New Blog Website Address
Assaggio’s blog has a new look and website address, http://www.assaggioseattle.com/blog/
Check it out and let us know what you think. Make sure you update your bookmarks. Thanks!
-Assaggio
Snowpocalypse Shows Mauro’s Heart
With Snowpocalypse becoming a distant memory, I am reminded that the small things are what truly warm the soul during these extreme circumstances. To the brave workers who trekked to the downtown area and for those who were stranded, Assaggio generously offered an extended happy hour to keep spirits up and going. But there is one encounter that stands out, and I had to share it.
Last Thursday, an out-of-town couple poked their heads into the restaurant after we had shut the doors, hungry and very disheartened with the fact that most restaurants in the area were closed due to icy conditions. Only Mauro, one dishwasher and myself were left cleaning and with no surprise at all, Mauro graciously opened his arms, welcoming them to sit down and warm up. Throwing on his chef coat and turning up the burners, Mauro expertly whipped up a two bowls of pasta for the starved travelers. Which were of course accompanied with glasses of wine, an Italian must. The couple offered to pay but Mauro wouldn’t hear of it, explaining it was on the house. Mauro truly knows how to connect to people through food and I am glad to have had the opportunity to see it firsthand.
-MN
Carmine’s Passing
With a heavy heart, I am deeply saddened at the passing of Carmine Smeraldo, owner of Il Terrazzo Carmine, on January 11. Carmine was one of the great restaurateurs of Seattle, a passionate man who greeted customers with warmth and focused on the dining experience, taking everything to heart. His business opened two years ahead of mine, and I looked up to him in every way. Life is to be enjoyed and Carmine certainly did, both at work and at home with his wife, Maria. My deepest sympathies go out to Carmine’s friends and family. He will be remembered and missed by all.
-MG
Interview of Mauro by Mario’s
Interview of Mauro by Mario’s clothing at 1513 6th Avenue. Find the original blog post here or read below, and make sure to visit their store online at http://marios.com/.
True Italian Taste By lisa on January 16, 2012
As luck would have it our long-time friend and Mario’s patron, Mauro Golmarvi, paid us a visit on Friday. As the proprietor of Assaggio Ristorante (and a veritable Italian), it’s part of Mauro’s job to know quality when he sees it. We snatched this golden opportunity and asked Mauro a few questions about why he chooses to shop at Mario’s. If you’ve yet to meet him you’re in for a real treat— just like the delicious Italian food he is so famous for—he’s warm, welcoming and full of passion.
[THE EDIT] Mauro, what has kept you coming back to Mario’s all these years?
[MAURO] The variety. You always have the latest from all of my favorite designers.
[THE EDIT] Who are your favorite designers?
[MAURO] Cucinelli is what I always wear, for casual, that is. When I get dressed up on Fridays and Saturdays I wear Isaia.
[THE EDIT] In true Italian fashion, of course. How would you describe your personal style, besides Italian excellence?
[MAURO] Comfortable- and you get comfort with quality. Mario’s is about the quality. Once you put something on, it looks like a tailor spent twenty hours on your outfit.
[THE EDIT] You’ve shopped here for quite some time now. How do you feel that Mario’s has evolved your sense of fashion over the years?
[MAURO] I have shopped here for twenty years, and the biggest thing I have learned is that how you dress is a large part of how you represent yourself. When I walk into my restaurant I want to make a statement. Now, when I’m working, women often say to me, “What are you wearing? I want to show my husband.” So, I Send the couple down to Mario’s, and when the shoppers need a nice Italian meal, they send them on down to me.
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Table by table, the restaurant fills up with a very joyful crowd. You can feel the year coming to an end as people celebrate with delicious Italian food and glasses full of Prosecco. Three seatings and the staff is still all smiles, while Mauro chats it up with every table. As midnight creeps closer, Kristen passes out an assortment of noisemakers and hats, transforming the restaurant into a glistening bandstand. Rounding everyone up, Mauro escorts the group through the kitchen and out the backdoor to the alley, where the Space Needle’s fireworks display is visible. Noisemakers fill the night sky and the countdown beings.
5…4…3…2…1…
Boom! Happy New Year!
Hugs and greetings soon take over as the fireworks light up the sky. A truly unique and warm start to the New Year.
We wish everyone a happy and joyous New Year, Buon Anno!
-Assaggio Ristorante
Video of Carol Singing at Assaggio
We got our groove on last night singing the Twelve Days of Christmas with our guests during the dinner service. Every few tables was assigned a different verse and we made it through the whole song, laughing and all. Watch a portion of the performance below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzrxWdlsIRg
Buon Natale!
-MG
New Year’s Eve Tradition
New Year’s Eve, La Festa di San Silvestro, is a festive occasion in Italy that brings friends and families together to celebrate the coming of the New Year with a feast and multiple activities.
The night starts off with food and it is traditional to eat a huge dinner of lentils and pork. Lentils are symbols of prosperity because they resemble coins and the more you eat the more coins you will get throughout the year. They are often served with pork, another symbol for the richness of life.
You might find yourself playing a game called Tombola which is similar to Bingo while waiting for the fireworks to start. Many parties often last until sunrise in order to watch the first sunrise of the newborn year.
A tradition that has been mostly prohibited throughout Italy is the act of throwing out old possessions through an open window in the hopes of forgetting past misfortunes and clearing the way for new luck. A more recent tradition is the exchange of red underwear by couples, typically only worn once. The color wards off the Malocchio (Evil Eye) and is a symbol of love, prosperity and fertility.
Create your own New Year’s Eve Italian tradition at Assaggio. We welcome you to dine with us throughout the night for a traditional Italian meal, complete with our savory cuisine and lots of Prosecco to toast. With our late night seating, we would be honored if you’d join us in celebrating the Space Needle’s fireworks and help us ring in the New Year.
Buon Anno!
-MG
Sing a Carol With Us
Fa, la, la! Join us for an Assaggio tradition on Wednesday, December 21, as we sing the 12 Days of Christmas at a special time during the dinner service. Be a part of the festivities and let your vocal chords harmonize with ours as you enjoy your meal; no American Idol judges here. Happy Holidays!
Legend of La Befana and Gift Ideas
As Christmas approaches, I thought I would share with you another Italian tradition. In Italy, the holiday season lasts until January 6, The Epiphany. One of Italy’s beloved legends is of the kindly old witch, La Befana.
The story goes that the Three Wise men stopped at her house to ask for directions on their way to Bethlehem. To repay her kindness, they invited her to join them but she refused, claiming she had too much housework to finish. Later that day a shepherd asked her to join him in paying respect to the Christ Child but again she declined. That night she realized she should have gone, and so she gathered toys and ran after them, broom in hand, but couldn’t find them or the stable. Now each year on the night of January 5, high up on her broom, she delivers gifts to children hoping to find the Christ Child.
Speaking of gifts, do you have all your shopping done? No? Well of course, Assaggio gift certificates fit perfectly in those holiday cards or have a bit of fun and wrap them in various sized boxes. Because ripping wrapping paper off is the best part, right? But if those gift certificates are already checked off your list, we have a few more fun and unique suggestions below.
Corkcicle $22.95
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/corkcicle
“What looks like an arctic front freezing its way through the center of your bottle is actually the innovative Corkcicle. This icicle is made of BPA-free plastic filled with a reusable freeze gel, so you don’t have to worry about an early thaw diluting your wine. Simply place your Corkcicle in the freezer for at least two hours, and then insert it into any bottle of wine (after 1 glass has been poured) to maintain chilled white wine or to bring up red wines to their perfect temperature.”
Recycled Wine Glasses $28
http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/recycled-wine-glasses
“Handmade in Colombia from recycled glass, these substantial stemless wine glasses will add an interesting twist to any glass of wine. Sturdy and strong, the thick glass has a slight green hue that comes from a tint originally added to lessen the sun’s glare. Beautiful and interesting, these stemless wine glasses are an uncommon take on a stylish design.”
Honest Boy Pencil Sharpener $14
http://www.fredflare.com/WHAT-S-NEW/Honest-Boy-Pencil-Sharpener/
“This pencil/sharpener combo gives Piniocchio a chance at honesty as his nose shortens the more you use and sharpen the pencil.”
Singing Gondolier $39.95
http://www.signals.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?action=DETAIL&ITEM=HL2832&websource=findgift&keyword=HL2832&source_code=S02FG1
“Bring a bit of Venice to your pool or pond. Standing upright in his gondola, wearing traditional attire, our little gondolier sings three authentic Italian songs as the motorized boat moves through the water.”
Gelato Maker $247.99
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RT91FM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwistosi-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B002RT91FM
“Impress dinner guests with delicious, authentic gelato–like the kind found in an Italian gelato shop–thanks to this easy-to-use countertop appliance.”
-MG
La Vigilia
There is no greater delight during the holidays than gathering around a bountiful table and indulging with friends and family. Like most cultures, Italy has its own traditional holiday foods. The Christmas Eve meal is called La Vigilia, Feast of the Seven Fishes, which includes seven different seafood dishes though this number varies from region to region. The meal dates back to the Roman Catholic tradition of refraining from the consumption of meat (except fish) on specific holy days. Almost any fish dish you can think of turns up during this feast but the key is to serve everything one course at a time so you can talk, and talk, and talk, sharing a bottle of wine or two.
At Assaggio, we are offering our own Italian-style Christmas Eve dinner specials in addition to our menu, focusing on hearty family style servings. White lasagna, homemade pastas and of course seafood soup, are only a few of the dishes being prepared. Relax and enjoy the company of friends and make sure to celebrate with lots of Prosecco or maybe a warm mug of Bombardino, egg nog and brandy.
And just in case you want to have your own Feast of the Seven Fishes, here is a seafood dish from my cookbook (which you can purchase through our website) to get you started:
Brodetto Anconetano
Seafood Soup
Serves 6
1 pound small to medium-sized mussels
1 pound clams
2 tablespoons butter
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ pound squid, cut into rings
½ cup chopped green onions
½ cup saffron tea (see below)
2 cups fish broth (see below)
1 cup heavy cream
½ pound bay scallops
½ pound cooked, shelled bay shrimp
Fresh parsley leaves
Wash and scrub mussels and clams well under cold running water, discarding any open clams and mussels. Remove the beard from the mussels.
Melt butter over medium-low heat in a large saucepan; add salt and pepper. Add squid and sauté for two minutes. Add mussels and green onions and sauté for another two minutes. Pour in saffron tea, fish broth, and cream. Increase heat to medium, cover, and bring to a boil, about five minutes. Add clams and scallops, cover, and cook for two minutes. Stir in shrimp, cover, and cook for two more minutes, or until all calms have opened. Transfer immediately to a large, low-sided serving bowl, discarding any unopened mussels and clams.
Garnish with parsley leaves and serve with grilled Tuscan bread.
Saffron Tea
Makes 3 cups
1 tablespoon saffron threads
3 cups of water
Heat a small dry frying pan or skillet to medium low; add saffron threads, and toast lightly, stirring often for three to five minutes. Saffron should not turn black. Remove saffron from the pan.
Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan. Add saffron, reduce heat to low and simmer for ten minutes. You can either strain the tea or leave the saffron threads in.
Saffron tea can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to one week or frozen for later use.
Fish Broth
Makes 3 to 4 quarts
2 pounds fish heads, fish strips, prawn shells, or whole fish
2 celery stalks, with leaves, broken into three pieces
2 medium carrots, peeled and cut in half
1 large onion, quartered
6 black peppercorns
2 tablespoons salt
3 bay leaves, broken into small pieces
2 tablespoons lobster base (optional)
4 quarts plus 2 cups cold water
Place seafood, celery, carrots, onion, peppercorns, salt, bay leaves and lobster base in a very large pot. Add cold water and simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat for one hour. Skim surface foam occasionally with a slotted spoon.
Strain broth, discarding solids. Broth can be separated into convenient containers and frozen for later use.
Bon Natale!
-MG
