Since I am spending this New Year's Eve at work (no comment) we decided to celebrate the new year together last night at a fancy shmancy dinner. Now generally when you think of Parma, probably two things come immediately to mind: Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Parma ham. And rightly so, after all those two products are really what put this area on the worldwide food map, but every now and then we "locals" have a hankerin for some really good seafood. And luckily for us smack dab in the center of Parma, Ristorante La Fata Bema beckons.
How to pick?? Ordering was no easy task as everything on the menu sounded fantastic and such a change from the normal fare. In the end I settled on ravioli stuffed with shrimp and artichokes, served with oysters and lentils, which I deemed fitting since tradition here has you eating lentils for the new year. Delish. And such a fun change of pace from the standard Parma offering of ravioli, called tortelli, stuffed with either ricotta and chard or squash (of course my heart will always belong to these two, but a change every now and then never hurt anyone).
How to pick?? Ordering was no easy task as everything on the menu sounded fantastic and such a change from the normal fare. In the end I settled on ravioli stuffed with shrimp and artichokes, served with oysters and lentils, which I deemed fitting since tradition here has you eating lentils for the new year. Delish. And such a fun change of pace from the standard Parma offering of ravioli, called tortelli, stuffed with either ricotta and chard or squash (of course my heart will always belong to these two, but a change every now and then never hurt anyone).
Isn't that just lovely?
As much as I enjoyed my pasta, P's antipasto of raw fish really knocked me off my feet! By far the best plate of raw fish I have ever enjoyed in Italy, and I know that is near blasphemy since we are several hours from the closest sea. Sorry. It was just so brilliantly executed, simple, as it should be, to allow the perfection, freshness, sweetness of the fish take center stage. Loved, loved, loved the prawns, tuna and swordfish! A note to anyone in the neighborhood who would like a sushi fix: skip any so-called Japanese restaurant and just come here and order this. It comes with a little dish of soy sauce if you'd like, and this is all by far better than any sushi I have had in Italy. Eeks!
Wheee!!!!!
Wheee!!!!!
For my second courses I went with the orata, sea bass, cooked to perfection and served with fennel and plump slices of oranges. What a lovely contrast up against the buttery fish. P instead ordered a variation on gnocchi, those lovely pillows of potato turned dumpling, served with small sea scallops in a buttery homemade pesto.
What a lovely meal to show out 2009 and welcome in 2010. Cheers!
Ristorante La Fata Bema - moderately expensive
Via Turchi, 4
43100 Parma
0521 208798
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