borgo trattoria

Eggplant "fritta" with fennel yogourt.  Looks good right?

Yes. We did it. Jeff and I finally made it out of the house for a date! Yes, I know it's nearly unbelievable, and we are both still pinching ourselves even though it was over a week ago.

Soon to be Calgary's newest hot-spot, if it's not already, Borgo Trattoria is the obvious choice for a casual day or night adventure with friends, family, and even romance. Borgo is the brainchild of Capo's Giuseppe di Gennaro, and is tucked away in Mount Royal Village Shops, just off 17th Ave SW. Borgo is modern and sleek, but also familial and jovial. It is designed for everyday enjoyment, but with a touch of refinement.

Things I love about Borgo. It's Italianness. The all day bar/caffe/eating/watering/gathering place. Italian cocktails that I didn't have to fly over the Atlantic to enjoy. Food value. People watching.

I feel the value for food needs some emphasis. The portions are decidedly small, as in a Venetian cicheti wine bar experience, as are the prices. Want a meatball? That's $2. The menu is designed for tasting, to accompany a drink and more importantly, a good time with friends. If one is to order many different dishes to whet the palate, then large portions are ill-suited to this pursuit. Of course, there is nothing stopping anyone from ordering multiple portions of the items they enjoy the most to make the volume of food larger and price-comparable to family chain restaurants. Have I had a better arancino? Sure, but one can't really compare the arancini at a night market on the main piazza of a nearly forgotten small Italian village either. Did I order more arancini after the first one? Guilty as charged.


I dare say Calgary has a spectacular offering of high-end fine dining restaurants. It is refreshing to find that I am not the only one who thinks we need more restaurants in the middle price range with exceptional food, offering a good value.

It's newness and seeming popularity, hopefully doesn't make it blissfully unaware, as there are kinks to be worked out. But gauging from Gennaro's track record at Capo with exceptional service and food, I am hopeful for Borgo's future. We definitely enjoyed the night and are plotting our next escape to Borgo.

Oh right. For the first time, EVER, someone asked me why I was taking pictures! And it was the manager. My response? "Oh for fun." It is technically true though!



Aperol negroni. This gives me chills up my spine just thinking about it!




Bucatini "Amatriciana".  I love to make this at home too.


Plump little gnocchi.  This was exceptionally filling, but worth every bite!


Flank steak (on left), veal (near top), green beans, and borlotti beans.


One of my favourite preparations for the humble green bean is paired with tomato sauce.


Flank steak, one of my favourite dishes of the night.


Veal with sage butter.


One can never have too much dessert.


Borgo Trattoria
818 16 Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0S9
(403)245-2202
7 days a week, 7:30am - until late, no reservations

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more dario & david rocco

I know, I know, a video. But, it is in good fun, and a little more of the world renowned butcher, Dario Cecchini, and his shop in Panzano, Italy.
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dario cecchini's panzano

I'm not sure exactly when it was that I had heard of the famous butcher in Panzano, who has worked to advance the craft as well as dignifying his town. Wait, it isn't exactly everyday that you hear of a famous butcher. Yes, butcher.

I mean do you know any famous butchers?

Well,  Dario Cecchini is one. Haven't heard of him? It's okay, but you should.  There aren't many butchers who can also passionately quote Dante's Inferno, the depths of which you might be rendered a little toasty, just as a juicy steak might as well.

Dario is quite the character. I was completely convinced after reading, Heat, by Bill Buford.  Buford is the New York Times journalist who wanted to learn how to cook.  After a stint at Mario Batali's' Babbo, followed by training where Mario himself learned in Italy, Buford eventually ended up as an intern of sorts of Cecchini in Panzano.  It was a riveting read, and definitely worth checking out in it's own right.

However, back to Cecchini.  Ever since I'd heard of this place, I travel to Panzano to check it out.  Call me crazy.

Yes, he's been on several of travel and foodie-esque shows including David Rocco's Dolce Vita, and in an extra quirky episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations, but nevertheless, I still had to see just how delicious everything was.

The fame has nearly made Cecchini into some sort of infamous mythical creature.  Sadly.  Because don't all butchers deserve some sort of fame and recognition?

Cecchini had taken over the craft from his Father, but now it has expanded to a great deal more.  Not only can anyone stop by the Macelleria for a sample, and to purchase some wild fennel pollen in the Profumo del Chianti, or of course, a bistecca Fiorentina as beautifully marbled as a Michelangelo masterpiece itself.

There is the shop, the Macelleria, but one can also enjoy a casual meal of a half pound burger, aka the "Dario mac", with garlic and sage roasted potatoes at Dario +.  Or perhaps, a six-course meal featuring the foods of a butcher, such as spicy meat ragu on toast, but no steak, at Solociccia.  For the most carnivorous diner, a feast at Officina Della Bistecca offers a taste of many of the Macelleria's delights, but also to highlight three renowned steaks, the Bistecca alla Fiorentina, Costate, and the Panzanese.

Onto the photos.

Dining at the Officina Della Bistecca is by nature, a communal affair.  The voice on the phone was adamant we arrive promptly at 8pm.  I was a little surprised, given that most everything regarding evening dining in Italy is late, late, and later.  So of course, we were quite early when we frantically arrived on time.


The menu.  Yes, there is an English translation on every menu.  Everyone was a tourist either from another part of Italy, the UK, or America.


The upcoming meat extravaganza.


At first glance the, Brustico di sushi del Chianti, a beef "sushi", might be regarded with trepidation.  However, even diners who were admittedly apprehensive, were suddenly requesting a second helping.  Dare I say, in a place of exacting steak deliciousness, that this is one of the dishes I still long for the most.


White beans in olive oil is the classic Tuscan preparation, and a must try during any journey to Tuscany.


A dinner of epic meaty proportions, surely cannot be enjoyed without a bit of a show from Dario Cecchini himself?


Preparing to serve the steaks.


Chianti "butter", a combination of pork fat, vinegar, herbs, salt, and pepper.  A delicious accompaniment to baked potatoes.


Steak.


Steak.


And more glorious steak.


Please tell me if you know who this is, but a magician or illusionist of certainly some renown, delighted everyone with some entertainment.


The name, olive oil cake, doesn't quite do this one bit of justification.


We arrived in daylight, and departed into the night. Our bellies well fed, and our souls nourished something a little bit more than just food.  Best steak ever?  Close.  But I'll have to tell you about that one, in a post to follow soon.  Do I feel lucky just for the experience?  You bet.

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Viva Italia in Montepulciano

Okay, so feel free to nag away, but I still haven't finished posting about last summer's Italy trip.  Yes, you heard me correctly, last summer's trip.  Sad, but true.  Some of my favourite moments are still to come!  Like dreamy Montepulciano.

It is the place where you will find the glorious vino nobile di Montepulciano, and where Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed, as it is quite the archetypal Tuscan town.  Not without it's share of tourists of course.  But it is a magical place nonetheless.


So magical, in fact, that it possible to experience serendipitous moments of chance encounters.

It so happens, that I was twittering away from the garden of our spectacular apartment all about my experiences as they occurred,  Pamela Sheldon Johns, cookbook author extraordinaire, and Italian culinary guru, invited me to cool off with a dip in her pool!  Not only was it very, very hot outside, but how could I refuse, regardless?

Off we went.  And here's what we found.




Pamela and I.


Delectable edibles from her garden.


How to cool off in the summer sun.  Did I mention you can stay here?




Pamela truly is a hostess extraordinaire. We had a spectacular, albeit brief meeting, and I can't wait to return to Montepulciano to enjoy one of her workshops. I can't recommend enough that you do the same!
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lunch at the autogrill

Would you believe that you can eat over top of the Italian Autostrada? Well you can, and here's the view! Okay, so it's not that exciting of a view considering that it IS Italy, but considering that you are able to eat at what is essentially a gas station on TOP of the freeway, it's kinda novel. It's the Autogrill, and it's an Italian food chain. All things considered, it's pretty good. I mean, I wish there were more "fast food" places in Canada where I could get a salad like this with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Or this salad with bocconcini and anchovies. I'd gladly settle for some roast pork. Or grab some roast potatoes and eggplant....if I had to. Heck, even this strawberry cheesecake isn't too shabby. And this is all without ordering from a sit-down menu, or searching endlessly for a family-run restaurant (although you gotta love those). All the food is prepared for the motor traveler to enjoy a quick, but hearty and healthful meal. No, it's not local or organic. And the next time I'm driving from Modena to Montepulciano, I'd rather have a chunk of parmigiano-reggiano and prosciutto. But hey, eating at the Autogrill in Italy is a heck of a lot better than any gas station I've been to anywhere else, and the food resembles real stuff. Will I make a point of stopping at an Autogrill again? Probably not. But the extensive chocolate selection rivals most any gourmet food shop in Calgary, and that is quite tempting in and of itself. Who can argue with that? p.s. Yes, I'm still grappling with HOW exactly I am ever going to finish telling you about last summer's trip to Italy. And it's getting close to the anniversary, I have to hurry!
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le volpi e l'uva, firenze

It seems that now that the weather has warmed up, all I want to do is to plan the next vacation. And this year, that is to a new house. Oh yea, with a new baby. So, I don't exactly feel hard done by in any which way. But it is fun to think about the possibilities. Like say, Seattle. Love that place, nice and cool and calm. Ridiculously yummy too. Then there is Italy, and well, that's when things get a little funny. Because I, albeit abashedly, haven't even finished telling you about the last trip there, which is pretty ridiculous considering that it is now... just about April. But, then again, I really should document this stuff, because I just can't spend all that time planning it out, to not tell you about it. And there's still some pretty spectacular stuff to go, I think it just took me this long to feel "unfull". Just trust me, somewhere about week three of the trip, Jeff, my Mom, Dad, and I, were all pretty much done with eating. Although, it would only last for a couple hours or so, and then we were back on track. But it gets to you. Plus, the heat. Yes, the days we were in Florence were hot. The fact that it is almost summer again, actually makes me excited about enjoying some very, very hot weather. Now, it isn't hot like you would think. It's not humid, or hot just because you are in the sun. It is hot because Florence is like a giant clay oven, and you just never cool off. Air-conditioning in Europe doesn't mean quite the same thing it does, in say, Texas. Just because you wander into a shop or a restaurant doesn't mean to quickly grab for a sweater. This is a good thing. A very good thing, and much less wasteful to be sure. But it's hot, and I miss it. There is something quite satisfying about being so tired of the heat, to actually want to be cold again. Despite the heat, or perhaps in spite of it, we made the most of la dolce vita by sitting back and enjoying a sip or two of wine. Le volpi e l'uva, or the fox and the grapes, was recommended to me many times over, and so I was certain to make a point of stopping by. I am very glad we did. There is not a lot of room inside, nor outside either. Not that this is strange for Italy, but for a place with a website, I was a little surprised (yes, many places have websites now, but so do many places that are large and well.... semi-terrible). Jeff and I sat outside while we rested our feet before walking from the Palazzo Pitti area, but before the Ponte Vecchio. We were nearly satiated by foaming at the mouth over the menu; it is simple, and to the point. You come here for wine, and of course, wine must not be consumed without the proper accoutrement, a bite to eat. I wanted to eat everything. I suspect not so many others have this same problem. Prosecco, being cooler, was almost always a nice way to start nearly every meal. Refreshing. I also dream of these little tuna sandwiches on a soft bread with crunchy little cipolline onions inside. Oh and it has armagnac too; aka tonno cipolline e armagnac. The crostone, or word for large crostini, was some bread toasted with cheese and speck. We ordered this again later in our "snack". Delicious. A little bite of some salami, mortadella, and beautiful Italian tomatoes was fantastic with our red wine.... of which I have no recollection. Perhaps we had more than one glass? I don't seem to remember. I guess I will have to go back, and try several more of them. Le volpi e l'uva - is just off the main road on a little side street between the Ponte Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti. Sounds impossible, but most directions you will receive in Italy are just as simple as that. Don't worry, look for Piazza dei Rossi, 1. Please save some nibbles for me.
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