Italy is often a festival favorite for us. It is one of the more consistent kiosks, and the portion sizes are typically a good value. This year, the ravioli dish received a new name: Ravioli di Formaggio all’Emiliana. The dish is a Baked Cheese Ravioli with Creamy Beef Bolognese, Parmesan, and Mozzarella.
Ravioli di Formaggio all’Emiliana, Italy 2011, $4.50
Its presentation always reminds me more of lasagna, and there is plenty of food packed into the tray. Matt was the one that ordered the dish this year, and it did not disappoint. It’s one of the items that is “scrape the dish clean” for him.
I was bummed that the Polpettine Toscano has disappeared from the menu, but was interested to try the new Capellini con Gamberi Piccanti. It was a definitely goal of mine to try more of the seafood dishes this year, and the thought of spicy shrimp on pasta caught my interest. I also decided to pair it with a Fantinel Prosecco.
Capellini con Gamberi Piccanti $5.25 and Fantinel Prosecco $5.50, Italy 2011
I am happy to report that the sauce the shrimp is served with does have a good bit of spice and heat to it. The shrimp we perhaps a touch overcooked, but that was forgivable as the overall flavor more than made up for it. The capellini was cooked al dente. Matt tried the pasta and sauce, though politely declined on a shrimp, and was impressed as well. He prefers pasta to be cooked a bit more, but he still found it enjoyable.
I’m a fan of Prosecco in general; once in a while, we stop into Enoteca Castello so I can enjoy a glass while Matt orders Chianti. Fantinel Prosecco was no exception. It wasn’t too sweet, and I really enjoyed it with the shrimp and pasta. I would be happy to pick up a bottle of it to enjoy at home.
Italy, once again, was a successful kiosk for us. With only one more day on our horizon to enjoy the offerings at F&W, it’s possible that we may be stopping by again for one last hurrah here.
What are your thoughts on Italy’s menu? Do you miss the Polpettine, or do you have another favorite on the menu?
