Scarpetta

I went to Scarpetta on friday with Carolyn and Christina from David Beahm.  

 I remember going to the space like 9 years ago.  It was a really nasty dive.  I remember the bathrooms being filthy and people drinking Pabst Blue Ribbon beer unironically.   Not so much any more.  The space is beautiful, despite the vinyl siding on the outside of the building. There is a sky light in the dining room and the walls are finished with beautiful wood.

The food is great too.  We had a creamy polenta with fricassee of mushrooms that was warm and complex, and a burratta with eggplant that was nicely balanced. 

Carolyn had the black cod with tomato glaze that she described as moist and flakey. Christian had the tagliatelle with lamb ragu, and I had the spaghetti with tomato and basil.  The spaghetti was creamy and light with just enough basil flavor. 

For dessert we had the red wine stewed cherries with yogurt and candied fennel.  It was elegant and homey at the same time.  It seemed like something you would get at a nice dinner party in Sweden.

All in all I will be going back there again, if for nothing else, to have some more of the Mascarpone butter that they server with the bread.