Buon Natale (Merry Christmas)
/Christmas in Italy has many traditions, and as one could expect, many of them revolve around food. Fish is usually the main course for Christmas Eve and meat is served on Christmas Day. Midnight mass is very popular with many families, who afterwards return home for a glass of spumante or prosecco and the opening of presents from Babbo Natale (Father Christmas/Santa Claus).
The Christmas day meal will likely last for hours, starting with seafood dishes, cured meat and olives; the primi might be tortellini in broth or lasagna or pasticcio (baked pasta), then roast meat or chicken. The main meal is usually followed by pandoro (a traditional Veronese yeast sweet bread) and panettone, chocolate or homemade cookies.
Babbo Natale is gaining popularity in Italy, as is gift giving during the holiday season. In that spirit, here are some gift ideas to help you have an “Italian” holiday season.
Food & Drink
M’tucci’s Provisions has created three holiday cookie boxes and two types of house-made panettone. Details and ordering information are listed just below.
Of course, who wouldn’t love getting a gift certificate from M’tucci’s?
LaMarca Prosecco is perfect for holiday cocktail parties. At the moment, I’m really enjoying a red from Southern Italy, Appassimento by Bonari and Il Bruciato, Guada al Tasso from Antinori from Tuscany. Il Bruciato is on the wine list at M’tucci’s Italian and you can find both locally in wine shops. Splurge on that special someone and buy them a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino, a Barolo, or one of the Super Tuscans, such as Sassicaia or Tignanello. The liquid gift that won’t disappear during one dinner is an Amaro. One of the best being Quintessentia Amaro Nonino. There are cheaper Amari, but this one is well worth the extra money, with the perfect balance of herbal, sweet and bitter.
Tully’s Deli on San Mateo has a very good selection of dried pasta by DeCecco, canned tomatoes, and very good extra virgin olive oils/EVOO (the best selection I have seen in ABQ).
If it’s cured meat you want, definitely go to Molinari’s website (this San Francisco institution probably makes the best commercial U.S. salami you can buy).
Eataly has a good website with a large assortment of EVOO, truffle products, and gift baskets.
After my first trip to Italy, I was hooked on cappuccino. Upon returning, I bought an entry level espresso machine, but quickly outgrew it. I upgraded to a well-known Italian brand, Gaggia, and have been using their burr grinder (necessary for great espresso) and the Gaggia Classic for many years. You won’t find them locally, but the website Whole Latte Love has everything you will need for great espresso and cappuccino at home. I regularly buy the Hermes Espresso Blend from Red Rock Roasters and occasionally splurge on one of the espresso blends from Cutbow Coffee.
Coffee Table Books
Since I used to shoot assignments for National Geographic, I’m a bit biased when it comes to recommending photo books on Italy. A few stand out:
“Rome: Eternal City: Rome in the Photographs Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects” - published this year
“National Geographic Inside the Vatican” by James Stanfield
“Italy” by Gray Malin
“One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy” (Rizzoli Classics)
“Italy Seen through Magnum's Lens: From Henri Cartier-Bresson to Paolo Pellegrin”
Recipes, Food & Drink
If you only had one Italian cookbook, it should be “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking” by Marcella Hazan. As the title says, it is essential. I’m not that big of a fan of Ina, Giada or Lidia, so I don’t mention their books here:
“The Mozza Cookbook: Recipes from Los Angeles's Favorite Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria” by Nancy Silverton
“Amaro: The Spirited World of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs, with Cocktails, Recipes, and Formulas”
“Red, White, and Greens: The Italian Way with Vegetables” by Faith Willinger
“Italian Wines” by Gambero Rosso - An annual guide to the best of Italy.
“Treasures of the Italian Table” by Burton Anderson - one of my favorites. Hard to find and a bit expensive, but worth every penny.
Travel & Food (some with recipes)
“Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy’s Food Culture” by Matt Goulding - great stories of traveling, eating and cooking from Piedmont to Sicily. The chapter about taking pizzaioli classes in Naples is great.
“Tasting Italy” by National Geographic & America’s Test Kitchen - Beautiful photos and really good recipes. My copy has red wine stains on some pages.
“See You in the Piazza” by Frances Mayes - she cares a little more about churches and Italian architecture than I do, but this is a terrific book for discovering the small towns in Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. The meals and recipes are worth the price!
From “Tasting Italy”
Photo Tour/Workshops
Want to give a really special gift? One of my colleagues is offering a Photography Workshop in Italy next year. Not only will you get photography tips from world-class photographers, but you’ll eat and drink well, too.
Read about the workshop and contact Catherine Karnow here: http://catherinekarnowphotoworkshop.com/home
Photos from Italy
Only for M’tucci’s guests and for a limited time, the prints below are on sale for the holidays. They are printed on 13” x 19” Luster Paper with archival ink with an approximate 1” border. Click on the photo to see it large. Each print is signed and is $150. Please contact me, Michael Lewis: [email protected]
NEWS FROM M’TUCCI’S
The new M’tucci’s Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon is now available at M’tucci’s Moderno and M’tucci’s Italian.
Try some in an Old Fashioned for Happy Hour today.
There are only two Maker’s Mark Private Selects available in New Mexico: ours and Two Fool’s Tavern. Join us for a tasting of both at Jubilation Wine & Spirits: December 13 from 4:00 - 6:00pm.
Creative cocktails with M’tucci’s Maker’s Mark Private Select!
M’tucci’s Provisions (formerly M’tucci’s Italian Cafe and Market)
Order your cookies and Panettone today. Don’t forget that our fresh bread is delivered Tuesdays and Fridays to Silver Street Market downtown. Watch this space and our Facebook and Instagram for updates on other products availability around the ABQ.
32 Bravo at Bar Uno
M’tucci’s @ Lava Rock Brewing Company
Fish n Chips with the Lava Rock/Uno Bully Bitter
Weekend Special: Fish & Chips -Lava Rock/ Bar Uno’s Bitter Battered Mahi Mahi, House Fries and Apple & Carrot Slaw.
Lot’s of good things happening at LRBC. Some new menu items are coming soon, which we will announce when we get the printed menus. There is a new beer on tap, Winter Lager, with a malt forward, unique style (6.2% & 17 IBU). I tried it the other night and it’s a complex lager, with flavors that evolve as the lager warms up a bit. Try and see if you can spot the unique flavor. We did a collaboration with Bar Uno and they now have the 32 Bravo Double IPA on tap.
A few new beers are coming. The first is an Italian lager, “Birra M’tucci’s” which will be available at LRBC, M’tucci’s Italian and M’tucci’s Moderno. Another that is in the works is a Red Ale, which will be aged in the bourbon barrel in which the M’tucci’s Maker’s Mark Private Select was aged.
Gift Certificates available for Holiday Gifts. A $20 Gift Certificate can buy a 64 oz. Growler and an Happy Hour Pint!
Home Delivery now available through Door Dash
The “Two-Minute Warning HAPPY HOUR & Monday Night Football!
HAPPY HOUR EVERY MONDAY UNTIL THE TWO-MINUTE WARNING!
Happy Hour Menu features The Burger, a 10” Margherita or Pepperoni Green Chile Pizza, Charcuterie Boards and Wings for $7, Monday - Friday 3:00 - 6:30. Pair the food with a beer for $10.50 or $11, depending on the beer. Not eating (why not?), then $1 off all pints. You can catch your favorite team on one of our large five screens.
$5 basket of Wings all day on Sunday
We are serious about Live Music at Lava Rock, we’ll have live music every Thursday from 6:00 - 8:00 and Fridays from 8:00 - 10:00.
Music Schedule for December:
Thursday’s
12/12 - Kirk Matthews
12/19 - RJ Perez
12/26 - Oscar Butler
Friday’s
12/6 - BuddhaFunk
12/13 - Leah Leyva and The Band
12/20 - Melissa Rios
12/27 - BuddhaFunk
M’tucci’s Italian
Weekend Specials
Cut of the Day - 24 oz Hand-Cut Porterhouse, Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus and a Balsamic Reduction
Ravioli - Artichoke, White Wine Braised Duroc Pork & Goat Cheese Ravioli: Sautéed Wild Mushroom, Caramelized Onion, Porcini Cream Sauce, Nduja Crumble, Arugula, Shaved Parmesan
Pan Seared Seafood - Hawaiian Ono, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Sauce
Braised - Hand Cut Duroc Bone-in Pork Chop, White Wine Braised Greens, Roasted Parsnip, Shallot, White Cheddar Broccoli Sauce
December Prix Fixe Menu
12/11/19
1st Course- Grilled Vegetable Medley, Herbed Lemon Browned Butter
2nd Course- Chicken Limone, Grilled Asparagus, Crispy Potatoes, Preserved Lemon
3rd Course- Hazelnut-Mocha Panettone Bread Pudding, Vanilla Bourbon Gelato
12/18/19
1st Course- Creamy Roasted Garlic Polenta, Roasted Eggplant Ragu
2nd Course- Grilled Chianina Rump Steak, Parsnip Puree, Roasted Baby Carrots, Chimichurri
3rd Course- Italian Cheesecake, Pomegranate, Ginger Mousse, Candied Rosemary
M’tucci’s Moderno
Weekend Specials
Rotating Dinner Special : Center Cut Bone-In Pork Chop - Cold smoked Duroc Pork Chop, grilled to perfection and served with our Italian Succotash, Bourbon apple bacon sauce and organic arugula to garnish
Pairing - Conundrum, Red Blend, California - Complex yet approachable, flavors of cherries, baking chocolate with fine tannins and a silky smoothness
PanSeared Fish of the Day : Baramundi - Clean, buttery flavor and meaty texture Served with creamy garlic mashed potatoes, roasted artichokes, topped with a lemon caper butter sauce and prosciutto powder
Pairing - Mimi by Ste. Michelle, Chardonnay, Washington - Balanced fruit flavors of pear and yellow apple, spiced aromas with crisp finish.
Cut of the Day : Hand Cut Porterhouse - Grilled to to order and served with crispy saltwater potatoes, grilled asparagus and our traditional Italian Salsa Verde
Pairing - Liberty School, Cabernet Sauvignon, California - Aromas of black cherry and plum followed by subtle notes of strawberry and spice, finishing with balanced tannins
Live Music
Tonight: Melissa Rios @ 8:00
Dec 12: RJ Perez @ 6:00
Dec 13: Cali Shaw @8:00
Holiday Special on December 23
“An Evening of Holiday Music by Delphia” 7:00.
Reservations taken for the dining room, where her performances will be carried on the speaker system throughout the dining rooms. Enjoy the exquisite style of Delphia together with M’tucci’s special holiday drink and food specials.
ONGOING NEWS
M’TUCCI’S AROUND TOWN
Our market items can be purchased at a couple of locations in Albuquerque. We deliver our fresh bread every Tuesday and Friday to Silver Street Market at 2nd and Silver. Choose from Sourdough, Fennel Rye, Wheat, Baguette, Ciabatta, and Raisin Rosemary Focaccia.
Drinking at Bosque in Nob Hill? You can order a M’tucci’s Charcuterie Board while there.
M’TUCCI’S TWENTY-FIVE JOB FAIR + ONLINE APPLICATIONS
Watch this space for the announcement of our January Job Fair for our new location. We are looking for highly skilled and motivated servers, kitchen workers, bartenders and managers. You can apply for a position at any of our locations online by clicking here.
SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT & DISCOUNTS
Area service industry workers can get a Service Industry card from us by showing proof of employment. With the card you receive 10% off your check every day and 20% off on Sundays from 6:00 - 9:00. Dine in only.
ONLINE ORDERING
Our food is available for delivery with Door Dash or for pick up. Pick up something for the weekend or on your way home from work. The links to ordering are on the Home page.
MTUCCI’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Videos about making cocktails and pasta and getting to know the M’tucci’s culture. Click here
See you next Friday - Ciao!
