Visiting Italian Fiorella Sunset restaurant in San Francisco

Considering the historic roots of Italians and Italian cuisine in San Francisco, it is not a surprise to say there is no shortage of choices. But this doesn’t mean that newer entries are not welcome, and Fiorella Sunset is one of those that has caught our attention here at TasteTV.

Fiorella Sunset is an Italian restaurant in San Francisco that is known for its amazing pasta and service. Located in the retail hub of the Sunset District, the restaurant is a 1/2 block from Golden Gate Park and offers an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. After a lunch meal for example it is easy to take a stroll and explore the beautiful nearby natural scenery, all while contemplating your recent culinary experience.

When you first walk into Fiorella Sunset, you are greeted with a warm lobby and friendly staff. The decor is modern and cozy, with comfortable seating and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The restaurant provides an intimate yet informal ambiance for either a romantic dinner or casual lunch with friends or associates.

The food is top-notch, with classic Italian favorites like lasagna, ravioli, and manicotti. The pasta is cooked to perfection, with a perfect balance of flavor and texture. All the dishes are cooked to order with fresh or local ingredients and herbs. The house sauces are delicious and the side dishes are flavorful and unique.

The rooftop dining area is one of the best features of Fiorella Sunset. The natural lighting is spectacular and the atmosphere is open, with high ceilings and airflow. There are also plenty of tables and chairs for larger groups. The rooftop dining area is also good for large group events or celebrations.

The dessert and wine options at Fiorella Sunset are also excellent. There are a wide variety of desserts, including classic Italian favorites like tiramisu and cannolis. The wine list is extensive, with choices from all over the world. The staff is knowledgeable and can help you select the perfect bottle to pair with your meal.

Overall, Fiorella Sunset is an excellent Italian restaurant, and in San Francisco where choices abound, we believe that if you are looking for a tasty Italian food then Fiorella Sunset is a great option.

 

 

Fiorella Sunset

http://www.fiorella-sf.com

1240 9th Ave

San Francisco, CA

 

Wine Review: Mountain Ranch Winery 2018 Old Vine Barbera Grand Reserve

Mountain Ranch Winery’s 2018 Old Vine Barbera Grand Reserve is a wine to notice. From its deep, ruby-red color to its bold, fruit-forward flavor, this vintage is a must-try for red wine lovers ready  to expand from Zinfandels and Cabs.

Created by winemaker Bob Hoffman, the 2018 vintage was made from a selection of the finest old-vine Barbera grapes grown in the mountainous Rancho Vignola vineyard in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The combination of the high-altitude terroir and the exceptional vineyard management practices of the winemakers has resulted in a wine of exceptional quality and complexity.

This wine is often served on TasteTV’s Chocolate and Wine Cruise on San Francisco Bay, and this is the first time our wine editors have been able to present a written review of this vintage that attendees have tasted.

On the nose, the 2018 Old Vine Barbera Grand Reserve offers a tantalizing array of aromas, including ripe red fruits, a hint of spice, and a touch of earthiness. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and silky smooth, with flavors of dark-skinned cherries, blackberries, and a subtle hint of oak. The wine has a pleasing, lingering finish with a hint of sweet spice.

The 2018 Old Vine Barbera Grand Reserve is a classic example of a high-quality, old-world-style wine. The flavors are well-balanced and complex, and the wine has a great structure and length. It is a perfect choice for those who appreciate bold, flavorful wines.

The Mountain Ranch Barbera is an excellent selection for occasions such as casual dinners or even more formal gatherings. It pairs well with a variety of foods, including pastas, grilled meats, and cheeses. With its bold, fruit-forward flavors, it also makes a great choice for sipping on its own.

See more at mountainranchwinery.com

 

 

Italian Spirit Portofino Dry Gin is like the Riviera in a Bottle

An Italian gin is a concept that will strike many as unique, and it should. What will also strike them is how lovely the bottle is and how tasty the liquid inside is. Those are our feelings about Portofino Dry Gin.

Hailing from Italy’s town of Portofino, known around the world for its breathtaking view, iconic Italian scenery, beauty and charm, Portofino Dry Gin delivers Italian authenticity and packaging in a stylish design.

We are so proud to bring Portofino Dry Gin to the US. It’s a major milestone in our company’s growth,” says Christopher Egger, CMO and co-founder of Portofino Dry Gin. “While we would love for everyone to experience the beauty and charm of our town of Portofino in Italy first-hand, we are thrilled that we can now bring that authentic Italian experience of charm and beauty to the US.”

Made at an antique Italian distillery, Portofino Dry Gin includes 21 botanicals selected for their natural aromatic properties. The juniper, lemons, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, sage, iris and rose are all organically grown in Portofino Dry Gin’s botanical sanctuary on the hills of Portofino. The region’s unique microclimate allows lush Mediterranean vegetation to grow year round, and each botanical is ripened by the fresh sea breeze and the warm sun of the Italian Riviera.

Portofino Dry Gin was founded as a tribute to my grandfather, Klaus Pudel,” says Ruggero Raymo, CEO and co-founder of Portofino Dry Gin. “He was admired for having saved Portofino from the destruction during World War II. Portofino is in the heart of the Italian Riviera, and the bottle design is an homage to the beautiful region.”

Imported to the United States by Artisanal Cellars, Portofino is available at select premium retailers including Eataly as well as nationally via Cask & Barrel.

Try this recipe:

Portofino Bay Martini

  • 1.5 oz Portofino Dry Gin
  • 0.5 oz Dry Vermouth
  • 0.5 oz Salted Water
  • 1 Dash Olive Bitters

Stir and strain into a coupette glass, garnish with green olive & lemon peel.

 

About Portofino Dry Gin

Portofino Dry Gin is produced in Italy. Each batch of Portofino Dry Gin is made using a combination of traditional and innovative methods: from an old Italian copper pot still used to distill local liqueur and grappa to a state-of-the-art technology that produces vacuum distillation, preserving the aromas from Portofino Dry Gin’s most delicate botanicals. Distilled and bottled in Italy using natural ingredients, without added sugar, artificial flavors or preservatives. Alc./Vol. 43% – 86 Proof.

 

We’re Loving these 3 Red Wines Right Now: Broadside, Vigna Petrussa, and Dough

Wine is intended to be enjoyed, and frankly that’s our main criteria for recommending them. If we enjoy them, then you might too.

Three red wines that we are enjoying right now are very different from each, and from very different regions, but we hope that each will give you the same reaction: Delight.

Our current picks are the Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles in California, Italy’s Vigna Petrussa Schioppettino di Prepotto, and Oregon’s Dough 2019 Pinot Noir.

Enjoy!


 

Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles

The Broadside 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is from Paso Robles and the sub AVA of the San Juan Creek and Margarita Ranch. It is made up of 82% Cabernet, 12% Merlot, and 6% Malbec. The wine was aged 18 months in a combination of French and American oak barrels, and has a lot of deep jammy flavors that include dark chocolate and cinnamon.

Award-winning winemaker Adam LaZarre has created a hearty Cab, very much what you would expect from the Central Coast. It is perfect for pairing with meats and poultry, or roasted vegetables. Of course, you can pair it with nothing and just enjoy it alone. Which we can recommend.

Find it at https://broadsidewine.com/

 


Vigna Petrussa Schioppettino di Prepotto

 

This Italian wine by Vigna Petrussa gets its name from the Italian word “schioppare,” which means to burst, since their description implies that the grapes burst in your mouth when you eat them. Schioppettino is an indigenous and sometimes overlooked grape in the North-Eastern corner of Italy, from the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. Fortunately, second generation winemaker Hilde Petrussa has played a key role in the rediscovery and renaissance of this rare heirloom varietal.

We were actually quite surprised by this Italian wine because sometimes we find them to be a bit overly subtle. This Vigna Petrussa vintage does continue the trend of being gentle, but it is also robust enough to really deliver real flavor and nuance, as well as presenting some delightful aromas and fruit. The wine is aged for 36 months in barrels, then for another six months in the bottle. Some reviewers rankings have it has high as 90 points, which is good news.

One interesting part of the story is that Sheila Donahue of VeroVino Craft imports this wine into the United States, and is very supportive of women owned wineries like those of Hilde Petrussa’s Vigna Petrussa. Sheila started in the wine industry as a sommelier but now searches for and imports hidden gems around the world, gaining quite a bit of positive recognition in the process.

Find it at https://www.verovinogusto.com


Dough 2019 Oregon Pinot Noir

 

The winemaker for Dough is Heidi Bridenhagen, who has fermented this 100% Pinot Noir varietal in stainless steel. Oregon of course brings a unique kind of terroir and topography to its wines, often quite different from those in California or Italy. The Dough Pinot Noir is what many would consider to be a classic wine from Oregon with cherry and red fruits, as well as a bit of chocolate. We found it to be a light and casual drinking wine, one which we believe people will quite enjoy, especially during early in the day. That time frame doesn’t mean however that you can’t have it with a nice pasta with garlic butter sauce, or to start off a lovely evening with a friend(s).

Interestingly enough, the vineyard itself proposes that you chill it, which we suppose you might want to do if it’s an extremely hot day, but otherwise, Why?

Wine enthusiast gave it 85 points, but if up to us we would give it 87.

Find it at https://doughwines.com/

 

 

Finally, a Bolognese Sauce that is 3 in 1: Delicious, Versatile and Healthy

A thick and rich tomato Bolognese sauce is a gift for the home chef. That is because it is so versatile. A new sauce we have discovered is Otamot, and its versatility is perfect for these challenging times.

This organic sauce is made from vine ripened tomato, carrots, red bell peppers, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, spinach, red beets, sweet onions, garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, and shiitake mushrooms. Otamot is also certified as vegan, gluten-free, and GMO-verified.

We have used this sauce on everything from pastas such as tortellini and ravioli, to the base for deep dish pizza, to meatball sandwiches. It has yet to fail us!

Based in Brooklyn, the brand was founded by a dad Andrew Suzuka, who wanted his daughter to be able to eat healthier while enjoying her meals. As Suzuka says, “Tomato sauce CAN be packed with vegetables, vitamins, antioxidants and have no added sugar or preservatives.”

Find it at https://www.otamotfoods.com

TasteTV Gift Guide: 9 Tasty Gifts for the Fancy Food Lover

If you have food lovers in your life that have earned a great gift then you are in luck! TasteTV has found some equally great ideas for you. They include gourmet meats, poultry, spices, pasta, cakes, and awesome cookbooks.