Della Santina’s

In Sonoma have the best food we ever tasted outside Italy. I have to start with then end today. Plan sometimes changes, and today was one of these days. We knew it was well known, but we went early and expected to manage to get a table within reasonable time at The Girl and the Fig, but it was two hour s wait or more, so we booked a table for tomorrow.

So change of planes and hit the streets to find another restaurant to enjoy some dinner for the evening.

Within not too long we did find an Italian restaurant we had noticed yesterday Della Santina’s (http://www.dellasantinas.com) .

Not easy to get a table at the patio, but inside. We accepted, but did notice his pictures from Lucca so we start chat about that, and before they took our order they managed to get us at a table at the patio.

What a great start to something that ended up as the best Italian dinner we ever have had outside Italy. That the owner is first generation born in US, but his strong roots from Lucca indeed helps, and we can feel the touch of different restaurants in Lucca.

Our starter was Prosecuto con Melone; I felt I was at Ristorante Osteria Baralla in Via Anfiteatro 5 in Lucca. The only difference was that Robert also used Peaches along with the Melon. Great taste and along with the house wine, a Sangiovese we was in Italy and in Lucca. We are looking for a house with a small vineyard in the area of Lucca already, if it will be this or next year or the year after we will see when we find it, but retirement will be that acre or two to look after of Italian grapes.

Laila got what she wanted; “Pappardelle alla Lepre”

and I Anatra Arrosto con Risotto Selvatico.

I must say, I have never tasted anything better, Not in Italy, not outside Italy. It was a taste that was heaven, something for Chef Ramsey or any other chef to taste. The atmosphere is more a gourmet restaurant, but at the same time had a perfect cozy atmosphere like an Italian restaurant in Italy without being to “fancy”. Prices for us as Norwegians was not expensive including a litro wino rosso Del la casa, and please remember, in Italy when they chose wine for their house wine, it is going to be a good wine following what they serve in the restaurant, And our Sangiovese just melted on the tongue.

But the food, we could not find the words for it, and it will be a meal we will remember forever. In addition to this I found my Vino Santo on the “Dolce” list. I asked for Biscotti and they had their home made, that together with the Vino Santo was another bring me back to Lucca experience.

Gli Orti Di Via Elise (http://www.ristorantegliorti.it) is my family dinner place in Lucca. So many times over the last ten years I have been there and had my Vino Santo, my first time was there with this experience and it will not be the last yet.

But tonight it was Robert

and Della Santina’s evening. Sonoma not only have vineyards to show and wine to taste it also have great food for you in the evening, so if you just here for one evening, you know where to go and I have difficulties to see how The Girl and the Fig can match this.