Everyone
has a place that they have dubbed their favorite. It could be their favorite
hair salon, movie theater or clothing store. I too have a list of favorites, and
my most beloved of all would have to be anything that has to do with the
lovely world of cuisine. Whether it’s a particular type of restaurant, a
certain type of food or the hottest dining trend, if it involves food it’s on
one list or another.
Today my husband and I went to Zaza Italian Gastrobar for lunch. It’s one of our favorite restaurants here in Stamford. Collectively, we’ve never had a bad meal there. The ingredients are fresh, the plates are as wonderful to look at as they are to devour and the aromas are enough to bring a grown man (and woman) to the brink of tears.
Zaza's menu is impressive. And Zaza is the go-to place for thin crust pizza. Just ask my husband. Really. He is the
perennial lover of thin crust pizza and he contends that Zaza has the best. I’m
inclined to agree. On my personal tasting menu today, aside from the Mozzarella Fritta with fresh marinara
sauce—which is also a show stopper—was a featured pizza, the Balsamico Bianca.
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| Balsamico Bianca Pizza |
This
pizza blew me away. It was a subtle blend of chicken, caramelized onions,
ricotta, mozzarella and fresh herbs. The crowning glory was a swirling ring of
balsamic vinegar starting from the middle of the pizza and working its way outward.
I don’t know how long Zaza plans to have this as a featured item, but do yourself
a favor and trot on down there post haste to sample this beauty of a pie before
they retire it. [By the way, the regular menu
also features a Pizza Bianca which
is described as “white pizza, ricotta and mozzarella” and, I believe, you can
doctor up your pizzas with additional toppings to your liking.]
My husband tried the Mozzarella Panini and added prosciutto. I was too busy working on my pizza to give his panini much notice, but he described it as being delicious and nice and crunchy. Of particular note was the lack of gnashing and tearing to bite the bread, which can sometimes happen with a panini.
One thing I can count on Zaza for is consistency. On a recent visit there early last month, the food was every bit as luscious as today’s meal.
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| Bruschetta Romana |
Who knew that the mélange
of ingredients as simple as fresh sliced tomato, arugula, mozzarella and Tuscan
bread could be transformed into the magnificently delicious Bruschetta Romana? Crisp, fresh and topped
with the kick of balsamic reduction made this dish a standout.
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| Bruschetta Romana, take two |
The
Chef’s Selection Soup of the Day was
a hearty and filling tomato based white bean soup with a flavor that lingered
long after the soup was gone. On a more whimsical note, the Tuscan Seasoned Fries were crispy
golden rods of goodness that would bring a smile to anyone’s face, including
mine.
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| Chef's Selection Soup / Tuscan Seasoned Fries |
However,
on that lazy Saturday afternoon, as the first hint of autumn tried to make its
presence known, I fell head over heels in love with the Gnocchi Pesto. The pesto, chicken and roasted tomatoes, together
with the firm and smooth potato gnocchi, was such a tantalizing comingling of
flavors that it compelled me to savor every bite.
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| Gnocchi Pesto |
So
far, every morsel of food that has found its way into my mouth at Zaza has been
a winner. But there’s still so much more menu to work my way through. I guess I
have my work cut out for me, don’t I?
Zaza Italian Gastrobar
Stamford, CT 06901
203-348-2300
On the web: www.zazagastrobar.com
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