No Corkage Fee at Dino, Revisited

The wine club went to Dino again for one of their no corkage fee nights, which until the end of the month is every Monday through Wednesday. A heads up that starting after Labor Day, the no corkage fee nights will be Tuesday and Thursday. Everyone brought a really great bottle, nice job folks. The bottles ranged from a 1990 red from Alsace to a gorgeous Ridge Zinfandel, several Syrahs and a couple of dry whites. We were seated in the back room in the upstairs area which makes for a cozy evening and is a great little mini-ambiance for a group of size. I ordered the usual fare for me. I split with two others the Tris di Crostini, which is crisp breads topped with one of heirloom tomato, ragusano cheese and pesto, or white bean and mushrooms. The flavors were nice, but there wasn't enough of each topping to really enjoy them. Not sure why they aren't doing the topping of bleu cheese and caramelized onions anymore either, but it was a nice way to start the meal nonetheless. Numerous other of the group ordered several appetizers and made it dinner. Favorites were Burrata, or Bufala Cheese air-freighted from Campania every Sunday & Thursday, and fresh ricotta stuffed fresh mozzarella, with olive & red pepper tapenades, oven tomatoes, olio, and basil; Antiapasti della Casa, or a meat and cheese plate featuring an assortment of marinated and grilled or roasted vegtgies, cured meats, and cheeses; Fiori di Zucca, or fried squash blossoms stuffed with smoked mozzarella, panko, spicy tomato coulis, and pesto; Polenta all’Estate, or summer polenta made with milk and grana with your choice of: grilled sausage in rich pomodoro or: pancetta or: roasted wild mushrooms (the sausage option seemed to be the favorite); and Crespelle con Pollo e Carciofi, or Dino's modern take on a traditional Tuscan crepe showcasing chicken, artichoke, roasted tomato, smoked mozzarella, pesto and tomato sauce. For my main I had Insalata di Fagioli e Farro 9Traditional Tuscan Grain & Bean Salad, with fava, borlotti and cannelini beans, peas, farro, roasted veggies and artichoke, lemon olio herb dressing and I topped it with grilled chicken. A fairly healthy and definitely satisfying option every time. I have never been on one of these outings when the group actually finishes the wine everyone brought, but then again I always tend to leave earlier than many folks. This night was no different, but I think a good time was had by all. Thanks again to Dino for another great evening.

Dino
3435 Connecticut Avenue in NW DC
http://www.dino-dc.com/

No Corkage Fee at Dino

Dino is always a fabulous place for a glass of wine and a great meal, but during the summer they are waiving their corkage fee entirely from Monday through Wednesday, so it's all the more reason to plan a visit. We dined there earlier this week and had a really lovely evening. Most folks brought a bottle of red, but it was hot and steamy out, so I opted for a nice white Argentinian table wine. We decided to start with that and it was a great entree for the meal. The crisp and refreshing and still somewhat fruity taste was perfect for awakening the palate and also for pairing with Dino's rustic and usually very fresh and flavorful food. I shared the Tris di Crostini, which I also shared last time I was at Dino. It was great again, although instead of baguette they are now using Ciabatta, which makes for a bit more messy eating, but it still works superbly. The crusty pieces of bread are topped with either white bean and mushrooms; caramelized balsamico cippolini and blue cheese; or goat cheese, pesto and oven-roasted tomato. The mushroom and pesto combination is dynamite, and I really enjoy the tomato version as well. Dino also changed up the salads on offering, and added a new section to the menu - "La Griglia Toscana: The Tuscan Steakhouse." No one ordered from that portion of the menu this time, but it all looked delicious, just a bit heavy for my taste, especially on a summer evening. Options include a strip steak, a porterhouse, a ribeye and a rack of lamb. For my main, I had Insalata di Fagioli, or traditional Tuscan grain and bean salad. The salad features fava and borlotti and cannelini beans, peas, farro, roasted veggies and artichoke, and a light lemon olio herb dressing. I topped the salad with rotisserie chicken, which for $3 is a real deal and really makes the dish satisfying. The flavors melded together beautifully, and still going with the white table wine, all together it was a really lovely combination. Others enjoyed various of the pasta varieties, the Linguini al Pesto which comes with lots of veggies, potatoes, and pesto, being a standout. One of the specials that evening was squash blossoms stuffed with mozzerella and coated with panko bread crumbs, fried and served with a tangy and delicious tomato sauce. A real winner of a dish for sure. I tried a bite with a sip of an Argentinian Malbec and it was gorgeous. We all had a really nice, and thanks to no corkage fee relatively inexpensive yet delectable meal. I would recommend taking a break from the heat and enjoying an evening at Dino for sure.

Dino

3435 Connecticut Avenue in NW DC

http://www.dino-dc.com/

Wine Wednesday at Dino, An Encore

The wine club met last night for Wine Wednesday at Dino in Cleveland Park. This was our second time at the event, and it was fantastic yet again. Last night's flight featured Sicilian Reds. The first wine was Tasca d'Almerita "Lamuri" 2005, which was a bit tannic on the nose but actually was soft and well-balanced on the palate. Very nice choice to start the tasting with. The other two wines were Messapicus Nero d'Avola 2004 and Cusumano Benura 2005. The Messapicus was nice, but nothing remarkable in my opinion. I absolutely loved the Cusumano though - gloriously fruity and just the right touch of oak. The flight changes each week and is $15, and for another $10 you can sample a trio of appetizers. Last night's offering was Porchetta, or roasted pork loin and belly flavored with herbs, Salsiccia, or pork sausage with spices, and Agnello, which is leg tidbits grilled with herbs. Fred decided to sample the trio and really enjoyed everything. The plate was artfully presented as well (see photo). Chris the Mixologist for Dino always serves up a good time at the bar too. (See the background of the photo).

We also took advantage of Dino's no corkage fee on Wednesdays and we each brought a bottle of wine. I brought a dry, Portugese white which was gorgeously fruity and not too acidic. Cathy brought a Greg Norman Shiraz which was nice but not one of our favorites. The flavors didn't seem to combine in a way that worked harmoniously at all. We also had another dry white as well as Vino Verde, or green wine, which actually is really nice and refreshing. I liken it to a Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc mix as you get the acidity and crispness of a Sauvignon Blanc but also the well-balanced and slightly fruity flavors of a Pinot Grigio. Lorena and I shared two appetizers - Asparagi, or grilled asparagus served on a piquant red pepper pesto with grana cheese, and Tris di Bruschette, which is grilled bread three ways - with white bean and mushrooms; caramelized balsamico cippolini and erborinati; and goat cheese, pesto and oven-roasted tomato. We had this dish the last time we were at Dino and it was again stellar. The sauteed mushrooms with the creamy white beans are absolutely fantastic. Kristin enjoyed the variety featuring caramelized cippolini onions and erborinati so much the first time around that she ordered the dish with this variety of brushette exclusively last night. It was a hit. Lorena also had a small portion of the Pappardelle ai Cinghiale, or wild boar pasta, and I had the usual Acciuga salad with roasted chicken which features long stems of fresh and crisp romaine lettuce, grilled Tuscan bread and lots of nutty Parmesan cheese. It was delicious and the crisp white wine was a great match with not only the salad but also the appetizers as well.

In addition to the bruschette, Kristin also had the Burrata, which is bufala cheese air freighted from Campania and served with fresh ricotta, olive and roasted pepper tapenades, olio, oven roasted tomatoes, and basil. A beautiful dish. She seemed more than happy making her meal out of a couple of the delicious appetizers. Cathy had Pio Tosini Prosciutto Crudo, which features beautiful and tasty ribbons of Prosciutto de Parma, and Croquette di Pitate, which is a trio of fried potato croquettes each with braised prosciutto, cheese, and breadcrumbs. The filling was creamy and rich and the croquettes had a thick and crispy crust which was a lovely mahogany brown in color. A bit rich though for sure. We were seated at a lovely booth toward the back of the first floor of the restaurant, and were able to linger a bit with all of the tasty treats on the table. We all really enjoyed the evening and I think most certainly took full advantage of Dino's Wine Wednesday.

Dino

3435 Connecticut Avenue in NW DC

http://www.dino-dc.com/

Wine Wednesday at Dino

The wine group met last night for Dino's "Wine Wednesday" tasting series. I love Dino anytime, but Wine Wednesday is really superb as on offering is a flight of wines and a trio of appetizers for $25, or you can just do the flight for $15. They also waive their corkage fee for the evening, which is a superb opportunity to enjoy their lovely Italian smallish plates along with a bottle of your choosing and for no extra cost as well.

Last night's feature was Rosso di Montalcino, Toscana. The wines were lush and fruity and delicious. The appetizer trio looked tasty, but we had a table reserved for later in the evening so instead we ordered a cheese plate and their creamy and rich Burrata which is served in a lovely white mound surrounded by sliced baguette and an olive tapenade as well as roasted red peppers. I also had a glass of Valpolicella which was very nice. When we were seated we opened the bottles that everyone brought for the evening. I brought a Tempranillo thinking that it would be a little gauche to bring in an Italian varietal given that Dino has a really great wine list anyhow. Others had the same idea as there were offerings from California, Australia and other new world origins. For the table we ordered Tris di Bruschette which was absolutely delicious. Grilled Bread three ways - with white bean & mushrooms; caramelized balsamico cippolini & erborinati; and goat cheese, pesto & oven-roasted tomato. The mushroom variety was especially delicious. I ordered my usual for my main - Acciuga Salad which is crisp Romaine with black pepper & anchovy dressing, grilled Tuscan bread and roasted chicken. Very tasty and actually fairly filling as well thanks to the chicken and the creamy dressing. Amy ordered Gramigna ai Funghi, which is whole mushroom Pasta - house made pasta, creamy wild mushroom ragu. It was gorgeous. The mushrooms were definitely cooked in some sort of decadent oil. Allan and several others had Pappardelle ai Cinghiale, or whole Wild Boar Pasta - house made pasta, traditional Tuscan sauce of boaronions, herbs, pecorino. I tried the boar and it was hearty and rich and tasty. Kristin had Fusili con Aragosta e Gambretti, or Lobster & Shrimp Pasta - house made pasta, creamy lobster sauce, carrots, zucchini, and crispy shallots. She was very sweet and gave me a bite of the luscious lobster - not sure there was enough of it (as usual I suppose) but it was well-cooked and not too firm and tasty. I finished up my wine for dessert, but several of the group decided to share a trio of desserts - “Moccha” or moccha mousse (chocolate & coffee), and espresso foam; Tris di Cioccolato or warm chocolate souffle cake, bittersweet chocolate gelato & chocolate crema Inghlese; and Crostata or a rustic fruit tart with a crumbly butter crust, and gelato. They actually did a good job of sharing thanks to lots of passing of the dishes. It was fun to watch. Everyone enjoyed each dessert but the Crostata seemed to emerge as the favorite. The group all had a great time catching up and enjoying the delicious food and the wines we had brought in for free no less. Wine Wednesday at Dino is a really great event.

Dino

3435 Connecticut Avenue in NW DC

www.dino-dc.com

Divine and Delicious Dinner at Dino

Don't you love when you have a really tasty dinner as well as a lovely evening, and it doesn't even end up being spendy? Such was the case last night when friends and I dined at Dino, self-described as a rustic Italian restaurant and enoteca featuring simply prepared dishes from local ingredients along with reasonably priced and really good wines. An apt description for sure. Warm lighting and romantic hues of brown and orange greet you upon entering the restaurant, which appears quite small but actually has an upstairs level which can seat around 100 or so. When you are seated, a large rustic style bowl filled with fleur de sel, or sea salt, as well as salt and pepper which come in large and pretty silver and copper dispensers respectively, greet you at the table. Dino offers diners two wine lists, one which reads like a book and includes all of the offerings, and another less-intimidating list which breaks down most of the selections by body style. I initially ordered a bottle of Sant’Antonio Valpolicella 2005, which they were out of, so I opted instead for a delicious sounding Cusumano (Nero) d’Avola Sicilia 2005, which also was in the food-friendly category described as "Delightful: Rich, Straightforward, Friendly, Gulpable." If you know me, the gulpable quality is a perfect match. The wine was well-balanced and fruit-forward but still slightly earthy. Others opted for more expensive selections, such as an Argiano Montetalcino, which was described a "delicious" and "superb." Currently, you can order off Dino's regular menu, or go with a three course extended Restaurant Week menu, which, if you eat all three courses, is a great deal as Dino is quite liberal with what is on offering for each course. I don't really eat dessert, and after the expensive Mie N Yu experience, I decided to order off of the regular menu. I started with Funghi e Gorgonzola, which is wild mushrooms sauteed to perfection with slightly melted and deliciously gooey Gorgonzola cheese. The mushrooms were lightly coated in oil and still fairly firm, and absolutely heavenly. Their earthy quality brought out the same note in the wine and was a lovely match. Amy had a cheese course, which comes with candied walnuts, a fruit paste and and raisin bread and which she raved about, and others had various salads, all of which looked delicious. The Timbale di Farro, a composed grain salad of farro with sliced veggies, artichoke and lemon olio herb dressing, had special eye appeal and was crisp and tasty. For my entree, I had Acciuga, a salad which features long and crisp leaves of romaine lettuce with black pepper and anchovy dressing and also comes with grilled Tuscan bread. The lettuce was super fresh, the dressing peppery, tangy and only slightly creamy. The chicken was moist and had an herb rub which included parsley and oregano and was delicious. A nice amount of Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the dish added a creamy and salty note. For $10, the salad is a deal, and perfect for dinner when paired with an appetizer or dessert. Several friends enjoyed Pappardelle ai Cinghiale, wild boar pasta with a traditional Tuscan sauce of boar, onions, herbs and Pecorino cheese. I had a small taste and the dish was meaty and had a nice kick. I especially enjoy wide, flat noodles such as pappardelle and with this dish in particular they worked well with the hearty and rich sauce. For dessert, I enjoyed my vino, and Amy, similarly inclined, sampled one of Dino's dessert wines, while several others had a cheese course. Two folks opted for Dolce Firenze, which is bread pudding with pumpkin spice and topped with crema and cranberry maple sauce, and which looked beautiful and as though the pudding was cooked in a very large muffin pan. Another friend had Tiramisu, which looked creamy and delicious. My neighbor had Crostata, a rustic fruit tart with a crumbly butter crust and served with gelato. Dino really is divine and delicious, and a perfect choice for a group or a romantic, cozy dinner for two. I hope you try it for yourself, be it for the first or nth time.

Dino
3435 Connecticut Avenue in NW DC
www.dino-dc.com