Last night we went to Nostrani Ristorante for dinner. Initially they had sent an e-mail saying they had fresh blue-fin tuna from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Market. So we figured we’d try for three or four different crudos from it for dinner. Then mid-afternoon another e-mail came saying that they had just gotten winter black truffles from France and white truffles from Alba. Oh Boy!! We then planned on starting with a tuna crudo appetizer, followed by a primi of pasta or risotto with white truffles, followed by a secondi of something with the black truffles.
We arrived for our 6pm reservation, were seated at our regular table, and ordered our sparking water and wine, a 2005 Marcarini Barbera d’Alba ‘Ciabot Camerano’. Eric came back and said they were out of that Barbera, so we ordered a Dolcetto. The waiter showed up a few minutes later with a bottle of the Barbera; he found the last bottle. It was as enjoyable and fruity as the last one. We then talked about our meal plans. we’d get two tuna crudos; one with black truffles. The Barbera was very good with the first crudo - slices of tuna in olive oil on a bed of thinly sliced fennel and trevisio. Then after Eric had finally gotten back into the kitchen, we got a generous, lovely crudo with slices of tuna loin and fatty tuna mounded in Belgian Endive leaves, topped with black truffle slices. It was very good with the end of our Barbera and with the beginning of our second wine. Eric had suggested a 2000 Prunotto Barbaresco. After a bit the waiter came with a bottle of 2000 Moccagatta Barbaresco ‘Bric Balin’; they were out of the Prunotto. It also was as enjoyable as the last one we had with tuna and white truffles at Nostrani. Then we shared an order of tagliarini with white truffles. The Barbaresco was very good with the truffled pasta. After two very generous crudos and the rich pasta, we were too full to have another course. So we finished the wine and shared a plate of cookies with a short, intense double espresso each.
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