Invited to a wonderful dinner by the Italian Chamber of Commerce Canada West to celebrate Italian made food and wine enhanced with local fare by Chef Pino Posteraro. The Extraordinary Italian Taste project is a campaign to promote food products that are made in Italy, imported to Canada and used in restaurants locally.

1^st course:

Spot Prawn Crudo with Burrata  is divine, paired Rose Rosa 2004 Villa Rinaldi

2^nd course:

Alberta Beef Carpaccio with mushrooms and Parmigiano, paired with Conte della Vipera 2013 Antinori

3^rd course:

Asparagus with whipped ricotta and lemon is wow paired with Italian Suave Classico Pieropan 2014

4th course:

Black Burrata Gnocchi and Nova Scotia Lobster is a stunning dish in flavours, paired with Huck Am Back, 2012

5^th course:

Duck breast with cherry sauce, paired with Il Fauno Tenuta di Arano 2011#

^6th course:

Duck Fois Gras Creme Brûlée with hazelnut soil and with a mushroom crisp, a savoury dish with a hint of chocolate was magnificent.

^7th course:

Pannacota with hazelnut on the bottom and dulce de Leche on top, two layers and outstanding, paired with Dindarello Maculan Moscato 2011

This is one of my long time favourite restaurants that has excelled year after year with Chef Pino Posteraro at the helm and it was an honour to be invited to enjoy the best of the best Italian food and wine. Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill is located at 1133 Hamilton Street in Vancouver.

By: Richard Wolak