Flavor Boulevard

We Asians like to talk food.
Subscribe

Rustic Italian in the old tavern

January 14, 2012 By: Mai Truong Category: Comfort food, Houston


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 The smell of books might have been replaced by the smell of pasta and cheese (this place was previously a bookstore), but Chef Velio Deplano and his partner Ray Memari have kept Antica Osteria in that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

0 Comments to “Rustic Italian in the old tavern”


  1. I have to show appreciation to this writer just for rescuing me from this problem. After looking out throughout the online world and coming across proposals which are not powerful, I believed my life was over. Existing without the presence of solutions to the problems you have sorted out through this site is a serious case, and those that could have in a negative way damaged my entire career if I had not come across your site. Your own expertise and kindness in touching a lot of stuff was very helpful. I don’t know what I would have done if I had not come upon such a step like this. It’s possible to at this moment relish my future. Thank you very much for this expert and sensible guide. I will not hesitate to suggest your blog post to anyone who wants and needs guidance about this subject.

    1
  2. Great line up. We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the good writing.

    3
  3. I went over this web site and I believe you have a lot of great information, bookmarked (:.

    4
  4. It’s really a cool and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

    5
  5. Thank you for sharing with us, I think this website really stands out :D.

    6
  6. Outstanding post, you have pointed out some fantastic points, I besides believe this s a very superb website.

    7
  7. I am constantly thought about this, appreciate it for putting up.

    8
  8. great points altogether, you simply gained a brand new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?

    9
  9. Very interesting points you have mentioned, regards for posting.

    10
  10. Hi, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues. When I look at your website in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, fantastic blog!

    11
  11. Greetings! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading through your posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that deal with the same subjects? Thank you so much!

    12
  12. I just couldn’t depart your site before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often to check up on new posts

    13
  13. I couldn’t resist commenting

    14
  14. Hi there, You have done a great job. I will certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am confident they’ll be benefited from this web site.

    15
  15. Hey there! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to check it out. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Wonderful blog and excellent style and design.

    16
  16. Rattling instructive and superb body structure of content, now that’s user friendly (:.

    17
  17. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iPad and tested to see if it can survive a forty foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is totally off topic but I had to share it with someone!

    18
  18. Regards for this post, I am a big big fan of this website would like to continue updated.

    19
  19. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a designer to create your theme? Great work!

    20
  20. Useful info. Lucky me I discovered your website unintentionally, and I am surprised why this coincidence didn’t came about in advance! I bookmarked it.

    21
  21. Some really marvellous work on behalf of the owner of this internet site, dead great written content.

    22
  22. I like this website its a master peace ! Glad I noticed this on google .

    23
  23. I have been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours as of late, but I never discovered any interesting article like yours. It is lovely price enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made just right content as you did, the internet will probably be much more useful than ever before. “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” by Lao Tzu.

    24
  24. Thank you for any other excellent post. Where else may anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect means of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the look for such information.

    25
  25. I’ve been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all site owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be a lot more useful than ever before.

    26
  26. Whats up very cool blog!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am satisfied to search out so many helpful information right here in the publish, we’d like develop more strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

    27
  27. wonderful post.Never knew this, thanks for letting me know.

    28
  28. There is noticeably a bundle to know about this. I assume you made certain nice points in features also.

    29
  29. As I site possessor I believe the content material here is rattling excellent , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Best of luck.

    30
  30. Appreciate it for this grand post, I am glad I observed this internet site on yahoo.

    31
  31. Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your web-site is very cool. I am impressed by the details that you have on this website. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the information I already searched everywhere and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal site.

    32
  32. hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I require an expert on this area to solve my problem. May be that’s you! Looking forward to see you.

    33
  33. I just like the helpful info you supply for your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check once more here frequently. I’m slightly sure I’ll learn lots of new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the following!

    34
  34. You have mentioned very interesting points! ps nice web site.

    35
  35. Would you be involved in exchanging links?

    36
  36. Enjoyed reading this, very good stuff, appreciate it. “Whenever you want to marry someone, go have lunch with his ex-wife.” by Francis William Bourdillon.

    37
  37. I have read some just right stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how a lot attempt you place to create one of these great informative site.

    38
  38. Some really nice and utilitarian information on this internet site, also I conceive the style has wonderful features.

    39
  39. Utterly pent articles, thanks for selective information. “You can do very little with faith, but you can do nothing without it.” by Samuel Butler.

    40
  40. I believe other website proprietors should take this web site as an example , very clean and excellent user pleasant design.

    41
  41. I really enjoy studying on this internet site, it has got wonderful articles. “One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.

    42
  42. I am extremely impressed with your writing abilities as well as with the format on your blog. Is that this a paid topic or did you customize it your self? Either way keep up the excellent high quality writing, it’s uncommon to peer a nice weblog like this one nowadays..

    43
  43. I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.

    44
  44. I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts in this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am satisfied to convey that I have a very good uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I most unquestionably will make certain to do not fail to remember this site and give it a look on a continuing basis.

    45
  45. I’ve recently started a web site, the information you provide on this site has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work.

    46
  46. Helpful info. Fortunate me I found your website accidentally, and I am stunned why this coincidence didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.

    47


Leave a Reply