Italian food is my favorite cuisine and I think it would be even I were zero percent Italian. After my one-year exile in Raleigh-Durham, I gained a much greater appreciation of it through a great restaurant called il Sogno (The Dream) because its focus was on what these European people really eat, namely in Naples. In the States, most Americans think Olive Garden, Macaroni Grill and Pizza Hut are accurate. They are and they aren’t, in the same manner America serves Mexican and Chinese. Immigrants from all these respective places adapted their dishes to what was available here. A stealthy example is Texas fave chicken-fried steak being a modified German dish by the anti-secessionist settlers of Kinney County.
Anyway, I digressed about how my own frustration at people looking at il Sogno‘s menu confusedly (and sometimes walking out) is best expressed through the underrated 1996 movie Big Night, a story for another day.
If you’ve ever seen this great, hilarious flick, then you’ll remember the ‘breakout’ star in the last act, Primo’s incredible main course…timpano. I’ve wanted to eat this for years. Thankfully a speciality bistro in the Mueller One Percenter Gentrification District called l’oca D’oro (the Golden Goose) offered it this week! Their version wasn’t a giant “drum” in which every customer received a slice of (see the movie), they made individual portions along with a multiple-course meal. The whole shebang came with appetizers (fresh, mozzarella cheese), fish, olives and bread. Big Night played on the main wall in the background and a live band entertained with appropriate music.
I cannot wait to return to l’oca D’oro next year or whenever they offer this again! I may have to find some cheaper, frozen food or whatever substitute to get me through!
What a crust! It resembles a delicious pastry.
Cut it open and holy buckets! Deliciousness inside!