Ottawa City
Dec. 2004/Jan. 2005
BITE: Parma Rosa Linguini
Don't say I didn't warn you: This might be the most addictive dish you've ever tasted.
I still remember my first bite of Parma Rosa linguini. Fresh strands of al dante pasta covered in creamy rosé sauce, tiny bits of tomato, sliced chives and prosciutto . At my house it's topped off with obscene amounts of grated parmasean cheese, but that's optional.
O.k. I admit it, I was underwhelmed. That first bite was pleasant, but lacked any kind of discernable zing. It was just a big bowl of mellow - a plate of comfort food that rated a notch above Kraft Dinner. That's until those little bits of prosciutto started to work their magic. Suddenly I found myself digging for those tiny morsels of air-dried Italian ham like they were chunks of brownie in a pint of Trip Brownie Haagen Dazs. Something primal had emerged.
Thank goodness I wasn't out in public because that would've prevented me from licking the plate. But that's part of Parma Rosa's appeal. There's no red and white checked tablecloth, this is an Italian feast you toss together and eat in front of your television ( The Sopranos DVD optional). Two pots, some boiling water, a pair of kitchen tongs and five minutes later, you're laughing. Nothing this good should be this easy.
For people who like to mix it up, Il Negozio Nicastro (792 Bank St) offers six or more shapes of fresh pasta and at least that many different varieties of tomato and cream sauces. Go nuts: mix-and-match. Or do what when the withdrawal symptoms set in: ask for one container of Parma Rosa and two bags of linguini. Grab a bottle of red and go home and toss it together for someone you love. Just make sure they don't hog the prosciutto . --- Shawna Wagman
