Asti

 
There are moments in a dining experience when the disparate elements that make up a great meal blend seamlessly together to create that ultimate meal. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it is something you remember with great pleasure.

I had such an experience last week at Asti, the great little Italian trattoria in Hyde Park.

It began with my server. She was charming, knowoledgeable, and aware of the dynamic at our table. Soup fan that I am, I asked about the mushroom soup. She replied that it was a vegan mushroom soup and steered me away from it, suggesting that it might be a bit thin for my taste. I had to taste it after that, of course, and while the soup had nice flavor, I had to admit she was dead on correct. After that, we placed ourselves in her capable hands.

The calamari with a roasted tomato aoli was a total delight. Crispy and firm to the bite, the pristine flavor of the dish resonated. Perhaps one of the best calamari in the area.

The grilled panini, the Italian cheese melt with prosciutto, was simply delicious. I am a huge fan of these grilled italian sandwiches and Asti’s did not disaspoint.

The entrees were no less delicious. My companion tried the Penne with grilled chicken and spinach in a lovely gorgonzola cream sauce. This dish was a joy to look at and the taste was authentic. The gorgonzola complemented without overwhelming, as it should, penne was al dente, and the spinach had a very nice flavor. The sauce had a perfect texture and was not in the least bit runny, as can happen with this dish.

I had the risotto with an assortment of shellfish. And it was magical. Risotto, which is arborial rice, absorbs the flavors of the ingredients its prepared with. When done poorly, the dish can be thin, almost soupy in texture. At Asti, the composition is dead-on, and the taste is quite remarkable. My plate upon finishing, was so clean it probably could have by passed the dishwasher.

And don’t forget to sample the Polenta bowls. I’ve tried the Grlled House made Sausage and Tomato sauce Fresca with shaved parmesan cheese and it’s more than worthy of your consideration.

Emmit and Lisa Fox have crafted a wonderful little restaurant out in Hyde Park. And my seamless, perfectly wonderful lunch last week stands in testimony to what can happen when art and passion for one’s craft intersect.The food, the service, the ambiance….all combine to elevate the dining experience.