Tag: marinara

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Penne alla Vodka

Penne alla Vodka from Chioda's Trattoria on Franklin Street in Worcester, MA

Penne alla Vodka from Chioda's Trattoria on Franklin Street in Worcester, MA
We started our dinner at Chioda’s Trattoria with the Aracini Balls: Risotto stuffed with provolone, breaded and then deep fried. This came as 3 large (meatball sized) balls with a small portion of marinara on the side. The breading was nice, but not too thick, and added a nice crunch of texture to the softer risotto mixture inside while keeping the balls together. These had a very nice flavor themselves, and the complement of the marinara gave a nice overall flavor. The portion size was plenty large for 2 people to share.

For dinner I had the Penne alla Vodka: Penne, tossed with garlic, shallots, onion, tomato, spinach, crushed red pepper and Romano in a vodka marinara. Again, a good large portion and a nice presentation. If you like hot spicy food, this dish is for you. The cumulative heat was fairly strong, but not overpowering, and provided a nice spicy counterpoint to the creamy vodka marinara marrying together to create a really great overall flavor. The pasta was perfectly al dente, giving texture against the soft tomato and spinach for a really nice mix of textures. This dish was a great mix of flavors and textures.

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Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan with Linguine

Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan with Linguine from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Chicken and Eggplant Parmesan with Linguine from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MARosalina’s Kitchen is place I’d heard wonderful things about but had not ventured to since it’s not on my usual routes around town. I walked in to find a bustling dining room – a great sign on a Wednesday night! The crowd was varied but everyone seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere and meals. As I sat with my group and looked over the menu, appetizers started arriving to those around me. Lucky for me they were generous portions and my friends were in sharing moods – the antipasto platter had a delicious assortment of meats and vegetables, a starter that struck a balance between light and satisfying. After much internal debate I went with the classic chicken and eggplant Parmesan with linguine for my meal. It was the classic preparation, as described on the menu – fried and topped with mozzarella and tomato sauce. The portion was huge – enough to share and take home leftovers. The chicken was moist and perfectly fried without feeling heavy while the eggplant was tender and flavorful. The sauce was a simple marinara with a bright tomato flavor. It was well balanced without being overly sweet or acidic.

Only after looking at the dessert ravioli on the specials board could I stop my self from eating this delicious dish. However, the call of peanut butter and Nutella ravioli was loud and I ordered a dish to split. There were 3 large fried ravioli filled with creamy peanut hazelnut chocolate goodness. Several bites were just enough to sate the sweet craving for several of us at the table.

I don’t frequently dine out for Italian but when the craving hits, Rosalina’s Kitchen will certainly be on my short list. She is truly dedicated to the success of her restaurant and she has the kitchen skills to back her up. Next on my “to try” list will be the homemade ravioli which are made weekly with creative fillings. If Rosalina’s Kitchen does creative as well as she does the classics, I’ll be in for a treat!