I am
going to continue to talk about Italian food. What can I say? It is my
heritage, my family, and is among my favorite things to eat of all time. What
is not to like about a culture that cooks everything with cheese, garlic, and
bread? Nothing! That’s what.
There
are so MANY choices in types of food and restaurants that can make going out to
eat in New York City seem like a daunting task. But us brave souls must solider
on and conquer the best of the best. I personally cherish being amongst the
bold and the beautiful, in food that is.
When it
comes to finding an Italian restaurant in New York City, it is sort of like
saying you are looking for an Irishman in a bar. It’s the total opposite of
looking for a needle in a haystack. Don’t fret I am half Irish so I know they
heart alcohol the way my other people, the Italians, heart their food. I have
had a thirty-three year education.
What
I have learned is that this is by far my favorite type of food. My love affair
with pizza is no secret after all (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2014/12/for-pizza-done-robertas-way.html).
But besides pizza it would be hard to rate in order how I love the rest of
these foods. It depends on whether I am craving pasta or not. Or if it is a
holiday then I know what food to expect and look forward to. In fact besides
pizza there is only one other meal that pops into my mind as an Italian must
have. It is a simple but incredibly rich dish that if done right always hits
the spot. I am talking about fettuccini alfredo and there is only one place
that you can find the real deal; Alfredos 100.
I
first came in contact with this restaurant when it was in its former location
in Rockefeller Center and when it was called Alfredos of Rome. Back then I was
a young college student and I went out to eat with a family friend. She took us
to this restaurant and it was one of the nicest I had seen at that time
(obviously my pre-blogging life). The waiters were so nicely dressed and polite
weaving in and out of the crowd serving up their specialties. When I looked at
the menu my eyes were drawn to the fettuccini but I had no idea what I was in
for.
Apparently
my eighteen-year-old taste buds were accustomed to the kind of alfredo sauce
that came in a jar and not made fresh in the kitchen. When I bit into it I was
surprised and scared. It was bitter, sharp, and not at all what I pictured. To
me at that time I could barely get it down. I am ashamed of that but that is
the truth. Luckily the tide was about turn.
Fast
forward to 2008 and my twenty-seventh birthday. Much to my initial dismay I was
spending this occasion in New York City. I know how much that must sting to
people who wish they were. I try to appreciate it that now.
So
since I would be home and working I still wanted a good way to celebrate during
the week before Christmas. I decided to go to the ballet and then have dinner
with my family and friends at Alfredos of Rome. It turns out that was the
smartest decisions I could have made.
This
time I was reviewing the menu ahead of time and couldn’t be more excited. I
knew what to expect and even I set the bar too low. We started with the
calamari stuffed with lobster. To die for! Then I got the signature dish
followed by white tiramisu. Tiramisu is a cake made with ladyfinger cookies,
espresso, and cream. It is my
favorite dessert besides lobster tails (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/10/for-ferraras-pastry.html).
But this was the first restaurant where I saw it made with white chocolate,
which I much prefer. All together
it was the perfect meal for the perfect day. The fettuccini was rich and
buttery and I realized that the sharpness I had detected earlier was a sign of
a well-aged, cured cheese. Now that I appreciated it I couldn’t get enough. It
also makes killer leftovers, one of the few meals that you can microwave and
still retains its original composition.
This
past September when my family was looking for a restaurant to celebrate my
mother’s birthday we decided to return to an old classic. But it wasn’t exactly
the same. In honor of its one hundredth anniversary it is now known as “Alfredo
100.” It also moved to midtown closer to Radio City than Rockefeller Center. I
was disappointed by the change of scenery but I was still looking forward to
sinking my teeth into that marvelous sauce and handmade pasta.
Minus
a few menu changes things were exactly as I hoped they would be. The calamari
and tiramisu were no longer being served but of course their main dish was
first on the list. You could have it plain, with shrimp, chicken, vegetables,
or lobster. I stuck with what I knew but I am sure any additives could only
make things better.
If
you are looking for a traditional old world meal that still tastes as good now
as it did way back when, this is the spot for you. This is a good time to
mention that the reason they are SO famous for my favorite dish is because they
invented it! That’s right, Alfredo’s was originally in Rome where fettuccini
alfredo was born.
I
recommended this restaurant when I wrote a blog series in 2011 about all of my
favorite places in New York City (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/04/for-keys-to-my-new-york-city-part-iii.html). I stand by recommendation and
will keep up my tradition of checking back in for one of my most desired meals
every few years.
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