my momo

Some day, I'd like to write a book about my friend Antonio.  I'd title it  "MoMo; My Love Affair With A Man and His Restaurant". 

All our lives have changed since Spoke and I shared our first meal at MoMo Italian Specialties, twenty-four years ago.  Antonio and his wife moved to Mexico, their sons became the restaurateurs, and Spoke and I retired.  The years have flown by and the last few sadly, found us out of touch. 

Last night Antonio was in town and invited us to dinner.  We sat together, elbows on the familiar wood table, wine flowing, food
never-ending and conversation smoothly picking up where we'd left off. 

Oh, to be back at our trattoria! 

You will not believe me when you read below, the multitude of dishes Antonio so graciously served us, planning I believe, to head home tomorrow, knowing he had fed me and Spoke for the rest of the week month. 

SCHIACCIATA AND SALSA VERDE
The house bread, hot with a sprinkling of rosemary,
served with homemade parsley sauce

INSALATA ALLA PESCATORA

(Tonight) Calamari in a seasoned tomato sauce with parsley, garlic, and olive oil

POMODORO CON MOZZARELLA

Sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella with a pesto drizzle

INSALATA ALLA MOMO

Salad of lobster, hearts of palm, lettuce and smoked salmon

in olive oil, lemon, and tiny capers

MOZZARELLA CAMPAGNOLA 

Imported smoked mozzarella thinly sliced, dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, pink peppercorns, and shredded radicchio

*

TORTELLI DI FORMAGGIO

Fresh pasta stuffed with cheeses, walnuts, garlic, brandy and spices;
served in a creamy tomato sauce

MACCHERONI ALLA VESUVIANA 

Rigatoni baked with tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil,
fresh mozzarella, red pepper, and pecorino cheese

FETTUCCINE INTEGRALI ALLA GIARDINIERA

Whole wheat pasta, tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions, peas, parsley

and garlic cooked in a beef broth

ROTOLO VERDE

Spinach, ricotta cheese and spices rolled up in fresh pasta, boiled then sliced into medallions, topped with gruyere cheese and baked.  Served with tomato sauce.

PAPPARDELLE VERDI ALLA DIAVOLA

Spinach fettuccine in a spicy tomato sauce with onions, garlic,
jalapenos, Anaheim peppers, and brandy


**
GAMBERI ALLA MOMO
Shrimp with smoked salmon in a cream sauce with herbs, spices, brandy, and wines.

SALMONE AL CARTOCCIO
Salmon fillet, baked in a parchment pouch topped
with a sauce of onions, mushrooms, and cream.



DOLCI
 Zabaione, Panna Cotta,
Amarenata, Affogato, Sciuscia, Tiramisu

Spoke and I have a thing for antipasti, often making it our meal which we happily could have done last night; it was all so good. 
Time and more wine found me stuffed as full as the tortelli and I felt rather sorry for the waiter when he was asked not to think about setting the plate of pappardelle on the table!  No room; literally and figuratively. 

We enjoyed hearing stories of the ranch in Mexico as we succumbed to the secondi; the view, the vegetable garden, their neighbors, the rattlesnakes... 

Though we declined dessert, we lingered over espresso, sharing our plans and talking of when Antonio might next return which I hope will be very, very soon. 

I know I'll be back at my MoMo's sooner than that.






MoMo Italian Specialties
9191 Forest Lane, Dallas
972.234.6800