The more love shared, the merrier at Italianni’s
They say that the fondest memories are made when gathered around a table. My family and I must have made countless fond memories around a table at Italianni’s, our go-to place when it comes to family celebrations, be it a birthday, a baptism or a job promotion. But then, at Italianni’s, you don’t really have to have a reason to celebrate life.
Through the years, Italianni’s has kept its promise that’s summed up in its slogan “Amore di Merrier” (meaning the more love shared, the merrier). While I love that all my good old favorites at Italianni’s are still there (like the spaghetti with meatballs that brings back childhood memories; the spinach artichoke formaggio that’s everyone’s favorite dip; the margherita pizza that’s garnished with hand-crushed peeled tomatoes and fresh basil, and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil), I’m happy to find that there’s more love to go around with the new dishes at the new Italianni’s, Level 3 of One Ayala, Makati.
Have you ever eaten Italian doughnuts (popularly spelled as donuts)? Yes, Italian donuts or Zeppole, fried savory donuts tossed in barbecue flavor (or in garlic and cheese) and paired with a classic marinara sauce. It’s a sweet prelude to what promises to be a gastronomic day of exciting discoveries.
For starters, we’re trying the Creamy Clam Dip that combines cream cheese and sour cream. Don’t clam up now, go dip that crispy warm garlic bread into this creamy mixture, and feel your lethargic taste buds suddenly awakening!
For something light and bright, have some Radicchio Salad, a healthy hearty blend of romaine and lolorosa, spinach, arugula, grilled tuna, celery, red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, kani crab stick and roasted sunflower seeds, dressed with mango vinaigrette.
For the discerning meat eaters, there are new dishes to love, such as the oxtail dishes: Oxtail Marrone with sausage, braised in carrots, onions, potatoes, parsley; and Oxtail Rosso, braised in mirepoix (a mix of diced veggies cooked in butter) and simmered with tomatoes.
Also new on the meat menu is the Sausage Mushroom Stew that’s happily loaded with Italian sausage, shiitake, enoki and oyster mushrooms, laced with white wine and homemade marinara sauce. Delizioso, especially when eaten with Italianni’s famous freshly baked crusty bread. By the way, Italianni’s breads, which I sometimes buy to take home (or if there’s leftover from my meal, I have the complimentary bread brown bagged) are now made even crispier and more filling.
What’s an Italian meal without pasta? Now, there are six more main pasta dishes to enjoy with the new menu. Hold your breath — and appetite — now: Bacon Spinach Ravioli (bacon, spinach, mushroom with ricotta and Parmesan cheese fillings); Country Rigatoni (pancetta, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cannellini beans, Italian sausage, chicken strips and Parmesan cheese); Rigatoni Amatriciana (Italian sausage, red bell pepper, chili flakes, pecorino cheese, tomatoes and meat ragu); Pesto Rigatoni (with bacon, Parmesan cheese and pesto); Four-Cheese Rigatoni (again bacon, gorgonzola, taleggio, gouda, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses — did I just count five cheeses and not just four?); and the Casarecce Tuna Peas (casarecce or short pasta twists from Sicily, tuna flakes, cherry tomatoes and green peas).
And please pass the pizza, too! Now, you don’t have to order just one or two whole pizzas. You can have it all — in smaller (2.5-inch) pizzas called Pizzetas that come in four topping options: pepperoni, mushroom and artichokes, shrimps and black olives, quattro formaggi.
To top our new refreshing experience at Italianni’s, the refreshed menu has the latest iced brews (coffees and teas) and mocktails.
So now, there are 84 items on Italianni’s menu (some old ones were delisted). The new dishes were carefully thought out by Italianni’s R & D team whose creativity is put to the test when it comes to the use and combination of ingredients, flavor profiles and even new techniques to add a level of excitement to guests’ every visit.
“We always find ways to introduce on-trend and fresh dishes and add variety every time our guests dine,” says the hardworking Italianni’s team.
I just know that deep in our overflowing hearts (and contented stomachs), we’ll keep making new fond memories at Italianni’s.
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Italianni’s is part of The Bistro Group that popularized the casual dining concept in the country. The new Italianni’s is located at Level 3 of One Ayala, a world-class transit hub at the gateway of Makati. Follow @italiannisph.
