Villa Francesca

Miss Yunks is loving the Boston food blogger community.  She’s had the opportunity to attend some special foodie events that she never would have if it wasn’t for this blog and the fabulous foodies she’s met.  Most recently, she landed an invite to a blogger dinner at Ristorante Villa Francesca in the North End.

For the past year and a half, I’ve lived around the corner from Villa Francesca and walked by it many, many times, yet had never eaten there.  It’s located on Richmond St, so it doesn’t get the same foot traffic as crowded and touristy Hanover St.  As always, I was excited to try a new restaurant when I saw Kristen Haley‘s invite.  Kristen writes the blog Beantown Socialite and is involved with several social media and inter-networking efforts.  I’m very glad I met her at The Melting Pot event earlier this summer.

I had no idea that I was in for a 5 course meal when I entered Villa Francesca.  I saw the menu before the event and even though it was displayed like a full meal with options for appetizers, entrees, and dessert, I never imagined a restaurant would be so generous to provide a 5 course meal.  What I did know was that the whole menu was either fish or chicken.  No vegetarian food.  But, it clearly stated “free flowing wine” so I signed right up and brought my BF to be my taste-tester.

When the hostess led us downstairs, we were greeted with freshly shucked oysters, servers pouring us prosecco, and several of my favorite Boston foodies.  It’s such a treat to see the people I tweet with the most all in the same room, and I got to meet some new people.   We chatted with Kristen and I met Renee, who writes the blog Yesterday is Over my Shoulder, and later found out she’s a sorority sister along with Lara from Good Cook Doris! Go Go Gamma Phi! Such a small world.  Anyways – I enjoyed my prosecco a lot and BF tried an oyster.  They were shucked right in front of us and served with cocktail sauce and lemon wedges.

Soon we were led to sit down to begin the meal.  And yes, this is when I realized we were in a 5 course meal, oysters being course #1.  Course #2 was a large platter of antipasti.

The plate was filled with prosciutto, salami cones, olives, provolone cheese squares, and fresh mozzarella and tomatoes.  I snagged some mozzarella and tomato before any meat could touch it.  The mozzarella was very different than fresh mozzarella I’ve purchased at a grocery store.  It had a much softer texture and paired excellently with the tomato.  BF and the rest of the table enjoyed the meats and cheeses.  I never order the antipasti dish at restaurants because I don’t like my food to share a plate with meat.  I made an exception this night because I wanted to try as much as I could, and it was worth it to taste this mozzarella.

Course #3 was a half portion of Fettucine con Gamberi – aka pasta with shrimp in a tomato cream sauce.  Honestly, I was already full from the bread I forgot to mention until this very moment.  But, Kristen wanted me to enjoy the food experience as much as everyone else and asked the chef to prepare me a vegetarian course.  Moments later, I had eggplant parmigiana in front of me.

Fettucine con Gamberi

Bread with Homemade Olive Oil (I think I ate half a loaf)

Eggplant Parm

BF ate up his dish.  The other bloggers really seemed to enjoy it.  The eggplant was okay, but I have to say something about all of the eggplant parm I’ve had from the North End.  I don’t know if this is a really Italian way to prepare it or not, but only one North End restaurant (that I’ve been to) prepares it how I like it best.  Breaded and Fried.  That’s right, Fried with a capital F.  I like it crispy.  Villa Francesca was no exception to the other Italian North End restaurants.  The eggplant has a light breading, but it doesn’t taste or look fried.  It’s not crispy.  And I can’t realllllly see the breadcrumbs.  The only restaurant that does bread and fry their eggplant parm is Piccola Venezia - but that’s a story for another day.

Course #4 was the entree course, because we hadn’t eaten enough.  My stomach was already so full.  I did not wear appropriate clothing for a 5 course meal!  Everyone could chose between a fish or chicken; BF chose the fish.

Sogliola Alla Meditteranea

Served with a side of potato and spinach, the dish tasted homemade.  Like eating in someone’s home rather than a restaurant.  Sidenote – I really like the square plate.  A square plate with an edge like that makes total sense to avoid spills.

The chef made me a plate of pasta with pesto sauce.

Looks like worms, doesn’t it?  Maybe this is why my Dad doesn’t eat spaghetti.  The pesto sauce was decent, a tad on the too oily side, and the pasta was topped with pine nuts, which I like.  I thought the chef might throw some veggies in a vegetarian’s entree.  I was wrong.  The dish was pretty plain and again tasted homemade.

Throughout dinner, I found out they weren’t kidding about the “free flowing wine.”  Servers constantly tried to refill our wine glasses.

I had a glass of this cabernet, and it was delicious.  It started out smooth and probably a 6 on the Urban Grape scale.  I could’ve had a meal with just this wine and the bread and been satisfied.  That’s a healthy vegetarian meal. After I got to my pesto course, I noticed (okay Kristen noticed) that after taking a bite of pesto and a sip of wine, the pesto causes the wine to taste differently.  The garlic in the pesto gives the wine a kick, and it tasted less smooth.  Interesting, I know.

Course #5 was dessert.  Finally.  My favorite part of a meal.  We had cannolis.  I would not normally order a cannoli at a restaurant because they’re an easy item to pick up at a bakery.  However, Villa Francesca wants you to know how freshly made these are.  They are so fresh that they’re filled in front of you at the table.  Our waitress held a giant pastry bag filled with ricotta and individually filled our cannoli shells.  We could pick our toppings: walnuts, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, or a combo.  I chose chocolate chips.

The ricotta filling was like nothing I’d tasted in the North End.  It was light and almost fluid, like whipped cream.  This unique ricotta is made in house and is simply ricotta and sugar.  That’s all.  Fresh ricotta.  I think I’d like it better in a bowl or simply on a spoon.  For a cannoli, I do prefer the thicker ricotta filling found at other local bakeries, but this sure is unique and worth a try.  I was so full at this point I only ate about half.

I was really impressed with Villa Francesca’s generosity to give all of us a complimentary 5 course meal.  Thanks, Kristen, for organizing this event!

And here is a blurry photo of all of the foodies at dinner!

Megan of Delicious Dishings

Kristen of Indulge Inspire Imbibe

Michelle of Fun and Fearless in Beantown

Alicia of The Clean Plate Club

Katie of A Small Boston Kitchen

Meghan of Travel, Wine, Dine

Renee of Yesterday is Over My Shoulder

Lara of Good Cook Doris

Justin of @JustinCanCook – yet to have a blog

And a thanks to BF for taking the pic!