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| American Dream Cuisine™ |
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| DON
CARLOS |
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Hotel
Grand Hotel et de Milan,
Milan, Itlay |
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Society - Extraordinary
April - 2006 |
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6 Stars
& 5 Stripes
Cuisine & Service |
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The Ultimate
Award:
Seven Stars and Stripes™ |
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| “Our stage was set for the impeccable gastronomic performance
ahead...” ~ TB |
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| Like Verdi's opera that over the years has made a
great impression on critics and public alike, its namesake 'Ristorante Don
Carlos' turns out to be no exception. It is neatly situated in the Grand Hotel
et de Milan with an exterior entrance on the Via Manzoni, easily accessible to
the very locals that defiantly try to keep their favorite places secret. It is
no wonder because the atmosphere is one that welcomes the illustrious, the chic
and those fortunate enough to discover this special place. Foreigners and
locals, showbiz celebs and the fashion set all descend upon this golden nitch
to devour the outstanding Italian provincial cuisine of Executive Chef Angelo
Gangemi and his talented team. |
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| Restaurant Manager Elvis
Shehi greeted us warmly and then led us past softly lit walls featuring
countless photos of actors and celebrities, to our intimate table. The high
ceiling resonated to the sounds of Giuseppe Verdi's aria "Pace pace, mio Dio",
one of the most intense and passionate pieces ever written. Our stage was set
for the impeccable gastronomic performance ahead and
Sommelier
Konstantinos Starroulakis provided the wine suggestions to go with our
dinner debut. With only five tables and three servers, Ristorante Don Carlos
places the emphasis on elegant, flawless service. |
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| With the creative spirit of Verdi's opera illuminating
our auditory senses we were sufficiently prepared for the dramatic artful
renditions of Chef Angelo's cuisine. It seems as if his food creations were
designed to express the emotional content as well as the prerequisite flavors.
Take for instance our personal favorite of Warm Green Asparagus Salad with
Pistachio and Parmesan, an appetizer that was served atop a wispy
'asparagus alla parmigiana' foam as if purposely flooded with passion. This
selection was highlighted by an intensely fragrant bottle of Borgo Conventi
Pinot Grigio 2004, its delicate and harmonious finish paying tribute to the
garden fresh course. After an innovative Spring Pea Soup with Mint and
Burrata Cheese, we were fully prepared for the embrace of an inspired
masterpiece of Chef Angelo's entrée selection. The Mediterranean Red
Tuna with Green Tomato Mayonnaise proved to be the 'tenor solo' that we
were expecting in this lyrical presentation. A delicate azalea flower pink
center indicated proper cooking of this highly prized cut of tuna and the whole
dish was bound together by the acidity of the green tomato. An appropriately
harmonic bottle of 2004 Letrari Marzemino, Trentino provided the
structure and equilibrium needed to compliment this entrée. |
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| Ristorante Don
Carlos - Seven Stars and Stripes™ - Award-Hand-Out |
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| In the final scene we managed to savor an almost
perfect evening with a guided tour of the newly converted
wine
cellar. It is a sight not to be missed as the staggering volume and variety
adds tremendous depth to this convivial and elegant eatery. It is well worth
seizing the moment to savor the tremendous gastronomic performance to the
sights and sounds of our standing ovation. |
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| “Bravo, Ristorante Don Carlos!” ~ TB |
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by
Thorsten & Simone Buehrmann
Editor: Ingrid
Lemme
Editor-in-Chief: John Lomitola |
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| © 2006 ~ Seven Stars and Stripes, Inc. |
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