When my husband and I learned that Peter Provenzo and Rick Yaeger -- with help from Peter's twin, Frank -- opened Prospero Restaurant & Catering in Buffalo, we were thrilled. We both have fond memories of the excellent Italian food they served at Provenzo's on Buffalo Avenue in the Falls.
Prospero is very small and wonderfully intimate. The bar immediately inside the front door has three stools, with a few more around the corner. Next to the bar are two cozy banquettes, each seating two. The dining area behind the bar has only seven tables.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, any two entrees with a bottle of wine costs $38. On Thursday, they offer three appetizers with two premium drinks or glasses of wine for $20. Specials are offered daily. The wine list is minimal, but offers plenty of variety.
We were served unamazing bread with absolutely amazing olive-infused butter. I was glad the bread was bland so that I could get the full flavor of the robust topping.
Hubby ordered the homemade shrimp corn chowder with olive-spread crostini -- only $8 and to die for. It was fresh, with great taste and texture.
My Caesar salad, at $4.99, was nothing to write home about, and I would not order it again. There are many other wonderful appetizer options, such as Artichokes Calabria and Peppers Prospero.
Hubby ordered the Vitello Marissa at $17.99 -- a breaded veal cutlet sauteed in olive oil and white wine, topped with artichoke hearts and served with a side of pasta. The veal was incredibly tender. I also enjoyed the red sauce, not overly acidic nor sweet.
I went for the gusto with an incredibly rich Pasta Parmella at $17.99, composed of prosciutto, artichoke hearts and spinach sauteed in an insanely good cheese sauce and served over fusilli pasta, finished with -- what else? -- more cheese. It was excellent.
We shared a Tuxedo Truffle Mousse Cake at $7. The layers of white mousse, chocolate mousse and ganache were great. Unfortunately, the cake itself was very dry and the texture was not appetizing.
I love the intimacy of this place. It reminds me of a quaint French bistro, but without the cigarette smoke. Service is spot on and everyone is extremely personable and attentive.
The food is plentiful, tasty, authentic, freshly made and reasonably priced. I can't wait to try every entree on Chef William Ponholzer's menu.
Reservations are a must. We will definitely be back. This is a great place for an early dinner, a romantic date, or even a private party. The food and ambiance are well worth the drive over the bridges.
Prospero Restaurant & Catering
350 Pennsylvania St.
Buffalo, N.Y.
716-931-5450
Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m.
Catering, corporate functions, weddings and small banquets
I had the opportunity to dine at two fabulous restaurants recently while visiting Doylestown, Pa., northeast of Philly.
My brother-in-law and I ate at Honey in downtown Doylestown. This is the brainchild of Joe and Amy McAtee. The venue is small and cozy, bathed in warm colors and candlelight as soothing music plays softly. The staff is delightfully engaging. The dining concept is shared small plates -- a terrific way to experience lots of flavors at a reasonable price.
We ordered angry fries at $11, salmon tacos at $14, and black tea-glazed spare ribs for $15.
The fries are housecut and smothered in spicy oxtail gravy, crumbled bleu cheese and tiny scallion spears. We absolutely couldn't stop eating them.
The wild salmon was spice rubbed, nestled in a soft corn tortilla, and topped with sweet corn, charred poblano relish and black truffle huitlacoche (corn fungus) crema. Amazingly good.
The ribs were the best I've ever eaten: Berkshire pork spare ribs slowly roasted for eight hours and served with toasted sesame seeds, salted pine nuts and an incredible spicy ginger ice cream. What a surprising -- and delicious! -- combo.
Honey
42 Shewell Ave.
Doylestown, Pa.
215-489-4200
Later, four of us went to the Blue Bottle Cafe in Hopewell, N.J. Rory and Aaron Philipson opened the restaurant after earning their stripes under the tutelage of several top chefs.
Three of us ordered the gnocchi appetizer, made with roasted tomato and served with grilled eggplant and torn basil in a parmesan reggiano cream sauce, for $12. Its aroma, taste, texture and appearance will forever be ingrained in my brain. Simply extraordinary.
Two ordered the Blue Bottle Salad with mixed baby greens, sliced red grapes, toasted hazelnuts and honey vinaigrette with shaved manchego cheese, for $8.50, and the other two ordered the taco salad with butterhead lettuce, corn, tomato, onion, avocado, crispy corn tortilla, garlic and a tequila-lime vinaigrette, at $10.50. Both were delightful, crisp, light and filled with tasty flavors and interesting textures.
I ordered the pan-seared sea scallops, at $27. The scallops were cooked to perfection, the wine sauce was a perfect accompaniment, and the truffle-flavored mashed potatoes -- well, what's better than that?
My sister ordered the Barramundi fillet, at $27. It was lovely, tender and flavorful, the creamy orzo beautifully complementing the fish.
My brother-in-law ordered the daily special, striped sea bass served on black rice with pea shoots and caramelized onions, at $28. The fish was amazingly tender and the broth was perfectly paired with the dish.
We shared three desserts, each at $8.50: chocolate hazelnut mousse, peanut butter and milk chocolate tart, and white chocolate and raspberry bread pudding with mascarpone ice cream and raspberry coulis. The mousse and tart were decadently rich, but the bread pudding was somewhat bland.
The Blue Bottle Cafe
101 East Broad St.
Hopewell, N.J. 08525
609-333-1710
(BYOB)
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | September 28, 2010 |