Tag: italian

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Osteria La Civetta – The Gem of Main Street

Strozzapreti al Pesto from Osteria La Civetta.

Some may say that Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer, but I strongly encourage you to make every effort to extend your summer in order to spend at least one September weekend on Cape Cod. I believe it is one of the best times of year to be down at the Cape, as the crowds are gone, the weather is still beautiful, and most of the local restaurants are still open. I will lead by example, profiling one more Falmouth favorite before I make my way back to Metrowest. Osteria La Civetta, or the “Little Owl,” truly defines the essence of Italian cooking offering scratch made meals prepared with high-quality local ingredients.

Osteria La CivettaDowntown Falmouth is made up of many local businesses (including plenty of restaurants profiled by a certain celebrity chef who drives a red muscle car), candy shops featuring handmade candies and ice cream, and a surf shop that makes you think you are in La Jolla, California. Yet, tucked away at the end of Main Street, lies Osteria La Civetta, the hidden gem of Falmouth’s restaurant scene.

The menu at Osteria La Civetta is designed in the traditional Italian way, with antipasti, primi, and secondi courses. Truly, everything on the menu is superb, and the attention to detail is evident in every dish. Whether it’s the Tagliere (assorted Italian meats), the fresh baked Italian bread, or the Caprese with your choice of mozzarella or burrata. Really, you can’t go wrong. Yet, it is the home made pasta and use of fresh seafood that legitimises Osteria La Civetta as a true Italian staple.

As part of our meal, we chose the bruschetta and Caprese for the antipasti course. The homemade bread is a fabulous vehicle for the lightly dressed tomatoes and basil, and the Caprese featured local tomatoes and a basil infused olive oil. The Caprese really stole the show, a staple late-summer dish. There is something about fresh tomatoes on crispy bread that pairs so well with a warm September evening. The main course consisted of the Carbonara and the Strozzapreti al Pesto. The homemade pasta was cooked al dente; we have long found that the simple texture of homemade pasta can enhance an entire dining experience. A creamy carbonara sauce spoke to us, and much like the call of garden tomatoes, the basil and pine nuts in our rich pesto sauce created an intense freshness that screamed, “Summer.”

Carbonara from Osteria La Civetta.I really do encourage you to book a fall weekend on the Cape, and hope you chose Falmouth. During your visit, make sure to not fall prey to the usual suspects on Main Street, and make your way to this hidden gem at the end of the street. Osteria La Civetta can be found at 133 Main Street.

Post Script: Osteria La Civetta does have a wonderful selection of Italian desserts, which I recommend. But, I would be remised if I didn’t direct you to my favorite, and arguably the best ice cream on Cape Cod. Smitty’s Ice Cream at 326 E. Falmouth Highway.

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Worcester Art Museum Welcomes Outdoor Dining with Monet

Mac and Cheese available at the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA

Enjoying the warmer weather we turn to a summer series visiting museums to partake in a summer journey of art and food, after all, #FoodIsArt. (Eat at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Peabody Essex Museum; Worcester Art Museum; Norman Rockwell Museum, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum… and more).

The deep roots of the Worcester Art Museum’s ties to the livelihood of artistic expression are undeniable. From its first purchases of Claude Monet and Paul Gauguin’s works, the Worcester Art Museum established itself as the forerunner of America’s art obsession. With an eye for talent and at the epicenter of rare masterpieces, it is a mystery why the WAM is one of the most underrated art institutions in mainstream America. While many hear the stories of the museum’s infamous robbery – works like The Brooding Woman and Head of a Woman by Paul Gauguin, Mother and Child by Pablo Picasso and St. Bartholomew by Rembrandt stolen by two masked men in 1972 – their experience within the museum walls will tell a story of enriching history, classical art and the profound connection WAM maintains to the ever-changing art culture. A connection, so profound, that it inspires the phrase: food is art.

The Asian Sweet Shrimp Sauté from the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA
The Asian Sweet Shrimp Sauté from the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA

Before standing in awe in front of Monet’s Waterlilies and Gauguin’s The Brooding Woman, a visit to the naturally serene outdoor dining space is necessary to fully understand how the WAM doesn’t just embrace art but embeds it in every crevice of its establishment. From the carefully plotted trees and plants to the Community Mosaic wall display by artist Kim Emerson, the courtyard is the embodiment of living art. The menu at the Museum Café speaks to the WAM’s appreciation of nature with dishes like the Strawberry and Baby Spinach salad – a salad with goat cheese, toasted almonds, red onion and honey lemon dressing.

Inevitably, dishes named after Monet – an ever-changing palette of ingredients to complement the freshly prepared chicken salad or grilled chicken breast, served on a bed of seasonal greens – and Warhol – a crisp apple-smoked BLT – adorn the menu with permanency. Their names roll off the tongue when ordering, as their works bring about a certain admiration. Elevating the WAM’s collection of 35,000 art pieces to include the first works of Monet and the incredibly famous Campbell’s Soup Can by Andy Warhol, the Museum Café is a tribute to the greats.

Al Fresco dining in the Courtyard of the Worcester Art Museum's Cafe in Worcester, MA
Al Fresco dining in the Courtyard of the Worcester Art Museum’s Cafe in Worcester, MA

In continuous fashion, the WAM also pays respect to the diverse community of Worcester with dishes like the Asian Sweet Shrimp Saute – sweet shrimp in a baked wonton cup with rice noodles and vegetables, served alongside a cabbage slaw – and the Sarto Two, (a dedication to Andrea Del Sarto, painter of the Saint John the Baptist) – a roasted eggplant with grilled peppers, basil, pesto, and a blend of Italian cheeses.

Speaking to all walks of life, from children to adults, and from novice art seekers to art enthusiasts, the Museum Café caters to the creation of expression. All meals are plated carefully to bring about the innate aesthetics of food. With art infused in its flavors, culinary cuisines, and menu names, the Worcester Art Museum holds true to its passion for art preservation.