As you may be able to tell, we go out to enjoy an evening of tasty food and sips of delicious wines quite often. Like I’ve said before, it’s one of our favorite things to do together! It’s the perfect date night; pick a cool restaurant and grab a couple of seats at the bar, preferable at one end or the other so that you can get a good view of the comings and goings of the restaurant. There’s so much action that you miss out on when you’re sitting at a table! When perched at the bar, you get to chat with the bar tender, get the scoop on their opinions about wine and food, and just generally get a whole different experience of the joint.
This particular indulgence outing was at a spot called Il Cortile Ristorante in downtown Paso Robles. This place has incredible food, a great wine list, and just happens to be about 3 blocks from our house. This makes for easy fulfillment when the cravings start! We started out with one of the most incredible appetizers; Crostini with Burrata, Caramelized Fennel and Balsamic Glaze. Sound simple, you’re thinking? Yeah, well…once you bite into this beautiful creation you’ll never be the same! You’ll need to come back again and again to indulge!
Heaven on Toast!!
Not sure what makes this Crostini so damn tasty, but it’s dangerous! The rich creaminess of the Burrata (mozzarella with cream inside) melts in your mouth, while the Balsamic reduction adds a tangy sweetness and everything just sings in your mouth!
Phewww…now, on to the Calamari. Not just any Calamari, this is marinated in olive oil and lemon and grilled! Then they throw in some scallops and prawns that have also been grilled, and if you’re like me, this is a seafood dream! The grilling leaves a little bit of smokiness while the lemon and olive oil make for the perfect blend of acid and smoothness. Light and fresh, this one is a must-try!
Pure deliciousness!
To top things off, we had to get some of Il Cortile’s handmade pasta! So, the Kubocha Squash Tagliolini with Maine Lobster, baby Arugula, and finished with white wine and herbs was the right answer. Those tender orange noodles with the delicate flavor of squash was the perfect backdrop for the rich chunks of lobster. Paired with a glass of some Paso Robles full-bodied Rhone white wine, and here we go!!!
Mmmmm...
The moral of the this session of Bar Bites? Yeah…well, we definitely walked away feeling very fat and happy! Which is a good thing in my book.
Looking for some delicious and creative Italian food? Check out Il Cortile…you’ll definitely enjoy it!
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Looks yummy! We love the bar, too (opposed to sitting in the restaurant portion) so we can people watch and eat appetizers. But no calamari for me...allergic. Yikes!
Hi Dahlynn! We love the bar perching...wait, I think I said that a few times already...gives you a whole new perspective on the vibe of the place! Sorry about the calamari allergy; you're missing out on some tasty, slimy, sea creatures! ;)
