Defining Delicious

This morning, as I sort through and rinse my freshly cut spinach and swiss chard from our garden, my mind wanders off first to the question of: "What can I make with this and some of the other veggies that I have sitting on my window sill?" Our lettuce greens have grown beautifully and we have more than we can eat daily. I love it! Our other vegetables are coming around but a bit late due to the shade and growing conditions in our planted lot. I look forward to the zucchini, which will be ready in a day or two. I plan on making it the exact same way my grandfather did in his garden years ago. (More to come on that subject.)

The second topic I think of is how absolutely delicious my meal was at Emilio's in Greenport. Yesterday was my cousin Sarah's graduation celebration, hosted at Emilio's Restaurant. We gathered in their dining room, which was set up beautifully for the party. Dining with Emilio and his family at the helm, you always feel like you are visiting a good friend's home. We sat at an "L" shaped table with a wine/beer bar and buffet table across from us. We had the whole room to ourselves. My family has been long-time fans and followers of Emilio Trotta - from St. James to Wading River and now to Greenport. So, of course I absolutely knew we would enjoy our meal. However, I don't think I ever expected our graduation buffet to completely leave me on a Foodie's Cloud 9, speechless with how delicious each dish tasted.

We started with a fresh, crisp salad and then moved on to the choices of a buttery fettuccini, baked stuffed shells and ravioli, chicken francais and veal parmesan. These classic Italian courses are always a favorite of mine. I can state confidently today that these, in particular, were more tender, flavorful and mouth-watering than any other that I have had before. The fettuccini was not too oily and had just the right amount of seasoning and flavor with an al dente style. The chicken was tender and not overloaded with its francais namesake. The tomato sauce on the baked, cheesy dishes possessed the exact nuances of goodness that make us think of a traditional Italian kitchen, where the sauce simmers all day and the aromas fill the house, making sure that everyone is taunted by it. My favorite (hands down) was the melt-in-your-mouth, veal parmesean. I'm stumped on how to describe the combination of the layers of the best veal, cooked to perfection and topped with just the appropriate amount of sauce and cheese.

The best meals, sometimes, are the unexpected. The Modugno and Appio families have come to know that we can always find the best pizza at Emilio's places. Now, we are sure that we can find the perfect Italian cuisine from his kitchen as well. Thank you, Emil for defining delicious at your hidden treasure in Greenport.

To my local followers, you can find Emilio's Pizza, Cafe and Italian Restaurant at 400 Main Street, Greenport; (631) 477-2828. I promise you one of the best experiences from a world-class Italian kitchen.