Ot- italian restaurant greater farmington valley

[NEforceUConn]

Dayuum, drive into Hartford and go to First and Last Tavern.

 

[ColchVEGAS]

My wife puts a single pinch of salt in the water for a pound of pasta. She is banned from cooking pasta.

You gotta get her up to a minimum of 1.5 tablespoons per lb of pasta.

Another trick is to cook the pasta about 2-3 min less than what the box says for all dente. Strain and retain a out 2 cups of the water. Finish cooking the pasta in the retained water for the remaining 2-3 min. When done add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the water the pasta was cooked in to the sauce. Finally add the pasta to the sauce. You should have about 3 cups of sauce per lb. of pasta.

Gepettos in Torrington has a great cozy atmosphere and terrific food. The owners are from the Italian island of Sardinia ( my parents are from there). Try the Sardinian wine Cannonau, and Sardinian after dinner drink of Mirto. You will not be disappointed

I have a 2017 Cannonau in my cellar that I have been waiting to open, probably 2 more years before I do. Fun fact, it is the same grape as Grenache but the Sardinian soil/terroir gives it unique characteristics that the rest of the world where Grenache is grown cannot mimic.

 

[husky429]

Another trick is to cook the pasta about 2-3 min less than what the box says for all dente. Strain and retain a out 2 cups of the water. Finish cooking the pasta in the retained water for the remaining 2-3 min. When done add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the water the pasta was cooked in to the sauce. Finally add the pasta to the sauce. You should have about 3 cups of sauce per lb. of pasta.

The issue is not my ability to cook, brother. It's my wife's. I can make you the 4 Roman pastas by memory any day of the week.

 

[superjohn]

Diorio's and La Tavola in Waterbury are both really good. They are a bit more upscale than your neighborhood pasta & pizza joint.

Diorio's is a beautiful restaurant. I'm surprised they've stood the test of time in Waterbury at those prices. They don't exactly fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.

 

[mauconnfan]

DaCapo of Avon is solid!

 

[mauconnfan]

Watch out if Pitino shows up..

Pasta start with stuffed clams to follow?

 

[ColchVEGAS]

The issue is not my ability to cook, brother. It's my wife's. I can make you the 4 Roman pastas by memory any day of the week.

I hear you. My wife is Portuguese, she cannot be trusted to cook any Italian dish. The kids are at the point where they ask before even getting to the table "who made the pasta and sauce?"

 

[husky429]

I hear you. My wife is Portuguese, she cannot be trusted to cook any Italian dish. The kids are at the point where they ask before even getting to the table "who made the pasta and sauce?"

My wife cannot be trusted to cook anything. At all. She comes from a family that eats out 5x a week instead of cooking. We visit for a few days in the summer and I have to bring my own cooking utensils and spices because they have NOTHING.

The two things she can make (grilled cheese, white people tacos), she stands over my shoulder, criticizing every 5 seconds.

Very smart and successful woman. She's not even a bad cook... she's just incapable of starting. Meanwhile, I'm prepping a good 15-20 meals for a week because she's knocked up and angry at everything. This week was tuna salad, mushroom/spinach/walnut lasagna, baked tofu burrito bowls, and a chili that I froze because the Mexican grocery store had a bunch half off that were about to expire.

 

[Stew Crew]

Diorio's is a beautiful restaurant. I'm surprised they've stood the test of time in Waterbury at those prices. They don't exactly fit in with the rest of the neighborhood.

The bar, tin ceiling, and some of the floor tiles are original and go back 100 years.

Diorio's closed for about 4 years. They had severe water damage just before Covid and just reopened last year. Still as good as ever.

Most of their patrons, myself included, are former Waterbury residents that live in the suburbs now.

 

[Umami Zen]

I hear you. My wife is Portuguese, she cannot be trusted to cook any Italian dish. The kids are at the point where they ask before even getting to the table "who made the pasta and sauce?"

Maybe its time to introduce her to "The Pasta Queen" series on Prime

 

[UConnKev]

3 pages and not a single mention of Cantina in Middletown? It’s in the basement of the Italian Society. Hasn’t been updated since the 80’s but food and portions are outstanding.

 

[jibsey]

Diorio’s is the real deal, reminds me of great NYC Italian restaurant which are now crazy expensive, so yes it’s pricey and worth it.

 

[Patman]

Why do i think fishy got beaten by the wooden spoon by nonna growing up

 

[Deepster]

Trying out Casadoro in Newington tonight. Heard good things and we needed a reservation on a Wednesday. Will report back.

Casadoro

www.casadoroct.com

 

[ColchVEGAS]

Trying out Casadoro in Newington tonight. Heard good things and we needed a reservation on a Wednesday. Will report back.

Casadoro

www.casadoroct.com

I went there a couple weeks ago and was very happy. It is the same restaurant group as Doro Marketplace, Zohara, Àvert Brasserie, Treva, Artisanal Burger Company, and No Mames Cantina (not open yet).

Pretty good track record for their restaurants in general.

 

[Deepster]

I went there a couple weeks ago and was very happy. It is the same restaurant group as Doro Marketplace, Zohara, Àvert Brasserie, Treva, Artisanal Burger Company, and No Mames Cantina (not open yet).

Pretty good track record for their restaurants in general.

So I think Doro Marketplace is great. Casadoro didn’t knock my socks off. It was “fine”. Went with 2 others and we shared a bunch of apps and a couple entrees. Nothing I can say I’d crave or rush to go back for. But it was “fine”. No real complaints.