Last week we received an invitation to participate in an introduction to La Stazione, Louis Moskow’s re-do of The Railyard as an Italian restaurant. Food was chef’s choice and complimentary; wines were 20% off. Last night we were joined by Laura Chancellor (Larry Archibald was out of town).
We ordered a 2006 Monsanto ‘Monrosso’ Chianti and waters to start. Amusée was slices of house-made soppressata and mortadella with cherries. Both were a little quiet, but tasty, and enjoyable with the Chianti, which had rich ripe cherry fruit, low acidity, and a fruity finish. Then we were served two salads to share - a grilled Caesar with dressing that didn’t have enough garlic or anchovies, there were white anchovies on toast atop the salad; and a very nice beet and gorgonzola salad - rich nice flavors and good with the Chianti.
That took care of the Chianti, so we prdered a 2007 Morgante Nero d’Avola. it was rich and enjoyable with our shared mains of: spicy sausage on mashed potatoes and red wine reduction; Bucatini Amatriciana, and artichoke hearts with cheese ravioli. The sausage dish was very good - spicy, tasty sausage with a rich red wine reduction. The bucatini was a bit too al dente to twirl around the fork easily, but was otherwise quite tasty with pancetta in a slightly spicy tomato sauce. The artichoke hearts had a bit too much lemon to work with the wine and the cheeses in the ravioli were a bit innocuous. The sausage dish and the bucatini were both quite good with the Nero d’Avola.
Then for dessert we were served slices of a nice, rich flourless chocolate cake. Rich, not particularly sweet chocolate, good, light texture; that was nice with the end of the Nero d’Avola.