Ochina Bianca, Mantova

This very nice restaurant, located on a side street away from the city center, was an elegant discovery.  The interior was nicely appointed with a nicely quiet, subdued ambiance.  The staff was very friendly.  The owner, a curmudgeonly fellow, was the waiter.  It was quite a nice experience figuring out what I would have for dinner.

My wine this evening would be a white wine, a Sauvignon from Friuli.  This wine had an excellent, crisp green apple taste and matched my desire for a light dinner.  However, as you shall read, a light dinner was not in the cards.  It will become another evening of over-indulgence.

First was the “Tartare di Tonno, Gamberi, Salome e Orata”.  The salmon tartar was delicious and the local olive oil used to dress the salmon was delicious.  The fresh raw vegetables were al dente and very nice.  It was a large serving.

Second was “Risotto alla Pilota con Pesto di Salsiccia e Puntel”.  This was a relatively dry serving which had been prepared in a rich vegetable broth then enriched with delicious, mild ground sausage and covered with a mild grated cheese.  The seasoning was excellent.  I began this serving as a bit of a skeptic but by the end I was holding each bite for some time to fully enjoy the seasoning and the subdued texture.  This, too, was a large serving and should have been the end of this meal.  That was not to be.

Fortunately, lastly was the “Spaghetti con Tonno Fresco, Olive, Melanzane e Pomodori Pachino”.   The pasta was excellent.  The eggplant was very tasty.  The fish was like a sweet chicken.  Again, the spicing was excellent and the textures allowed each bite to be mouthwatering.  At the end of this very large and extremely delicious meal I wanted to be in my bed at the Locanda.  Unfortunately, I had an hour drive to the bed.  It was good for there was time to settle my system and reflect on this lovely time.