M'tucci's in Rome, Day 3
/Day three began with coffee at a Roman cafe institution, Sant’ Eustachio il Caffe near the Italian Senate building and Piazza Navona. Sant’ Eustachio has been roasting coffee beans with a wood-fired roaster since 1938. Unlike many of the large Italian coffee companies, Sant” Eustachio believes in medium roasts to preserve the flavor of the beans. Like many caff es throughout Italy, a cappuccino is less than 3€, especially if you drink it at the bar. Drinks are slightly higher when you sit at a table and order.
In addition to having a Covid vaccine to enter Italy, you must have a negative test 72 hours before arrival and departure, so the team went to a pharmacy for Antigen tests and then had a tour of the Coliseum scheduled. I was there to document the trip and to take iconic photos of Rome that would hang on the walls of M’tucci’s Bar Roma (scheduled to open in Nob Hill in late 2021 or early 2022).
One of Rome’s iconic structures is the Vittoriano, located on a major street that runs from the Vatican to the Coliseum. It was built to commemorate King Vittorio Emanuele II, who presided over the unification of Italy.
Meeting John, Austin, Amanda & Shawn after their Coliseum visit, we picked up Lime scooters and headed into Trastavere, a neighborhood that is on the west side of the Tiber River. Our destination was the restaurant Trapizzino that created a distinctly Roman sandwich of the same name. Ten years ago Chef Stefano Callegari, stuffed fresh triangles of bread with different fillings and kept the prices low for a quick and easy lunch. We ordered trapazzini stuffed with tongue in green sauce, eggplant parmesan and chicken cacciatore. There just happened to be a Sicilian gelato shop next door. How convenient!
Afternoon research consisted of Amanda on the phone trying to make a reservation at Jerry Thomas, Rome’s most popular Speakeasy, and John deciding on a restaurant for dinner. Our walk to dinner took us through Trastevere, to the Testaccio neighborhood and Osteria degli Amici. The menu was filled with some of the usual Roman pasta dishes; Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe & Carbonara, but it also had some interesting combinations that caught John’s attention.
The Fried Mozzarella roll was amazing, as was the Ravioli with Taleggio & Red Wine Sauce. John exclaimed that it was the best example of Roman cooking we had seen.
Amanda’s research and efforts were as successful as John’s and we had 10:30 reservations for the speakeasy Jerry Thomas Project. A small, intimate space (a private club, so smoking is allowed) with creative bartenders and a creative cocktail menu. We spent some time talking with one of the owners, who told us about some of the more innovative things they were doing with Italian spirits and products. Two of the more interesting are a Vermouth made from Barolo wine and a barrel aged Campari.
It was a day filled with great experiences and interesting takes on Roman cuisine and cocktails, which just might appear on the future M’tucci’s Bar Roma menu.
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli:Braised Ham & Ricotta/Goat Cheese with Sweet Potatoes, Turnip Greens, Brown Butter Sage Sauce & Shaved Parmesan $23
16 oz Hand Cut NY Strip: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $31
Pan-Seared Corvina: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $29
Sackett Farms Braised Pork Ribs: Creamy Polenta, Braised Carrots, Celery, Onion and Thyme with a White Wine Braising Sauce
Weekend Cocktail
Smoke Peach Shrub: Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Smoked Peach Shrub, Fresh Lemon Juice, Cane Syrup
M’tucci’s Moderno
6 oz Black Angus Beef Tenderloin: Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $34
Pan-Seared Mahi Mahi: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Roast Artichoke, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $28
Beef Tortellini: Cajun Beef Tips, Tomatoes, Green Onion in a Rosa Sauce $19
Weekend Cocktail
Fall is Here!: Nonino Aperitivo, Apfel, Apple Brandy, Cinnamon Simple Syrup
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
Hand Cut 24 oz. T-Bone Steak: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Broccolini, Smoked Blackberry Bone Marrow Butter $34
Pan-Seared Skin on Ruby Trout: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Escarole, Seared Artichokes, Lemon Butter, Capers $2
Atlantic Salmon Manicotti: with a Lobster Cream Sauce $21
Weekend Cocktail
Maple Black Walnut Old Fashioned - Whistle Pig Piggyback 6 Year Rye, 1792 Small Batch American Bourbon, Maple Syrup, Black Walnut Bitters & a spritz of Laphroaig 10-Year Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
M’tucci’s 2019 Rosso is here!
The new M’tucci’s 2019 Rosso is here. A blend of Cabernet, Primitivo, Barbera & Syrah varietals from Amador County.
Live Music for October at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and M’tucci’s Moderno
Thursdays @ 6:30 & Fridays @ 7:30
10/15
RJ Perez @ Moderno
10/21
Kirk Matthews @ Moderno
Cali Shaw @ 25
10/22
Lani Nash @ Moderno
10/28
Melissa Rios @ Moderno
RJ Perez @ 25
10/29
Cali Shaw @ Moderno
M’tucci’s Catering
It’s been a busy couple of months with weddings, private parties and tent gatherings at the 2021 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Planning a holiday party or a holiday wedding? We have private dining rooms available and can handle any off-site catering. We’ll even let you rent the entire restaurant for an event., like this September rehearsal dinner at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five followed by a garden wedding in the Rio Grande Valley.
Call Taña Martinez, Catering Manager (505) 350-0019
M’tucci’s on Monday - New Mexico Living - KRQE
Every other Monday, one of our talented team members appears on New Mexico Living to bring the latest news from M’tucci’s and sometimes a cooking demonstration. If you miss the 9:00am program, you can watch the most recent segment by clicking on this link.
Thanks for reading. See you next week. Ciao!
