REVIEW : Divino Enoteco Regional menu - Emilia Romagna

Emilia Romagna is a region on Northern Italy with Bologna as its capital. It’s one of the wealthiest and most developed regions in Europe. It’s also a cultural, economic and tourist centre and is home to the oldest university in the world, The University of Bologna.

Emilia Romagna is famous for car brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati as well as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Lambrusco wine.

Dinner at Divino Enoteca restaurant Edinburgh

The very romantic and atmospheric Divino Enoteca recently launched their second Regional Italian tasting menu bringing you the very best tastes of Emilia Bologna.

The four course tasting menu costs £39 with a £26 wine pairing supplement. Worth it in my option, as the food and wine are expertly paired and the food is generous and superbly cooked.

Read my blog on their first Regional Italian Tasting menu - Piemont, here. Regions to feature this year include Puglia and Sicily.

The menu has two choices per course. So whilst we made our decisions, we sipped on some light Prosecco and a wee canape of artichoke cream with salami on an oatcake. A wee bite to get you in the mood.

STARTER

GNOCCO FRITTO E CULATELLO : Classic golden pillow of deep fried dough served with Culatello ham and Stracciatella cream cheese cheese.

OR

ZUPPA DI VERZA : Traditional Savoy cabbage soup served with potatoes and croutons.

We both chose the ham and doughballs. We eat with our eyes and when this dish was presented my eyes started drooling.
A very simple dish but loaded with beautiful ingredients and food that I adore. The Culatello Ham was presented as fully bloomed blush pink roses, and unfurling the petals was a delight revealing the long wafer thin strips of this King of cured meats from Italy.
It's sweet taste and velvetty texture worked well with the salty coated pillow like dough balls and the Stracciatella cream cheese (much like Burrata) burst in a puddle of creaminess in the centre of the plate.

This plate is pure happiness.

Wine pairing : Pignoletto Frizzante Chiarli 2018

This sparkling wine is much like Prosecco just lighter. Almost 80% of Pignoletto is frizzante, rather than spumante, resulting in softer, rounder, frothier bubbles. On the nose it is delicate and gently perfumed - peach blossoms, jasmine and lots of fresh apple. It’s slightly drier than Prosecco and has a longer finish. I think I’d take a Pignoletto over a Prosecco anyday.

PASTA

TAGLIATELLE AL RAGÙ : Fresh egg pasta with bolognese ragù served with grated Parmesan cheese

For the pasta course we chose one of each - the vegetarian and the meat based one. For me this ragu was Pasta Perfetto! Fresh ribbons of tagliatelle coated with a deep rich beef ragu sauce. I stuck the fork in and twist the pasta around the fork, as the sauce clinged lovingly to the pasta strands. Each mouthful was perfection and I got lost in a world where only myself, the pasta and parmesan existed UNTIL my dining partner said "let's swop"! 😮

TAGLIATELLE RICOTTA E SPINACI : Fresh egg pasta served with ricotta and spinach finished with grated Parmesan cheese. Wine pairing: Sangiovese Di Romagna DOC Zavalloni 2018.

I reluctantly swopped but was met with another pasta delight of the Tagliatelle with ricotta and spinach. Delightful too, just lighter packing a garlic punch backed with the heat of a sprinkle or two of chilli.

Wine pairing: Sangiovese Di Romagna DOC Zavalloni 2018

Personally, I loved this wine. A deep consistent concentrated ruby red with a nose bursting full of big bold red berries and rose and violet flowers. It’s intense and quite complex with lively tannins but not overpowering.

It was paired superbly with the ragu, really enhancing this big hitting deep beefy flavours.

FARAONA ALLA ROMAGNOLA : Marinated guinea fowl with shallot, wine and garlic served with Parmesan polenta and sauté of cabbage finished with guinea fowl jus.

OR

CASCIONE ROMAGNOLO : Classic salted pastry case filled with chard, sauté of vegetables and leeks, finished in the oven and served with a pecorino mousse.

Which one would you order? We did both order the guinea fowl and I am so glad we did as there was no way I was sharing this dish.

The guinea fowl was seriously tasty and tasted more like chicken than darker game meats. It was cooked on the bone and resembled a large lollipop. The guinea fowl itself was so succulent and genuinely finger licking good. The parmesan polenta was nice but a little too grainy for my liking. I loved the cabbage though as it brought an earthiness to the dish.

Wine pairing: Sangiovese Riserva DOCG Gallegati 2010

I loved this one so much I forgot to take a pic. This was my kind wine with big cherry and plum flavours and hints of tobacco and spices in the background. It’s full bodied and rich with a long persistent finish.

DESSERTS

MASCARPONE MOUSSE AND SAVOIARDI : Whipped mascarpone with an egg sabayon served with grated dark chocolate and Savoiardi biscuits

Again we decided to order one of each as one dessert was sweet and the other savoury. The mascarpone was like eating cream clouds and right up my street. I loved the Savoiardi biscuit, the texture reminded me of those foam banana sweets which I adore. All round, a fine way to end dinner.

CHEESE : Parmesan cheese aged for 24 months, served with frozen grapes, balsamic vinegar and breadsticks.

But this was the crowning glory. Cheese is a must and when you’re presented with a parmesan that has been aged for 2 years, can you resist?

The cheese had a very deep nutty flavour and although fairly dry it retained its creaminess on the back note. Perfectly presented as it didn’t require anything more than just the cheese. The frozen grapes were nice too but we paid little attention to them

Wine pairing: Albana Di Romagna Passito DOCG Fattoria Paradiso 2018

I do love a dessert wine, Sauternes being one of my favs. This one had the most fabulous of colours, a dark yellow orange which reminded me of Autumn. It’s packed with almonds, peaches and herbs on the nose but on the palate its well balanced and tastes of sweet honey and apricots. Perfect with cheese.

Divino Enoteca is most definitely one of Edinburgh’s best Italian restaurants. For me they border on high end bistro/fine dining and although a little pricey, what they deliver is worth every penny. They have an incredible knack of making you feel like you are the only people in the restaurant and are very attentive without the intrusion and happy to impart knowledge on Italy, the food and wine, should they be asked.

They have some great offers on and if you want to treat the one you love, this is the place.

Divino Enoteca, 5 Merchant Street, Edinburgh. Tel 0131 2251770 www.vittoriagroup.co.uk/divinoenoteca

My Spoon Award : Tartan Spoon 10/10

I was invited by Divino Enoteca to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.

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