Antica Posta

This week's Wonderful Wednesday with the AIWF turned out to be at Tom Catherall's new place Aja. I didn't really have the opportunity to look at the menu before we went, but based on the pronunciation of the place, "asia", I was suddenly very concerned. I was more concerned as we sat there and I started at the mix of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Indian dishes on the menu and the comments of "I was surprised you said you would come". It was apparently enough to just suggest going to another restaurant and soon ten of us were headed out to Antica Posta for dinner.

J and I had only been to Antica Posta once several years ago for our anniversary. We had a horrid time. The service was abysmal. The food was unspectacular. Risotto was bland. Osso bucco was mediocre. And it was incredibly expensive. M&N have long been fans of Antica Posta so J and I have been willing to give it a try, but we hadn't really had the opportunity, not to mention we were a little skittish of the place.

For a starter, I had the tri-color carpaccio which is salmon, sea bass, and pesto. I initially sampled the fish on their own and was disappointed to find out that they were smoked. However, when eaten with the fennel salad on top, the whole dish came together. While I was happy enough with it, I likely wouldn't get it again. J ordered the veal sausage with cannellini beans which he loved. I tried a bit. It was pretty damn good.

Marco (the owner) had gotten in an impressive shipment of white truffles that morning. I had never had truffles before except for some white truffle oil that I bought at the market and I drizzled over eggs and almost gagged on. I have now learned two things: one, that oil is nasty; and two, you drop on truffle oil, not drizzle. Anyway, I did not want to miss out on truffles if I would like them, but I wasn't sure after my truffle oil experience. Marco offered to bring out the truffle so I could smell it. He said that if I liked the smell, I would like the taste. And with that, he brought out a truffle as big as my hand. When he uncovered it, the deep aroma of earthiness came out with that dark underlying mushroom smell. Definitely. I would definitely eat that. And so I changed my order to:

Tagliolini con tartufo Bianco di San Miniato. The pasta itself was tender and prepared well, but mostly not really there since it was only a vehicle for a massive snowfall of thinly sliced white truffles. It was absolutely delicious. I now understand people's obsessions with truffles.

Antica Posta has redeemed itself, though I am not sure that I would ever want to go without M&N. They have even mentioned that they used to get horrible service until they became friends with the owner, who happens to be their neighbor. But I still think they don't always get stellar service. I don't think it would hard to convince them to go anyway. Maybe the food will overcome the service.

I look forward to my next visit and definitely to my next truffle. October until January, I think they said. That's crab season too. =)