It wasn't hard to like the Mediterranean Seafood Fettucini at Shearwater last Thursday. The clams were salty and potent, the halibut was firm and meaty, the shrimp just right... The mixtures of peppers,sundried tomatoes, parmesan cheese and green onion a nice contrast... but then there was the noodles themselves. I feel a little shocked to be writing a paean about pasta but I was blown away by the simple luxuriousness of the pasta. It was cooked just right, it was probably mixed with a nice olive oil... it all ended up becoming one of those "close your eyes and just "be" within the happy silence of your mind, zen-kinda pasta". Did you ever have one of those moments where what seemed to be the simplest part of the restaurant dish ended up being the part that made your mind reel?
I've tasted the usual accompanying bread at most pasta places. Their usually-toasted chunks redolent with salty margarine and god-knows-what-kind of fake-ish garlic. What came with my pasta on Thursday (and before Xmas too, incidentally) was a beautiful piece of bread heaven. There are little flecks of rosemary in the pillowy depths of the core and a lovely chewy crust lightly dusted with flour. Does a pasta dinner with buttered toast get any better than this? I think not!
7 comments:
ah, you should get a free dinner for this review...sorry i missed this great night of eats across the way...
-lisa maria
*drool*
Wow, you make that pasta sound so good.....
LOL Lisa-- I did tell them about the reviewing a little while back. I've gotten a few perks from my attendance there. But from what I hear, our going over there perks up the cook' night because I guess he knows we're there to appreciate good food, not a burger or salad or something.
linda: it Was, linda, it WAS!
Pasta zen and bread heaven? What a lovely turn of words.
Sign me up, please!
Thanks, s'kat :D You're signed up. And you know what? Last night I think the chef outdid himself even MORE! Look for my poetic outpourings about that LOL.
I know just what you mean! My moments like this in a restaurant are too few and far between. I've decided I need to ditch chain restaurants, but with an active Kiddo and a more traditional-eating husband, that's usually where we end up. But you do remember those special meals for many years and relive them in your mind, don't you? At least I do....
Lisa: I've little choice between restaurants around here. There are only two. The more local one is a close approximation of a burger joint whereas the one across the water is a little more classy. At least you have more than two to choose from.
I do totally know what you mean about remembering a meal for years. Two that come to mind were in a VERY posh restaurant in the Louvre (their soup was poetry) and the food from a hotel retaurant in Brittany (we stayed a week and I think I gained a pound or two for each day).
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