It’s no secret that I love Italian cuisine, whether eating in Rome, Vancouver or elsewhere, the food of Italy is about delicious food and enjoying. I recently attended a media dinner in Vancouver with Chef Ricardo Scebba, he and his wife Sue Miller co-own Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen in Kelowna. I have yet to visit their restaurant, I would like to do that some-day soon. On this night it was all about cooking with Chef Ricardo and eating dishes off his restaurant menu in the comfort of a rooftop celebration with friends in Kitsilano.

The dinner was so much fun as we each took turns in cooking up one of the dishes with Chef Ricardo. Each dish was delicious and gave me insight into the menu they serve in their Kelowna restaurant. We started with some Antipasti to get a taste of what was to come, followed by a light Caprese Salad on skewers and Cauliflower Fritters which was very unique and delicious.

It was then my turn to assist Chef Ricardo to make the Pernod Spot Prawns and into the kitchen I went wearing my apron and all. Chef Ricardo makes things look so easy, making this dish was much harder then it looked.

The next dish was the Spaghetti Puttanesca, followed by the Wild Salmon Al Dresco, Lemon Caper Dill Cream Sauce & Local Vegetables and the Concetta’s “Turkey Only” Polpette (Meatballs) rounding out the savoury dishes.

Happily there was a wonderful dessert to provide the perfect ending to a meal on the terrace.; I loved the Strawberry Tiramisu with Local BC Strawberries, Hazelnut Semi-Freddo, and Amaretti Cookies.

If you are ever in the Okanagan, specifically in Kelowna, make sure you make a reservation to eat at Ricardo’s Mediterranean Kitchen at 415 Commonwealth Rd in Kelowna. You can reach them by phone at Phone 250-766-6810 or visit them online at http://ricardos.ca/

By: Richard Wolak