Genoa – The Ancient Island of Sardegna
April 28, 2010
This month’s menu at Genoa takes us to the fascinating island of Sardegna, where the coastal waters and rugged pastoral highlands have defined the cuisine of this ancient isle for centuries. More than any other region in Italy, the culinary customs of Sardegna have been passed along for countless generations, fueled by the seasonal simplicity of local ingredients and marked by the flavors and aromas of the Mediterranean.
As always, we have found a way to pair the bounty of the Northwest with the traditional dishes of Italy. On this menu, your pasta course offers the choice of Culurjones de Patate, a fresh take on ravioli, stuffed with potatoes and served with that arbiter of Spring – the fava bean. Our other pasta is the traditional Malloreddus, delicious morsels of saffron and semolina pasta, shaped like tiny gnocchi and served with a ragu of veal and pork.
For the main courses, we are grilling a rack of Cattail Creek Lamb the Sardegnian way – over fresh myrtle leaves. These leaves impart a wonderfully aromatic flavor similar to bay leaves. Also on this menu, you will find our version of the traditional rock lobster found along the coastal regions of the island. We have brought in some small Maine lobsters, which we are serving with a sauce made from bottarga – the cured tuna roe the Sardegnians made famous. A quail stuffed with spring nettles and mushrooms rounds out our entrée options.
Please join us between now and May 15th to experience the cuisine of this very special island. The full menu is reproduced for your reading pleasure at the end of this newsletter.
Thank you,
The Staff of Genoa
Other Events in May:
SNAP Benefit Dinner, May 4th, 2010. 10% of Genoa’s proceeds from the evening of May 4th will go to benefit SNAP, (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which assists low income families in supplementing their diet with fresh local produce and other products from the farmers market. The Portland kick-off for this program begins May 6th at the Buckman Farmers Market on SE 20th. Call us now to make your reservation!
Mother’s Day, Sunday May 9th. We have decided to open our doors on a Sunday. A very special Sunday. Mother’s Day. Do it right this year — bring Mom to Genoa and show her the love!
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“The Ancient Island of Sardegna”
Menu for April 28th through May 15th
First course
Fregula con Cocciule- Puget Sound clams steamed in a soffritto of garlic, parsley and tomatoes then baked in their shells and served with Sardinian couscous
Pasta course- choice of one of the following
Culurjones de Patate- delicate pasta stuffed with potatoes and mint, tossed with butter, fava beans, and topped with grated Fiore de Sardo cheese
or
Malloreddus- traditional handmade semolina pasta flavored with saffron and shaped like little gnocchi served in a savory ragu of pork and veal, flavored with rosemary
Salad Course
Insalata de Ricotta Pecora Fresca- a composed salad of creamy sheep’s milk ricotta with fresh English peas, pea shoots and grilled green garlic drizzled with Sardinian extra virgin olive oil
Main Course- choice of one of the following
Aragosta con Bottarga di Tonno- broiled Maine lobster with smashed baby turnips and wilted spring greens finished with a complex sauce of lobster essence and cured tuna roe
or
Quaglie con Funghi e Ortica- pan roasted quail stuffed with wild mushrooms, nettles and herbsserved over grilled asparagus and finished with a red wine reduction
or
Costotine di Agnello- half rack of Cattail Creek Lamb marinated and grilled over myrtle leaves served with roasted new potatoes and artichokes and topped with a rhubarb and caper compote
Dessert- choice of one of the following
Formaggi – a selection of domestic and imported artisanal cheeses with house made condiments
or
Dolci – a choice from a selection of our favorite desserts, including an extravagant Torta di Cimabue, creamy lemon zuccotto, rhubarb/apple crostata, and crispy fried ravioli dolce with orange blossom ice cream
Five courses for fifty-five dollars