but my heart still belongs to UCC Tiramisu.
Tartufo Cioccolato – Italian chocolate gelato covered in a crust of crunchy chocolate chips with a red cherry core. Awesome stuff!
Ken, Monica, Auntie Judy, Me, Jill, Danny
L’Opera Ristorante Italiano: The Fort Entertainment Complex, 26th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. Tel: +632-889-3963
Carpaccio di filetto di manzo con rucola alla Toscana – thin slices of cold beef tenderloin carpaccio on a bed of fresh rucola, topped with shaved Parmigiano and served with fresh limone to squeeze. Hello, freezer burns!
