Italian Food | Listen2Mama

My favorite type of food is Italian, always has been. I am always trying out new Italian places everywhere I visit. Thankfully, living in Miami allows me many options. My husband is not big on dishes with creamy sauces or cheese (don’t ask), however he loves seafood so he always finds a nice fish dish to enjoy. Miami has many amazingly delicious Italian eateries, however, Strada is one of my favorites, from the marvelous food to the side entryway, which reminds me of many restaurants in Italy, to the friendly wait staff. Its sister restaurant/pizzeria, Farinelli 1937, located directly across the street, is another great eatery in Coconut Grove, also not to be missed.

Side entryway of Strada

Interior of Strada

Sitting outside in the evenings. Photo courtesy of Strada.

At first glance it’s hard to choose from so many amazing dishes, but here is what we started with:

Ricotta cheese and prosciutto appetizer, delicious!

Fried calamari

Then on to the main dishes. I ordered the pumpkin agnolotti which I always order here, it is amazing (I am a creature of habit), and my husband ordered the salmon.

Agnolotti di Zucca al Burro e Salvia
Homemade roasted pumpkin and amaretti agnolotti in butter sage sauce.

Salmone al Ginger
Grilled marinated fresh Atlantic salmon, crunchy ginger and carrot salad.
Served with green beans and potato gratin.

For dessert we ordered the panna cotta, one of my all time favorite Italian desserts, and it was delicious. Just the right texture too. And it came in a cute tiny mason jar to boot:

Panna Cotta served with fruit.

You basically cannot go wrong with this place. All of the dishes we have tried have been excellently prepared and the ambiance is fantastic, located in Coconut Grove, with outdoor seating available as well. Makes for an enticing evening out.

Have you dined at Strada? I would love to hear what you enjoyed most…

Strada in the Grove
3176 Commodore Plaza
Miami, Florida 33133
(305)444-1312
http://www.stradainthegrove.com

With so many dining options in South Florida, sometimes it’s hard to choose a place for dinner. Over the 4th of July weekend, we decided to spend the evening on Las Olas Boulevard in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. We hadn’t been in a while and I wanted to see what new shops and eateries had opened up since our last visit, and then head over to the beach to watch the fireworks. I was surprised to still see some our favorite restaurants and delighted to discover some new ones. Our daughter was craving her usual Italian food, so when we stumbled upon Louie Bossi’s, we decided to give it a try. I had not heard of it (they only opened up about a month ago), so I was a bit hesitant, after all, Italian places are always popping up everywhere, but many of them are mediocre at best. Well this place is anything but mediocre.

Louie Bossi’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Photo courtesy of Urbandaddy.com

We started off with a delicious appetizer called Coccoli Fritto, which were basically these delightfully soft baked flaky pita breads topped with fresh parmesan shavings and served with freshly made ricotta cheese, olive oil and prosciutto. Heavenly!! Hubby also ordered a small side of Marcona Almonds roasted with sea salt.

Coccoli Fritto

Marcona Almonds roasted with sea salt

On to the main courses….I really wanted to try one of the pastas, but keeping faithful to my healthy eating habits of late, I decided on one of the daily specials..a grilled branzino prepared with olive oil, lemon and capers and I ordered a side of their grilled veggies. This was one of the best fish dishes I have ever tasted.

Grilled branzino and veggies

Hubby decided on another one of the specials, lobster served with pasta. Also delish! And of course our daughter being her adventurous self (not), ordered a margherita pizza, but she says it’s also one of the best she’s had. And trust me, she’s beyond picky.

Lobster with Pasta

Margherita Pizza

Next, my daughter decided on a small dessert, Budino Cioccolata, a dense yet light tasting hazelnut pudding, topped with a light whipped cream and a bit of caramel and sea salt. I couldn’t help myself and had a tiny taste….wouldn’t you:

Budino Cioccolata…heavenly!

And last but not least, hubby ordered his espresso and I had a creamy limoncello. All I can say is that it tasted better than some of the limoncellos I’ve had in Italy!

Espresso & Creamy Limoncello

So, if you’re in the Ft. Lauderdale area, head on over to beautiful Las Olas Boulevard and make sure you stop into Louise Bossi’s and experience an amazing Italian feast. You will not regret it.