Last weekend Joe and I went to a well-known "oldie-but-goodie" Madison restaurant, called, Osteria Papavero, located next to the former Restaurant Magnus off the Capital Square. It was a very chilly evening and I have to say we felt warmed immediately after stepping into its doors, and for more reasons than to meet some of Joe's friends from school. The walls were painted a warm golden wheat color. There was a bar extending the whole back side of the restaurant and a chalk board on the north wall full of daily specials. The wine menu listed names encrypted for a true wino to decipher. I couldn't even tell whites from reds! I ended up settling for Capitol Octoberfest to go with my fine Italian dining. The "Polenta, Funghi, e Lamache" dish, described as a fall ragout of wild mushrooms and snails with fried polenta. I had spent that week playing with a traditional Zambian corn dish (which I will write about later in its own entry), so I really wanted to try traditional Italian corn! I'm ashamed to say I'd never tried polenta before... or snails for that matter. Other things on the menu included boar, crepes, sausage and lentils. There was a bottomless assorted bread basket that included salty fried dough. It is interesting how good bread can make a lasting impression on me. Unfortunately so did the snails. They were a bit grimy. I could feel a sandy grit with each bite. The polenta tasted bland, like the Zambian corn dish. I think I will go for the boar next time!
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| Cuisine focuses on the rustic food of both the Emilia Romagna and Toscana regions of Italy. Website. |
I've also gotten to try a brand-spanken-new restaurant, named Nostano, located in the building that was formerly Peppino's on a corner street of the Capital Square. The occasion was Joe and my 5-year anniversary and 1-year engagement anniversary! It was my year to plan the evening so I decided to surprise him with somewhere he would probably never guess because it just opened its doors mid-October and word is slow to get around. Much like Osteria Papavero the interior is small and intimate. The walls were painted a cool blue color covered with a playful collage of antique window panes. There was very little light, creating a blanket of privacy despite the crowded seating arrangements (there were probably only a dozen tables total)! Despite an elaborate drink menu, Joe and I paired our entrees with some wine with the help of our lovely server. Below is what we ordered, Joe with the Sturgeon and I with the rabbit. We order the last item (an appetizer) for dessert, hehe.
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| Nostrano is operated by a husband and wife chef team, Timothy and Elizabeth Dahl. |
GRILLED STURGEON: CHICKPEA AIOLI | ROASTED ARTICHOKE | NOCELLARA OLIVES | SALSA VERDE
QUINTA DO FEITAL "AURATUS": Minho, portugal i alvarinho, trajaura
Rabbit confit: RYE TAGLIOLINI | HEN OF THE WOODS | MADEIRA | SCARLET CARROT
CONDE DE VALDEMAR: RIOJA, SPAIN I TEMPRANILLO
CHARCUTERIE PLATE: PÂTÉ CAMPAGNOLA | SALSICCIA | PORK LIVER MOUSSE | SALAME NOSTRANO | BALSAMIC SHALLOTS | CAPONATA | PIPARRAS | FINGERLING POTATOES
The food was nothing short of fabulous. Although the entree portions were small, the ingredients were top notch! The chefs source locally as much as possible and their food is presented very thoughtfully on the plate without being overdone. Unlike the snails, my curiosity in rabbit was a good choice (better than what I had in Mexico)! The meat had been shredded, balled into a patty, battered in bread crumbs and pan fried to a crispy-on-the-outside-tender-on-the-inside treat! The salami was impressionable too! They make all of their meats in-house except for one, ironically called "salame nostrano". The idea, from what I gathered, is to come to Nostrano to share a few appetizers and follow up with a modest entree while enjoying a leisurely evening with good company. It was the perfect date place for an anniversary, but I would go back with girlfriends or family. This comfortable versitality must have been a pre-meditated idea because Nostrano means "Home-grown, local" or even "ours" in Italian. |
| "I like pie" -Mystery Science Theater |
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| The many flavors to choose from! Website here. |
The last place I will blab about is Hubbard Avenue Diner in Middleton (just 10 minutes west of town). I have been salivating for a piece of their locally renowned pie ever since my birthday back in September. Joe and I decided a cold, windy, overcast Sunday morning this past weekend was the time to finally make the trip. The place was packed to the gills with hungry people anxious to get their slice of heaven. You can tell you've chosen a good place to eat when you realize the people around you are returning customers. It also seems the crowds here are recurring because they have found something for people to do while waiting... drink free piping hot coffee (well you can bet that I was pumped) and admire all the beautiful pies in their glass displays. By the time we got our table we were so excited by the sights and smells we ordered up some eggs, bacon, hash browns and biscuits to go with our coffee and pie. I got to pick the pie flavor, which was a seasonal "Sweet Potato Pecan". It may seem silly to spend $5 on something that disappears in two short seconds but it was worth it! Hubbard Avenue really does know pie (and well, breakfast for that matter)!
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