M'tucci's Holiday Gift Guide
/Our 3rd Annual M’tucci’s Holiday Gift guide will offer a few suggestions for Food, Beverages, kitchen items and Italian products.
First, we want you to consider buying local and doing good by stopping by Nob Hill’s Shop & Stroll (Saturday, December 11, 2:00-6:00) at the future M’tucci’s Bar Roma location on Central & Wellesley. We are joining in with the Nob Hill community by featuring live music (RJ Perez), offering M’tucci’s snacks and warm beverages, and hosting several local Young Artisans who will sell their hand made crafts and art.
We are donating 10% of sales of all Holiday Gift Cards today through Sunday to Sophia's Foundation, which is a local foundation supporting families who have children on the autism spectrum.
One of our young entrepreneurs is Quincy Fleming, 13, who makes origami jewelry and tree decorations. She and her brothers started making origami cranes when she was seven. While in sixth grade she was selected as an exhibitor in UNM’s Young Artist Expo and won an Honorable Mention Award for her work. Her intricate earrings are made using Japanese paper and will be available with prices starting at only $15. She and her mother, Bernadette, said the Children’s Cancer Fund of NM has been an important organization to their family, so Quincy is donating 30% of all sales to the fund.
Come meet these talented artists, meet some of the M’tucci’s team, and support local this Saturday, December 11 from 2:00 - 6:00.
M’tucci’s Holiday Gift Guide
Beverages
Partner/General Manager Amanda Romero
Amanda Romero, M’tucci’s Moderno General Manager and the newest Partner with M’tucci’s (Congrats Amanda!!) has liquid gift suggestions:
“I have always loved Italian beverages. Italians have different beverages for all different times of the day and they always heighten the experience. My gift ideas are all different beverages I enjoyed on our trip to Italy in September.
Aperol: ($25 750ml)
I love having Aperol in my home. It is a bright orange apéritif. The brand describes the flavors as, “zesty orange with complex herbal scents harmonized with a touch of vanilla.” Traditionally, you would partner Aperol with a sparkling wine and splash of soda to make an Aperol Spritz. I think it goes great in a margarita or morning mimosa, too. This versatile liquor is a great addition to anyone's home bar!
Manhattans at home: Price depends on what products you purchase. Products I recommend total $75 but I am sure a liquor store employee could certainly recommend great brands to you at a higher or lower price point!
This gift is inspired by the Jerry Thomas Speakeasy in Rome. I love using their products for making Manhattans at home. They also just announced an at home bartending kit for Manhattans that tempts me to fly back to Italy so I can purchase one as a holiday gift. The idea of making drinks at home can be intimidating, but is much easier than most people think. For a Manhattan, all you need are three ingredients: sweet vermouth, rye whiskey and bitters. Traditionally a Manhattan is two parts rye whiskey, one part sweet vermouth and two dashes of bitters, but at home you are your own mixologist and creator! If you want it a little sweeter, add a bit more sweet vermouth. If you love whiskey, add a bit more Rye. You don't have a traditional cherry garnish? Try a sprig of rosemary from your garden or an orange twist. I am not sure if this type of home bartending is "Austin Leard Approved" but having these three items will create a variety of cocktails for every mood.
I think these three ingredients make an amazing Manhattan: Woodford Reserve Rye ($35 750ml), Grassotti Vermouth di Torino Rosso ($30 1L), and Angostura Bitters ($10 4oz).
**Side note: If you know anyone in Italy, the speakeasy Jerry Thomas has at home cocktail kits for sale this holiday and they will ship them anywhere in Italy. Any one of these sounds incredible! https://jerry-thomas-emporium.myshopify.com/ **
Amaro: Great Amari are priced between $25 and $55. Amari is the plural of amaro which means bitter in Italian.
I go crazy for Amaro. After a big meal, I always have one as my after dinner drink to help my stomach settle and it always makes me feel very Italian. There are many types of amari, but my favorite has always been Montenegro Amaro. ($40 750ml) It is very approachable for being a bitter liquor and is crafted from a secret blend of 40 botanicals. Traditionally enjoyed as a digestif, but again, the beauty of a home bar is that it can be very versatile. I love using Montenegro as a cocktail ingredient when I am in a particularly bitter forward mood. Happy Holidays!”
Food
There is a deli case in all M’tucci’s locations. Depending on the day, you’ll find our cured guanciale, imported Italian Speck, Prosciutto, Salami, M’tucci’s Mozzarella, imported Italian cheese, Shrubs and Shrub Jams.
If you are looking for additional items, you can now place retail orders with the same Italian importer that supplies many of our imported Italian products. Sogno Toscano has a wide variety of Italian products (they also have a cafe/restaurant in the West Village in NYC). Click the link to see their products.
Don’t miss next week’s La Gazzeta, where we will cover Italian travel and cook books, and some of the M’tucci’s family’s favorite kitchen tools.
Holiday Hours
December 24 - All locations closing at 10:00pm
December 25 & January 1 - Closed
December 31 - Music at M’tucci’s Moderno and M’tucci’s Twenty-Five, starting with live performances, ending with DJs spinning music until 12:30am. Come say goodbye to 2021 with us. Specials to announced soon. Reservations strongly recommended.
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli: House Made Ravioli filled with Sweet Potato Mascarpone with M’tucci’s Cotto Ham, Local Oyster Mushrooms, Rapini, Pappadew Peppers, Brown Butter Sage Sauce & Pecorino Roasted Pumpkin Seeds $25
2 - 6 oz. Herb Rubber Lamb Chops: Crispy Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Balsamic Reduction $34
Pan-Seared Rainbow Trout: Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Artichoke, Sautéed Arugula, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $27
Braised 12 oz Wagyu Beef Short Rib: Gnocchi, Caramelized Onions, Mushrooms, Rainbow Carrots, Demi-Glaze $36
Weekend Cocktail
Aperitif Punch: Aperol, Orange Bitters, Cane Sugar, Fresh Lemon Juice & Egg Whites
M’tucci’s Moderno
14 oz NY Strip: Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $34
Pan-Seared Yellowtail: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Roast Artichoke, Caper Lemon Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $23
Frutti di Mare: Wild Shrimp, Baby Scallops, Clams, Mussels, Spicy Marinara with House Made Fettuccine $19
Weekend Cocktail
Señorita Claus: Deleon Tequila, Cranberry Ligueur, Cinnamon Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
Five - Cheese Tortelloni: Sweet Potato Purée, Braised Kale, Caramelized Onions Roasted Garlic, Pecorino Brodo, Parmesan $21
Pan-Seared Yellowtail: Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Grilled Escarole, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter, Capers $27
8 oz. Beef Tenderloin: Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Broccolini, Smoked Blackberry Bone marrow Butter $32
Weekend Cocktail
The Word: An updated Take on the Speakeasy Cocktail The Chrysanthemum: Orange Brandy, Chambray Style Vermouth, Hint of Absinthe
Holiday Cocktail
Spiced Cranberry Mule: Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Cranberry Juice, Liquid Alchemist Spiced Apple Syrup, Gosling’s Ginger Beer, Fresh Lime Juice
Good news for all of the
fans of M’tucci’s Single
Varietal Dolcetto from
California’s Russian River
Valley. We have some
back in stock at all
locations. Supplies are
limited, so order one
soon!
Live Music for December & January at M’tucci’s Twenty-Five and M’tucci’s Moderno
Thursdays @ 6:30 & Fridays @ 7:30
December
12/10
Lani Nash @ Moderno
12/16
Kirk Matthews @ 25
RJ Perez @ Moderno
12/17
Jason Seel @ Moderno
12/23
Amy Faithe @ 25
Eryn Bent @ Moderno
12/24
?? @ Moderno
12/30
RJ Perez @ 25
?? @ Moderno
12/31
Jason Seel @ 25 7:30-10 plus DJ 10:30-12:30
Lani Nash @ Moderno 7:30-10 plus DJ 10:30-12:30
January
1/6
Cali Shaw @ 25
Jason Seel @ Moderno
1/7
Lani Nash @ Moderno
1/13
Kirk Matthews @ 25
Sloan Armitage @ Moderno
1/14
Eryn Bent @ Moderno
1/20
Amy Faithe @ 25
RJ Perez @ Moderno
1/21
Kirk Matthews @ Moderno
1/27
Lani Nash @ 25
Melissa Rios @ Moderno
1/28
Jason Seel @ Moderno
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
