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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!

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Lamb and Grape Leaves Stuffed Ravioli

Lamb and Grape Leaves Stuffed Ravioli from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MA

Lamb and Grape Leaves Stuffed Ravioli from Rosalina's Kitchen on Hamilton Street in Worcester, MAI ordered one of the specials from Rosalina’s Kitchen.
The lamb and grape leaves stuffed ravioli. And I knew that it could go either way, because sometimes folks just don’t know how to cook lamb and make it well. Other times you stumble on something of mythic proportions and you can’t stop eating. This was the case with these ravioli. After that first bite and realization that this may be the best ravioli I’ve ever had, I knew I had to take a second bite and be sure my first reaction was not just about the delight of finding something different. And this was something different, something special. It was mix of flavors from different cultures that you don’t normally find on an Italian menu. And that second bite backed up the first reaction. Wow. I knew I should do my “Foodie” duty and offer some up to my surrounding foodies. I wanted to explain just how great these little pillows of pasta, stuffed to the breaking point with perfectly flavored lamb and grape leaves, were bites of heaven. The sauce a perfect match of butter and lemon. But I opted to keep my mouth shut and only open it when the next bite was coming. There were no left overs and there was very little sharing. (Of course my husband did get a bite.) And frankly, I am ok with that.