Wednesday evenings are tough. We are a little more beaten down then we were on Tuesday, but not yet into the home stretch of a Thursday. It’s a great night to treat yourself to a nice relaxing dinner and recharge. Why do we always plan everything for the weekend? Da Campo Osteria is just that treat! Set in the beautiful boutique hotel hidden away directly on the intracoastal, Da Campo Osteria has an intimate atmosphere with the right lighting and instantly puts you in relaxation mode.
Our waiter Jimmy was well informed with wines and suggested one of his new favorites, a 2008 Cambia Pinot Noir. The wine develops aromas of ripe cherries and has a silkiness that continues into a long finish. The Manager stopped by to congratulate us on our wine selection! Each table receives a tray of assorted breads and crispy thin cheddar bread sticks which was very reminiscent of that famous childhood snack, the Cheese Nip.
We started with the table side preparation of fresh pulled mozzarella. Our selection was Speziate, pickled hot peperoncini & peppadew peppers. Served with a rich, aged olive oil and balsamic drizzle. The mozzarella was smooth and creamy and there is nothing like having it prepared several minutes before eating!
Next up you ask? The Zuppa Di Mussels. Simply Divine! The preparation was in a semi shallow bowl. They were steaming hot in a tomato broth that was flavored with caper berry’s and kalamata’s tucked under a crispy layer of pastry. The mussels were cooked to perfection.
We also ordered the olives to nibble on while we pondered our dinner order while perusing the menu. Our favorite was a large bright green olive that was almost buttery and nutty. I’ve got to find the name and order them for my private stash!
We were getting a little full with the generous starters, so for dinner we decided to split an entrée. We selected the Pan Seared Chilean Sea Bass. It was served on a bed of escarole & cannellini bean ragu with an heirloom tomato thyme sauce. It was, by far, the absolute star of the show. The flavors were not too assertive for this delicate fish. Sheer perfection!
By this time, we were completely stuffed. But, ending the meal there just seemed like we’d leave without closure. Jimmy, our green eyed waiter, charmed us with stories of his childhood making cappuccinos while perched on a stool with his grandfather and sitting around the dinner table on Christmas Eve until well after midnight with his family. We truly felt a connection, so when he suggested his favorite dessert, the Zeppoli, we took his advice. They were light and airy, sugar crusted and filled with a tart raspberry jam. They were served over top of a perfectly poached pear which was filled with mascarpone gelato. The sweet sugar from the pastry melded perfectly with the tartness of the jam. This wonderful dessert was complimented with cappuccino’s Jimmy made…displaying the thoughtful presentation and precision his grandfather taught him so many years ago.
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