Stopped by the Italian Festival on Sunday and had a good time, but a few thoughts:
- The Trevi Fountain replica was a little, well, underwhelming. I know I shouldn't have been expecting the majesty of Rome's original wishing well, but, I guess I was. Still, if you haven't seen the fountain, it's worth a stop - and a coin toss, which we did.
- The Trevi Fountain replica was a little, well, underwhelming. I know I shouldn't have been expecting the majesty of Rome's original wishing well, but, I guess I was. Still, if you haven't seen the fountain, it's worth a stop - and a coin toss, which we did.
- It was fun to see the Roman soldiers in "Ben Hur" costumes (really! from the movie!) strolling around the Italian culture section. Organizers have changed where the band performs and refocused some things. This has always been one of my favorite areas of the festival.
- Really cool - people dancing in the square in front of the Antonian. It reminded me (a little bit) of the San Marco piazza in Venice, where bands play at the outdoor cafes and customers, high on booze and just being in Venice, sometimes hop up to slow dance.
- I wish I saved my appetite for the stand run by Moro restaurant and got the truffle fries. News Journal photographer Fred Comegys said Moro's sausage sandwich also rocked. Moro's stand is near the entrance to the carnival rides, across from the Ricotta Puffs and Panzarotti stand.
- Didn't care for the suppli, a deep-fried Roman specialty served Sunday. Our rice balls were cold and didn't have much flavor. If you want really good fried rice balls - go to Mangia Mangia pizza shop at Sixth and Lincoln streets in Little Italy and order the risotto balls.
- My family is pretty picky about meatballs and we thought St. Anthony's weren't bad. They're not my mom's meatballs, but still not bad.
- Really cool - people dancing in the square in front of the Antonian. It reminded me (a little bit) of the San Marco piazza in Venice, where bands play at the outdoor cafes and customers, high on booze and just being in Venice, sometimes hop up to slow dance.
- I wish I saved my appetite for the stand run by Moro restaurant and got the truffle fries. News Journal photographer Fred Comegys said Moro's sausage sandwich also rocked. Moro's stand is near the entrance to the carnival rides, across from the Ricotta Puffs and Panzarotti stand.
- Didn't care for the suppli, a deep-fried Roman specialty served Sunday. Our rice balls were cold and didn't have much flavor. If you want really good fried rice balls - go to Mangia Mangia pizza shop at Sixth and Lincoln streets in Little Italy and order the risotto balls.
- My family is pretty picky about meatballs and we thought St. Anthony's weren't bad. They're not my mom's meatballs, but still not bad.
- Two ravioli fanatics in our group thought these cheese pillows were OK - for festival food.
- The tomato sauce, however, got a collective "Eh." It's on the sweet side. Not a fan of the sweet.
- Porkette sandwich needed more salt and spices and the broccoli rabe more garlic. I'm going with the spizzato later this week.
- The kids with us liked the thin-crust pizza. But then, what kid doesn't like pizza?
- We got a bottle of Pinot Grigio ($13) -they pour it into a pitcher, which, you should know, you'll have a pay a $5 deposit on. You get the $5 back when you return the pitcher.
- The tomato sauce, however, got a collective "Eh." It's on the sweet side. Not a fan of the sweet.
- Porkette sandwich needed more salt and spices and the broccoli rabe more garlic. I'm going with the spizzato later this week.
- The kids with us liked the thin-crust pizza. But then, what kid doesn't like pizza?
- We got a bottle of Pinot Grigio ($13) -they pour it into a pitcher, which, you should know, you'll have a pay a $5 deposit on. You get the $5 back when you return the pitcher.
- Beer drinkers should definitely order a Peroni draft, $4.
- Thought this was funny and sweet: Two teenagers in line ahead of us at the Caffe Gelato booth didn't see the sign that said the ice cream cost cost $5 a cup. They only had $9 on them. My mom was just about to hand one of the teens a $1, but the staff gave the kids the ice cream for $9. Nice.
- We loved the Italian rum cake - from its topping of crunchy toasted almonds to pasticciera cream filling. An Italian rum layer cake was always my birthday cake growing up and the huge slice ($3.25) we got Sunday - and passed around several times - had just enough rum and wasn't too soggy.
- The cannoli was scarfed down before I had a bite. I guess that's telling you about the cannoli.
- Thought this was funny and sweet: Two teenagers in line ahead of us at the Caffe Gelato booth didn't see the sign that said the ice cream cost cost $5 a cup. They only had $9 on them. My mom was just about to hand one of the teens a $1, but the staff gave the kids the ice cream for $9. Nice.
- We loved the Italian rum cake - from its topping of crunchy toasted almonds to pasticciera cream filling. An Italian rum layer cake was always my birthday cake growing up and the huge slice ($3.25) we got Sunday - and passed around several times - had just enough rum and wasn't too soggy.
- The cannoli was scarfed down before I had a bite. I guess that's telling you about the cannoli.
- Didn't try the tiramisu. Too stuffed from the rum cake.
- Your festival thoughts?
4 comments:
oh truffle fries, how original
My entire reason for going to the Italian festival is the spaghetti served in the basement. The al dente texture is always spot on--just the way spaghetti should be served. But I have to say that I wasn't a fan of the sauce this year. It kind of let me down. And with the closing of Angela's (formerly on Rt. 141), the only restaurant I would ever dream of ordering spaghetti in, I have no good place to get my al dente fix.
I love the festival and there are so many stands with great food, it's hard to choose! Although I am sure Moro's was great, you can go to the restaurant any time so why use up valuable stomach space on food you can get any time of the year? I suggest hitting up one of the St. Anthony food stands (they are every where) for some authentic, homemade Italian food that is sure to wow you!
Don't waste your time on the wine, esp since it's served in the smallest cups I've ever seen (aren't they from a doctor's office?!?!) Go for the Granita! Italian lemon water ice with vodka, rum or gin. Def worth $5.
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