Rustic Italian in the old tavern
The 7-year-old Antica Osteria is much too young to be one of “the nurseries of our legislators”, but it sure feels like one: warm brick walls, dark wood work, an old house nested in the green, sleepy residential area northwest of Rice University, and a patronage mainly composed of old white men. The smell of books might have been replaced by the smell of pasta and cheese (this place was previously a bookstore), but Chef Velio Deplano and his partner Ray Memari have kept Antica Osteria in that hidden, rustic, peaceful feeling of a bookstore. The gentle orange light made me excited like a drifting sailor seeing a lighthouse.
Normal bread and butter, not bread, vinegar and oil, accompanied our post-ordering conversation, followed by some airy garlic bread. A tiny voice in some little corner in my mind whispered that the garlic bread was waiting for the salad to travel down the pipe, but who could resist such beautiful orange color. We made sure that the garlic bread’s presence on the table was as fleeting as its texture. 😉
The insalata campagnola was great by itself anyway. The buffalo mozzarella, plain with a nutty lightness of marshmallow, deems superior to mozzarella from cow milk. I grew up hearing that water buffalo meat is leaner and “whiter” than beef (as in white meat vs. red meat, no racist joke here), so I was appalled to learn that water buffalo milk is much richer (higher levels of protein, fat, and minerals) than cow milk. (To produce 1 kg of cheese, 5 kg of water buffalo milk is needed versus 8 kg of cow milk.) The richness really doesn’t show in this cheese ball though, it’s like eating air.
I guess Varun didn’t feel particularly adventurous that day, as if one could ever be adventurous in an Italian restaurant, seeing that he got grilled salmon. As long as he’s happy…
I got petto d’anatra al pepe nero (black pepper pan-fried duck). It’s good, but again, not adventurous either.
The most exciting thing of the night was Aaron’s choice, also a special del giorno: cappellini aragosta, or angel hair pasta with lobster. Not that it was anything few people dare to eat, but the battle between Aaron and the lobster tail was captivating. Battle Aragosta. I can imagine directing a dinner date scene where the heroine of my movie has such trouble eating lobster and the guy finds it both uncouth and endearing at the same time. 😀 That said, I never order lobster.
Address: Antica Osteria
2311 Bissonnet
Houston, TX 77005
(713) 521-1155
Dinner for three: $95.26
Hello There. I found your blog the usage of msn. This is a really well written article. I’ll make sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your useful info. Thank you for the post. I’ll certainly return.
1Jellyfil
2Hey there! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thanks
3This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!
4Hi my loved one! I want to say that this article is amazing, great written and include approximately all important infos. I would like to peer more posts like this .
5Hello! I just would like to give a huge thumbs up for the great info you have here on this post. I will be coming back to your blog for more soon.
6It’s really a nice and useful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
7As I website owner I believe the subject matter here is really good, regards for your efforts.
8I am glad to be a visitant of this sodding web site! , thankyou for this rare info ! .
9Hi there, I found your web site via Google while searching for a related topic, your website came up, it looks good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
10I like what you guys are up also. Such intelligent work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my website 🙂
11I really enjoy looking at on this internet site, it contains wonderful blog posts. “Don’t put too fine a point to your wit for fear it should get blunted.” by Miguel de Cervantes.
12Hello, you used to write wonderful, but the last few posts have been kinda boring?K I miss your super writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on!
13Hello my family member! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos. I would like to see more posts like this .
14Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My blog site is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would really benefit from some of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thank you!
15I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
16Some genuinely nice and utilitarian info on this website, as well I think the style and design has superb features.
17Greetings from Florida! I’m bored to death at work so I decided to browse your site on my iphone during lunch break. I love the info you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how quick your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, great blog!
18I’m impressed, I need to say. Actually rarely do I encounter a weblog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you might have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is excellent; the problem is something that not sufficient people are speaking intelligently about. I am very happy that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for one thing referring to this.
19Glad to be one of several visitants on this awful internet site : D.
20Have you ever considered about adding a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is important and all. Nevertheless just imagine if you added some great pictures or video clips to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with pics and video clips, this website could undeniably be one of the most beneficial in its niche. Good blog!
21Great remarkable issues here. I am very glad to look your article. Thank you a lot and i am taking a look ahead to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
22With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My website has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either written myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any techniques to help prevent content from being stolen? I’d really appreciate it.
23I respect your piece of work, appreciate it for all the useful blog posts.
24whoah this blog is great i love reading your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, lots of people are looking around for this information, you can help them greatly.
25Fantastic site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
26Hey There. I found your blog the usage of msn. This is a really smartly written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thank you for the post. I will certainly comeback.
27Woh I enjoy your content, saved to bookmarks! .
28Really clear internet site, thankyou for this post.
29Only wanna tell that this is very helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
30I enjoy what you guys tend to be up too. This type of clever work and coverage! Keep up the excellent works guys I’ve added you guys to blogroll.
31Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your site. You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an email if interested. Cheers!
32It’s onerous to search out knowledgeable individuals on this matter, but you sound like you already know what you’re speaking about! Thanks
33Terrific post however I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this topic? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Kudos!
34