By Rosemary Parkinson, Freelance WriterIl Giardino Italian Restaurant
Half Moon Hotel, Montego Bay
Phone: 953-2211
Reservations required
Dress: Casually elegant
Cost: A three-course meal for four with wine approximately US$280
WE WERE all oohing and aahing over Valerio Ferrari. Yep, the same Valerio Ferrari of La Bella Ice Cream fame who I highlighted, including photo, in my review a couple of weeks ago (home-made fast food).
Trust me, this gentleman is even more drop-dead-gorgeous in real life so salivating at his every move on this day should not come as a surprise to anyone reading today's review. Believe you me, he was at his very best apron around waist, hair tied back, handsome face filled with dedication over a hot stove. All enough to cause swooning amongst us women. We all wished this Italian would freeze in time so we could feast our eyes on his hmmm time out after all I am supposed to be talking food.
Ferrari produced a Melanzane a la Parmigiana to absolutely die for. There was much delightful fare on the buffet table -- a divine roast pork (our hostess), baked sweet potatoes (her cook's), a glorious mixed salad (moi having had the good fortune of finding lettuce, precious, delicious, crispy lettuce absent since Terrible Ivan). But this Ferrari dish of eggplant and parmesan cheese was la absoluta piezza de resistancia (my own Italian version), the centre of attention, the star of the day.
Dessert was not only a wicked Key Lime Pie (our hostess again) but divino ah-tastings of la Chocolate, Limah and Coconuta Ice Creamas fresh from La Bella Italia.
MUSIC TO MY EARS
Now, who could resist getting into chat about Italian cuisine after all this. "There's a good Italian Restaurant at Half Moon where I take my visitors," said Frank Pringle of Round Hill and other great hotels fame. My eyes immediately darted from Ferrari's lips to Pringle's because there was suddenly music to my ears. By now, anything Italian was me and I was everything Italian. So on the recommendation of this learned gentleman, Ferrari made reservations at Il Giardino. I went as an Italian/Ferrari devotee, Ferrari went to check if "dis ees ah true Italian foodah."
SPEAKING ITALIAN AT HALF MOON
Ahhh. Half Moon. Elegance without difficulty. Simplicity at its prime.
We sauntered along the hotel's main seaside restaurant and through large doors that led into a well-appointed room with a typical Italian feel. We were greeted by the gracious restaurant manager, Basil Samuels. Soon waiters fussed with chairs, napkins and then, menus.
At this point I will describe choices. Our now very dapper, very sexy Italian expert in beige jacket, striped tailored shirt of varied pale colours fitting ever so perfectly tucked into a pair of designer pale blue jeans that hugged his cha it's so difficult to remain focused even writing this story.
Let me begin again. Dr. Ferrari will be giving his expert opinion as an Italian. I will merely melt on his words and try to remember how the food tasted as a mere mortal on this earthly coil.
We began with a Bolla delle Venezie Pinot Grigio 2002. A perfect choice, said the Italian. describing famous white wines of his home region of Fruili-Venetia Giula near Trieste. I was overjoyed to be able to announce that I had passed through this region towards Yugoslavia having spent a night in Trieste. I neglected to mention that it was in the '60s and that I was in the lowest class of trains. I also would not remember the region if you hypnotised me because I had spent the night in a police station for not having a visa. Mind you, I did bribe those officers with Italian wine, probably purchased in this same-said Fruili-whatever region.
'NO WAY I WAS EATING 'FATTY DONKEY'
Okey, dokey. Moving right along.
Lord GQ ordered from the Antipasti Freddi E Insalate the Terrina Di Vegetali Alla Griglia E Fomaggino Di Capra Con Erbe Di Campo. In normal language terrine of grilled squash vegetables and goat cheese on blue mountain greens, flavoured with aged Balsamico Vinegar. I ordered the Prosciutto Di Parma E Melone, commonly known as carved parma ham on fresh cantaloupe melon.
The verdict? Both excellent, said the Italian. Both excellent, said I.
In my smitten state, did I forget to mention that we had two guests? Well, they both ordered buffalo mozzarella and tomato, crispy parmesan cheese. Their tomatoes were a touch too green.
From the LE PASTE section I was pointed to Tortelli Di Zucca Fatti in Casa, Con Scaglie Di Parmigiano, Burro E Salvia. Now, to this dope fatti means just that and in Spanish burro is donkey, so I was not amused about having fat donkey. However, it turned out that the Pinot Grigio and the 'man' had got to my brain. What was presented was actually a divine bowl of homemade Tortelli Pasta Noodles filled with Roasted Pumpkin, topped with Shaved Parmesan and Herb Butter.
'El Experto' gave my dish his nod of approval and dug into his Irisotto Con Zafferano, Prezzemolo E Funghi Selvatici arborio rice cooked 'Risotto style' flavoured with saffron, Italian parsley and topped with wild mushroom and shaved parmesan from the MINESTRE E RISOTTI section. Not a lover of Risotto myself I had to admit this was joyous.
Those others ordered homemade noodles flavoured with a typical fresh tomato, garlic and basil sauce. The basil seemed absent. (Hurricane) Ivan's fault, said I. No, said 'them' because Half Moon grows its own basil. Ivan's fault, I repeated.
The Italian stopped the argument by informing is that basil grows very fast what that has to do with Ivan and the price of tea in China I certainly don't know. There was no more basil conversation after that.
Petto Di Pollo Ripieno In Crosta Di Olive Nere, Mozzarella Pure Di Patate E Pomodori Saltati Alle Erbe Fini from LA CARNE in layman's terms, oven baked supreme of chicken with a Black Olive Crust, Mozzarella Cheese, tomato confit and garlic mashed potatoes from the meat section. My opinion: The chicken was a tad overcooked but on the whole buenissimo.
The Italian agreed.
Needless to say. his choice was perfect. From IL PESCE (fish) he chose Scaloppa Di Cernia in Crosta Di Erbe, Con Polenta Fritta E Ragu Di Funghi. In other words, herb crusted filet of fresh grouper on fried polenta and wild mushrooms.
Verdict: For me, taste was excellent, again slightly overcooked. For the Italian, superb.
Desserts were Panna Cotta, Salsa Di Fragole E Miele (cooked heavy cream flavoured with a touch of vanilla served with a strawberry and honey Couli). Across the table, Budino Al Marsala Con Gianduia, Salsa Al Cioccolato E Nocciole Toastate, Marsala wine flavoured Italian pudding with giandula chocolate, roasted hazelnut and dark chocolate sauce.
The Italian felt these were not of a true Italian style although the taste was good. We menials, however, thought both were quite delicious.
We then ordered two different flavours of ice cream and taste-tested. The evidence was quite clear, and it really, really had nothing to do with Mr. Much-too-Goodlooking. But La Bella Italia ice cream is definitely required.
I recommend Il Giardino. And I particularly recommend Boris Brown, our waiter, for his unfailing service, wonderful smile and efforts to make our evening special.
New Italian Mama Rosa Maria Parkinsone was last seen with flaying arms boarding Alitalia, heading for a cup of coffee in Fruili-Venetia Giula.
