Rachel's Guide to Portland: Nostrana

There once was an Italian restaurant called Nostrana. It resided in Portland, east of the Willamette River. Nostrana was known for negronis and pizza. And it was visited by a woman named Rachel.

Rachel loved Nostrana with all her heart (or, more like, her stomach). The ambiance was just right for her- enough space so that she felt she had privacy, open enough that she could watch the buzzing room around her, and friendly enough that she felt at home. She particularly admired the bar that reached way up to the ceiling, and she enjoyed watching the pizzas cook in the brick oven.

On this particular visit, Rachel was dining with her father. Her dad had instilled in her a sophisticated love of wine, and so the two ordered the flights that were available that evening: she the wines of the Ligurian coast, and he the wines of the Langhe region. Her flight began with prosecco (which was dry, fruity, crisp, and bubbly), was followed by a lovely Pigato, and finished with a delicious Vermentino. His flight began with a dolcetto, was followed by a barbera, and finished with a nebbiolo. Rachel's love of Italian wines deepened that night, and she made a mental note to get back out to the Marchesi vineyard in Hood River.

Rachel and her father started out with a raddichio salad and a tuna and cannelini bean dish. The raddichio salad was a lot like a Caesar, with raddichio in the place of romaine. The tuna dish, however, was unlike anything she had had before. It was comprised of flaky white tuna, fat cannelini beans, thinly sliced red onions, giardiniera, and olive oil. Giardiniera, Rachel learned, was pickled vegetables- in this case, celery, carrots, and radishes. Rachel loved the dish so much, she vowed to recreate it (hoping to do so for the 4th of July).

The main course was a funghe verdi pizza. Rachel and her father both enjoy mushrooms, and this pizza had lots of them. It was also topped with lots of fresh arugula and pecorino cheese. Rachel was so giddy to snip into the pizza (the pizza is served with a pair of scissors for cutting), that she forgot to take pictures of the virgin pizza. Food waits for no man, not even Rachel.

Finally, Rachel and her father topped off the meal with dessert for her and cheese for him. Rachel was in a chocolate mood and the budino was right up her alley- smooth, rich, creamy. Her father enjoyed the sheep's milk cheese, which came with honey, crackers, and figs. Both Rachel and her father were happy with their meal, and left the restaurant with smiling tummies.

Have you ever had a restaurant experience that brought you such delight? Portlanders- have you been to Nostrana? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

8 comments dinner, Portland

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