Great Taste

Sopra Sotto to close

Sopra Sotto, "The Italian Living Store," located in The Shops at University Square, Rochester, will be closing its doors for good in the coming weeks. 

Owner Maureen McNally writes in an email:

"I have decided that it is time to relocate back to my second hometown of Los Angeles, California, and re-imagine Sopra Sotto! I will be opening a showroom in the Los Angeles Mart and continue to be a source of fine Italian artisanal products....Sopra Sotto will continue as an on-line business as well as a direct business source in California. To make it even easier we will be adding an Amazon Sopra Sotto store as well as retaining our www.sopra-sotto.com store.....As part of our business plan for Sopra Sotto in the future, we hope to expand our offerings also to include fine Italian wines." 

Sopra Sotta has for years helped anchor downtown Rochester's food scene. Its merchandise has included outstanding Italian imported products ranging from Carnaroli risotto rice, lentils, and specialty pastas to fine chocolates to dried porcini mushrooms, uncommon balsamic vinegars, olive oils, and herb blends.

Regularly featured Italian cooking classes have been often taught by top Italian chef and cookbook author Antonio Cecconi. Delicious, freshly prepared foods and beverages have been available for eat-in at an elegant counter in the back of the shop.

Sopra Sotto also has featured Italian handmade ceramics, sleek espresso machines, table linens, leather goods, and bath and body products, among other items.

This writer wishes Ms. McNally the best of luck with her future plans but will sorely miss her retail space in the heart of downtown.....Great Taste offers a heartfelt "thank you" to Maureen for serving the area with her truly exceptional store.

Back Room Deli now has salad bar

Great Taste enjoys the freshly made, innovative soups and rustic nosh at Good Food Store Co-op's Back Room Deli, Rochester. Options just got better with a new salad bar. More here.  

Want a 4-day culinary escape to NYC?

Every month gourmet store Sur La Table (with Minnesota location in Edina) features an elaborate Friday-through-Monday food adventure in New York City. Next trip is May 20. Check out the fun here. 

Looking for Father's Day ideas?

Consider the following, featuring chef/instructor Antonio Cecconi, from Sopra Sotto, Rochester:

OH, MY PAPA! FATHER'S DAY BRUNCH 

SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH

NOON TO 3 PM

Antonio will inspire you and your Papa with a menu that is wonderful for summer grilling. Tasty Herb Pasta will be prepared and served as the first course. The main course will be Grilled Spiedini Misti of meat and vegetables on Rosemary Spears.  A hearty Insalata Piccante features green beans, fresh fennel, radicchio and marinated artichoke hearts with Three Herb Dressing.  Dessert is the classic Italian Strawberry Zabaglione.  Italian wines accompany the courses.

For more information on this and other upcoming Sopra Sotto culinary events, click here. 

Justin Schoville's back!

The former head chef at Sontes and James Beard Award semifinalist Justin Schoville is now available as a private chef through ZZest Market & Cafe, Rochester. 

According to ZZest's website, Schoville will "design a custom menu" and create dinner "for you and a small group of your friends, cooked right in your own kitchen."

 

Paczki for Fat Tuesday? Info here

Paczki is a Polish deep-fried pastry, similar to a doughnut, with jam or custard filling. It's popular at this time of year; details:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/03/paczki-day-2011-where-to-_n_830805.html

In Rochester paczki is available at Daube's Cakes and Bakery.

 

How's that diet going? Time for a Jenny Lind Bakery reward?

Your Great Taste blogger weighed in last night almost 9 pounds lighter than a few weeks back.

Time to start dreaming up a sweet little reward. Red Wing, perhaps? Did anyone just think--Jenny Lind Bakery? 

Drool over this: http://www.jennylindbakery.net/bakery_menu.html#half 

Authentic NOLA dinner at ZZest

From Zzest Market & Cafe, Rochester:

The "Big E," Chef Eric Austin, will be our guest chef for a Creole evening at ZZest.  His Chef training in New York, France, Italy, and Amsterdam,  as well as his New Orleans background,  at Commanders Palace and Brennan's, will be featured in this authentic (that is, not the Minnesota version) 5-course Creole Chef's dinner.

The March 3rd event features a choice of two seatings, 6 or 8 pm, and is $65 per person.

If you plan to go, call ASAP.  According to an email message that arrived last night from owner LeeAnn Zubay: "....by the time you get this email it will probably be sold out!....But there could very likely be some cancellations."   

To reserve call 507-424-0080. Zubay also has a raclette tasting in the works for mid March.  Wait a minute....Creole cooking followed by a raclette cheese event? Is this foodie paradise or what?  

 

Update: Italian cooking classes for spring at Sopra Sotto

From Sopra Sotto, Rochester:

THE ART OF PRIMO PIATTO: FIRST COURSES WITH ANTONIO CECCONI

Saturday, March 12, 2011

 

Learn the basics of pasta, risotto and polenta - the three basics true Italian che's master. First, the classic technique for  homemade pasta.  Risotto is common in the Po River valley and has spread throughout the country and world. The mountains and rural towns of northern Italy are famous for polenta.  Once the basic technique is mastered, polenta can be served as an elegant antipasti platter or the base for a main course dish topped with meat sauce. This is true Italian cooking at it's best!  Wine served, as always!

ARRIVEDERCI TO WINTER WITH ANTONIO CECCONI

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Is winter over yet? Here is an Italian solution to that question: Start with an antipasti of spinach polenta soup, follow with an Il Primo of Chicken with Tarragon Mustard sauce accompanied by Eggplant Parmesan; Dessert will be an Alpine Almond Torte, which is always a palate pleaser.

This menu will feel like the perfect way to say arrivederci to winter! Wine will accompany the courses.

 

The Cuisine of Le Marche
Wednesday, March 23

The Italian region of Le Marche, known as "the anti-Tuscany", in many ways mirrors the image of its more internationally renowned neighbor. Le Marche  is located on the eastern coastline of Italy & is an undiscovered jewel. This region borders Tuscany, Emilia Romagna, Abruzzo and Umbria; borrowing from the cuisines of all four regions. It's Central Italy at its tastiest! 

Antonio will give us the Grand Tour and incorporate some of the signature dishes of Le Marche for this evening. We will also explore the wines of this delightful region.

Primavera in Italia (Springtime in Italy)
Saturday, April 9, 2011

Springtime in Italy is signaled by the arrival of fresh sweet fruits and vegetables that appear in the market and at the roadside vendors. Tender fresh herbs bursting with flavor, artichokes and berries enliven the menu and spirit again. Antonio will take you away to Italy with a first course of Pasta Primavera with fresh herbs that really tastes like spring! This will be followed by sizzling Spring Lamb chops with mint accompanied by Sautéed Artichokes and Insalata al Basilico.  Dessert is a Raspberry Fruit Sorbet. Wine accompanies the courses.

ITALIAN EASTER BRUNCH
Sunday, April 10, 2011

Celebrate Spring with an Antipasto of Frittata del Giardino (Frittata Garden Style)  followed by Ziti  Asparagi ( Ziti pasta with asparagus sauce). The main course is Salmone Marinato alla Menta (grilled salmon with mint marinade) accompanied by Peperonata ai Tre Colori  (Warm Tricolor Bell Pepper Salad). Strawberries with Marsala Sauce end the meal on a yummy note!

CUISINE OF EMILIA-ROMAGNA
Thursday, April 21, 2011

Emilia-Romagna is the considered the culinary capital of Italy. Parma, Bologna, Modena and Reggio are famous for ingredients like prosciutto, balsamic vinegar, Parmigiana-Reggiano cheese and, of course, Bolognese sauce.  On the menu this evening is Ravioli Bolognese which will show you the techniques of the perfect Bolognese sauce. For the Secondo course, “Costolette di Maiale al Pepe” (peppered pork chops) served with “Cavolfiore e Finocchio Gratinato” (cauliflower and fennel gratin) and an Insalta. Our dolci is Profiterole with Chocolate Amaretto sauce. 

Looking for fresh basil in winter?

If you have a recipe that requires fresh basil leaves--pesto, maybe--or if you just love the taste and fragrance of fresh basil, Trader Joe's, Rochester, has a lot of it to offer. GG bought a package of the herb this evening and enjoyed it on a plate with cold vegetable salad, egg salad, and burrata cheese. 

It's terribly chilly outside for one to be consuming a cold food plate but this was just right after indulgence on the recent trip to Chicago.