Cotogna (Italian for AMAZING)

One of my dear friends in SF I actually met working at Petite Jacqueline back in Maine.  She’s a true food and wine connoisseur and now works as the sommelier at Cotogna, an awesome Italian restaurant on Pacific Avenue in North Beach.

Cotogna’s atmosphere is a warm and cozy environment with furnishings and lamps that almost look straight out of the 70s.  The woodwork and dim lighting makes this a seemingly hidden haven that envelopes you in comfort as you enter. Perfect for a dinner with friends or a romantic date.

On Sunday, I had dinner at this fine little restaurant. Since leaving the restaurant world I find I eat out less and miss the constant connection to sampling new dishes and wines.

So, naturally,  we went all out starting off the dinner with a refreshing glass of Santhomas Rosato Spumante sparkling. We also enjoyed some Sassotondo Ciliegiolo, a lovely, complex red with bright fruit tones, with dinner. It’s been a minute since I’ve had such a good experience with new wine. While the beverages would have been enough to leave me satisfied, the food was REALLY over the top.

On this particular evening the menu was already selected and went as follows:

Asparagus Salad
Wild mushroom, mint & fava leaf pesto

Artichoke Pansotti
Walnut, artichoke & pecorino

Olive oil poached Lingcod
Spring vegetable ragu

La Tur
Cow, Goat & Sheep’s milk cheese from Piemonte

Limoncello & Rum Baba
Creme fraiche & almonds

Everything was the perfect combination of unique flavors.  The pasta is AMAZING. Seriously the most amazing pasta I’ve ever had! Go just for the pasta. Or the wine. But I recommend you do it all! It’ll be an experience you and your taste buds won’t regret! 🙂

Primo

In preparation for my departure to the West coast (coming up this Saturday!!!) I came back to the midcoast to visit my family for a few days.

As I had not been to the world renowned and local hotspot, Primo, since my sophomore year of high school for a prom, we thought it would be an appropriate place for dinner.  My parents don’t usually dine at Primo due to the high popularity and often long lines out the door. It continuously proves to be packed- for good reason! The food and the natural/local/sustainable concept is beyond impressive. Their cred is well deserved.

The restaurant, which has rooms and bars around every corner and on every level is very cozy and makes for an intimate experience available at each table. The land and the farms surrounding the old home are equally as breathtaking.  The scenery is just the assist to the game changing menu.

My only qualm with the place, and my parents have notoriously noted this as they can vouch more so than I, is that the service tends to be average to below par.  And I’m sorry, but if you’re spending that much money, fine dinning service is appreciated. I can only imagine the walks of people that pass through the place and the high maintenance level of some of the customers, but for a bunch of locals, who may not be the biggest “foodies” in the area, a certain level of respect would be appreciated.  That’s just my opinion.

Warning: Don’t watch if hungry!

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James Beard Award Nomination

I don’t know if I have mentioned thus far where I work, but I can’t think of a prouder moment.  I am currently working at Petite Jacqueline, a French Bistro in Longfellow Square in Portland.  Today, while getting out last night’s margaritas on the elliptical machine, I received a “call me” text from my dear friend, boss and one of the owners of Petite Jacqueline, Liz.  Worried, I asked her if it was an emergency.  She responded with “No- we got nominated for James Beard best new restaurant in the country!!!!!!”  Six exclamation marks is not enough.  I jumped off the machine and ran out of the gym to call and congratulate her.  Liz has put in a tremendous amount of work into making the Bistro what it is and I cannot think of a person who deserves this more.  We have had a great team over the past year and I’m very proud to have been a part of it.  Now, get your butts to Longfellow Square and check out what the James Beard Foundation considers one of the twenty best new restaurants in the country. Word.