What Happens When You Take Italy + Argentina? La Fiamma! & More News Here

Alexandria, VA – You might have identified Melina Pardo’s dad and mom and their restaurant Paradiso on Franconia Rd. When they determined to retire, Melina and her husband Gonzalo, who she met at Paradiso, jumped on the alternative to take over the restaurant and make it their very own.  You can style the distinction. Gonzalo is from Argentina and his affect is obvious in most of the conventional and new takes on menu gadgets you’ve at all times liked.

The restaurant underwent a whole renovation leading to a fantastically appointed but snug place to take pleasure in lunch, dinner, and brunch. New tables had been simply put in this month. The ‘Kid’s Room’ has returned and count on karaoke and trivia nights to observe sooner or later.

The bar menu options specialty drinks that change each few weeks.  These handcrafted cocktails are scrumptious – displaying wondrous creativity. There are craft beers and wines served by the glass or bottle.  And, you possibly can take pleasure in many of those choices throughout blissful hour from 3 pm to six pm. I’m a sucker for a very good margarita and liked the Unpredictable. It featured Corralejo Reposado tequila, Cointreau, wild berry puree, and lime. It was so refreshing and simple to sip. Another nice drink is the English Mule made with Botanist Botanical Gin, cucumbers, lime, easy syrup, and topped with ginger beer – served in a conventional copper mule mug. Definitely a sensible selection. For non-drinkers, take a look at the Elderflower Mocktail made with elderflower syrup, lime, membership soda, sliced limes, and mint.

We began our dinner with antipasti together with a plate of scrumptious calamari that had been marinated for tenderness, then seasoned, floured, and flash fried. They had been served with each a basic marinara and a lemon sauce. They had been spectacular, a lot in order that the sauce wasn’t even wanted. The plate went again to the kitchen empty. Also scrumptious was the bruschetta. The crunchy toasted items of garlicy home-baked rolls had been topped with contemporary diced tomatoes, extra garlic, parmesan, and drizzled with additional virgin olive oil (EVOO). They had been taste bombs. The pleasant antipasto of Mozzarella Caprese got here with contemporary sliced tomatoes had been topped with contemporary mozzarella and served over arugula. They tomatoes had been drizzled with a balsamic glaze and garnished with roasted purple peppers. I don’t know the place these tomatoes got here from however they tasted so contemporary. Always a good selection is the Charcuterie Tavola appropriate for sharing. It is a groaning board of an assortment of cured meats, chosen cheeses, and supplemented with olives, pepperoncini, and artichoke hearts.  We additionally shared a Caesar salad that checked all of the packing containers. The romaine lettuce was tossed with their do-it-yourself Caesar dressing and topped with croutons and shaved Pecorino. Delicious! Did I point out that the antipasti had been accompanied with home made rolls and a dipping sauce of EVOO and grated Parmesan. Vegetarians will benefit from the Insalata Tre Colori made with arugula, radicchio, endive, fennel, and cremini mushrooms and topped with roasted walnuts and garnished with shaved Pecorino Romano cheese and a balsamic French dressing.

Let the dinner start! Gonzalo’s Argentinian roots comes into play. As a rule, you don’t come to an Italian restaurant for steak however you will need to know that each rule has it’s exception. All of us across the desk agreed that the grilled Bistecca Alla Fiamma was top-of-the-line steaks we had ever had. The 16-ounce hand-cut ribeye was grilled to a spectacular medium uncommon. I have to say it was higher than most steaks served at some steak homes. It was surrounded by roasted potatoes and a mixture of contemporary greens. The facet of do-it-yourself chimichurri was the proper accompaniment. The steak was crusty from the grill whereas as tender as could possibly be. If you need to eat steak, take a look at this one! We had been all very well mannered as we tried to share although we didn’t need to. I need to return and have extra of that steak and take a look at a number of the different grilled gadgets just like the Braciola Di Maiale Alla Brace, a hand-cut grilled Frenched pork store topped with a mushroom burgundy sauce and served with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli. I need to strive the Rack of Lamb that calls to me as it’s grilled to order with a cremini mushroom burgundy demi-glace and served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and spinach sautéed with garlic and olive oil.

On the opposite hand, if I skipped the Chicken Marsala, I might have been very sorry. Anything made with Marsala is a winner in my guide. The pan seared rooster was completed in a Marsala wine mushroom sauce served over pasta. The taste of the sauce was intense, the rooster moist, and the pasta soaked up the sauce so not a drop was wasted. The similar dish is accessible with veal should you choose. Seafood lovers will benefit from the Pasta Pescattore. Linguine pasta was tossed with clams, mussels, shrimp, and scallops that had been cooked in spices and herbs, then tossed with a garlic white wine sauce. OMG – I can’t think about a greater approach to eat this assortment of seafood. If you favor, order it with a purple sauce. Pescatarians will benefit from the Red Snapper Alla Piccata with a pan seared purple snapper filet topped with capers and served in a white wine sauce over capellini tossed with contemporary spinach, EVOO, and garlic. There’s additionally Ravioli Di Aragosta, lobster-filled ravioli served in a cream sauce with asparagus and contemporary diced tomatoes.

There is loads of pasta to go round if you’d like it. We had the Gnocchi Alla Vodka – a dish full of conventional Italian potato dumplings tossed in a creamy tomato vodka sauce. The very tender nuggets soaked up an ideal sauce. Just pretty.  Vegetarians will love the gemelli pasta tossed with broccoli, asparagus, spinach, and inexperienced peas in a light-weight Alfredo sauce. It could be topped with rooster, sausage, rooster, shrimp, or salmon as desired. There is Pesto Genovese made with angel hair pasta served with do-it-yourself pesto sauce, Manicotti full of ricotta cheese and topped with cream, tomato, or pink sauce. Pizza is ready with contemporary dough and sauces and topped with scrumptious toppings, then baked in a brick oven. We shared the Margherita pizza made on a house-made crust and topped with contemporary mozzarella, hand crushed tomatoes, contemporary basil, and drizzled with EVOO. It was unbelievable. There are at the very least a dozen varieties to strive. Gluten free crusts are additionally accessible.

Dessert decisions abound however your greatest guess is the Tiramisu. I’ve tried many variations, some over-soaked with espresso to the purpose of sogginess or coated with whipped cream. This is a tiramisu cloud. The slice is plated so fantastically, it’s possible you’ll hesitate to eat it however don’t. The girl fingers are soaked in espresso and layered with velvety mascarpone cream and dusted with cocoa powder.

If you possibly can’t come from lunch or dinner, come for the Sunday brunch. The tables groan with a tremendous assortment of dishes. Served from 10 am till 2:30 pm, will probably be your individual fault should you stroll away hungry. Some of the highlights embrace a platter of house-smoked salmon, served with crème fraiche, capers, and chopped onions. So significantly better than what you discover in these plastic packages on the grocery. Eggs Benedict are scrumptious. There is simply sufficient of the hollandaise to tickle your tongue that enhances the peerlessly cooked egg, ham, and English muffin. Did I point out the prime rib sliced completely, prepared for a dollop of horseradish? There are all kinds of pastas which can be topped with a wide range of sauces, meats, and seafood. Pick out your toppings and watch as your omelet is made to order. Or, get some freshly made waffles and French toast. You can go over to the pizza oven and get a chunk of pizza. Desserts embrace an assortment of house-made cookies, meringues, and macaroons. There are a wide range of desserts and a house-made flan that’s wonderful. As if there wasn’t sufficient, there’s ice cream and an enormous platter of contemporary fruit.

Melina and Gonzalo really make La Fiamma stay as much as its motto: Eat, Drink, Enjoy!

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