Tag: ricotta

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Chioda’s Trattoria’s Chicken Parmigiana

Chicken Parmigiana from Chiodas Trattoria on Franklin Street in Worcester

Chicken Parmigiana from Chiodas Trattoria on Franklin Street in Worcester

Nestled on Franklin Street Chioda’s Trattoria sits in an unassuming building away from some of the more popular dining areas in Worcester; yet once you get inside you step into a comfortable Italian restaurant. Having driven by many times I had often wondered, but never stopped in to this hidden gem. After talking to the pleasant and helpful waitress and looking over the extensive menu I opted to pair a weekday entree special and appetizer as my meal for the evening.

The appetizer was called the Neapolitan which as a stack of portobello mushrooms, mozzarella, prosciutto, and basil, with a balsamic drizzle. For me this was the perfect combination and presentation of some of my favorite ingredients and it hit the mark. The grilled mushrooms topped with thick sliced mozzarella, sliced basil, topped with thin sliced prosciuotto, and topped with a balsamic drizzle was the perfect pairing of ingredients and flavors, with great attention to detail like slicing the fresh basil so that the basil was evenly distributed was a culinary delight. Shortly thereafter my chicken parmigiana arrived and was the perfect size portion of a juicy thick chicken breast accompanied by a good marinara sauce, cheese, and penne pasta. The chicken was perfectly cooked the flavorful sauce accompanied by a few flakes of crushed red pepper on the hearty marinara made for a delicious meal.

To end the meal I opted for a cannoli that was freshly filled and was a perfect blend of crunchy shell with a smooth creamy sweet ricotta filling.

Now folks, here’s what makes this place a hidden gem: I had a great meal, at a nice comfortable friendly restaurant, with a helpful waitress, and spent $32 before tax and tip. That included a beer, appetizer, weekday special entree, and two cannoli. Chioda’s Trattoria offers great food and value at an off the beaten path location, but is definitely worth a visit.

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Seared Duck Breast at The Urban

Seared Duck Breast at The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Seared Duck Breast at The Urban on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

The Urban Kitchen opened a few months ago so when it was announced WorcesterFoodies would be going there, I was excited. The old Coral Seafood space on Shrewsbury Street has been transformed into an sleek, modern space with an open kitchen visible form the dining room. The vibe is elegant while still casual and the menu is ambitious and creative, while still approachable.

Compliments of the house, we started our dining experience with house made ricotta served with truffle honey, chives and roasted croutons. The creamy cheese was firm, slightly salty and very flavorful while the truffle honey added a sweetness that pushed this dish to a whole new level.

The seasonal dinner menu had so many interesting items it made choosing an entree difficult. House made pastas, fish, pork, beef and even venison but when my dining companion chose the Artic Char, I immediately chose the Seared Duck Breast knowing I could taste her fish also!

Duck is a tricky dish, but not at The Urban. Perfectly seared duck breast, sat atop caramelized sweet potato and wild mushrooms. The duck, served with the skin, was crispy on the outside and moist, tender and perfectly medium rare on the inside. Flavorful but not gamey, the meat paired well with the earthy sweet potato and wild mushrooms.

The craftsmanship used to create this meal while not overly complicated, was outstanding. The portion size was generous, but not overwhelming. The sides were as well executed as the duck and the presentation superb. Overall, The Urban is a great addition to the Worcester dining scene and I for one will certainly return for what I anticipate will be another wonderful experience.