Ciao Napoli: Bon-Accord Crescent, Aberdeen
Published:
THERE must be some Italian blood running around my veins somewhere.
They love their food and they love their families. Me too.
And when you can bring the two together, so much the better, something the friendly folk at Ciao Napoli understand given the warmth of the reception my wee gang of four received.
It might have an up-market air, with its elegant dining room that’s all wooden panels and floors, but the welcome couldn’t have been more down-to-earth.
You wouldn’t believe the lengths they went to find our fussy littlest eater something she would enjoy in the shape of pollo fritto – chicken and chips to the six-year-old.
While she was busy munching on her plain, but absolutely delicious, meal, the rest of us went Continental.
And what better way to start than sharing a heaped plate of antipasto Napoletano (£7.80). The mixed meats, cheese and grilled veggies were a treat for the three of us.
The moreish nature meant we had to ca’ canny to not spoil our mains. And what mains they were.
My beloved was in a chickeny mood and lighted on tagliatelle buongustaia (£8.90). A hillock of primo chicken breast, onion, mushrooms and peas, was lifted to a high by a creamy, rich tomato sauce that was all mascarpone and parmesan. This riot of flavours coated the long ribbons of perfectly cooked pasta.
I had decided to keep things simple with a lasagne (£8.70), a dish normally considered the mince and tatties of Italian cuisine. What arrived was like no lasagne I had ever had before.
The tenderest layers of pasta aided and abetted the richest of meaty dishes, with its creamy bechamel and sharp tomato sauce. Wonderful.
But the star attraction went to my 13-year-old loon and his extravagant tastes. “Can I have that?” he asked pointing to the tongue-twisting angnolotti alli aragosta.
That would be the pasta pockets stuffed with lobster, topped with a cream brandy and king prawn sauce at £9.20 then. Why not?
And it was simply stunning. The king prawn “sauce” consisted of a clutch of the beasts cooked to tender perfection in their shells sitting on a mound of creamy pasta. The parcels were stuffed with the lightest, most flavoursome lobster.
“That was the best pasta I have ever had,” announced the loon. He was right.
As we coughed up the £50 or so for a feast for four (including a side salad and glass of wine) I realised something.
I love my food, I love my family, and I love Ciao Napoli.
