Italian Restaurants

Here is the menu from an Italian place (Tuscany Bistro) where we ate in Jersey. It was really good - right in Newton across from the Teague's house and the miniature golf course heading out of town toward Andover. Although it is not in the heart of Italian restaurant country (Passaic County/Essex County), it has a menu the likes of which you would see "closer in." If you were to access the actual menu and count the potential entrees, I can tell you that you'd approach triple digits. And, all of the critical sauces are there and available on whatever meat you want: francese, parmigiana, marsala, piccata, scampi, milanese, marinara, fra diavolo... Also, the necessary pasta dishes - lasagna, manicotti, stuffed shells, etc... Then, there's a great assortment of other dishes to keep it interesting. I'm pretty sure that I could go there 30 or 40 times and find something new to try.


Try, just try to find a tasty eggplant parm out here. Try to find an Italian restaurant that does not put salmon on the menu - or hazelnuts. Try to find a good marinara. There are a few places in Portland that try to replicate the east coast Italian thing, but it's almost like they try too hard. It's not natural. It's people who are consciously trying to replicate something - not people who are cooking what is inherently normal to them. So, prices are high, options are few and there's the ever-present temptation for them to add some creativity and add a local ingredient so they can call it "Northwest Eclectic Italian Fusion" or the like.


Mama Mia Trattoria in Portland does a pretty good job. This menu from Basta's Trattoria, sadly, is more typical. Too much. Too uppity. Just give me something simple and good in a place where I can get a glass of wine and bring my kids (or not)! (I have brought kids to both Mama Mia and Basta's, by the way. Mama Mia's was a little crowded for a high chair, but the service was incredible and friendly. At Basta's we were told that they didn't have high chairs - and then asked, "Do you still want to eat here?" I've also eaten at both places without kids - I'd choose Mama Mia every time.) Aaaaaaanyway. I have been back home for a week, and I'm almost done dreaming about things I miss from the east coast. This will be the last post on the topic.

One last thing: Pizza. Portland Places that Pass the Test: Escape from New York and Tributes - both in NW within walking distance of Jay's work. (btw, Tributes is also where they sell the pork roll mentioned in a previous post.) They "get" it. Pizza that's not pizza: Pizzicato. Probably very nice people, but please... Jay's choice for most disgusting pizza ever created: Pizzicato's Souisita - lamb sausage, artichoke hearts, feta, mozzarella and fontina on a pesto base. Pizza that I would not eat even if it meant skipping lunch: Pizzicato's Thai Shrimp Pizza - spicy peanut sauce, shrimp, green onions, sweet peppers, mozzarella, sesame seeds, crushed chili peppers. Jay speaks still of a lunch at his office where someone ordered a pizza from Pizzicato that had both lamb and asparagus on it. I don't really have words to comment on that.