Whom You Know: Peachy Picks Girasole

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Peachy Picks Girasole

Girasole was first featured in Tasty Tidbits:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/03/tasty-tidbits-girasole.html

It was love at first bite...We could not be more pleased to tell you it has easily graduated to Peachy's Picks. The outstanding cuisine, the energy of the sophisticated enthused crowd and the attention to detail exuded by owner Zoran have won us over! And Peachy Deegan and the fabulous panelists also received a lesson in geography because they now are aware of the peninsula of Istria, which is where Zoran hails from while Chef Dario M. Istaia is from Bari, Italy. Europe, your loss is the Upper East side's gain and we are glad Zoran and Dario are here!

Though they are obviously in the culinary sphere, we cannot help but think of Cruising Peachy and our love for automobiles when we hear their cool names-Zoran and Dario. Zoran's name is close to the father of the Corvette-Zora, and the name Dario reminds us of Ashley Judd's Indy racing husband...but we digress! Girasole was opened on December 20, 1989 and clearly it is their baby! Peachy and the panelists told Zoran that they were in grade school then and he said he was too! Such a lovely sense of humor-we love when maitre'd's have the ability to connect and charm the crowd and Zoran does.

We highly recommend you ask your humble waiter (our waiter wanted to be anonymous!) the specials because they are outstanding. Peachy enthusiastically connected with this fresh lobster salad which was joined by fresh avocado, endive and cherry tomatoes. Perfect to swing in spring, Girasole immediately impressed Peachy Deegan.

Just look at that chicken parm! Clearly the Girasole Dario cooks like the other Dario drives. Thin as can be, this premium chicken parm had quality density, superior sauce and mozzarella from the heavens that Peachy totally appreciated especially since they made it just for her and it was not on the menu. We love it when restaurants can do bespoke dishes! If you are an avid Whom You Know reader you know Peachy has been obsessed with this dish since Boston College, and if you didn't go there, we must admit the chicken parm there was nowhere near as good as Girasole but it was way ahead of any other educational institution.

The assortment of desserts were spectacular and in particular of course we loved the tartufo as we love chocolate. Peachy does not like cheesecake, but she liked THIS cheesecake. You cannot go wrong with anything we saw at Girasole, and the Park Avenue pitterpatter into the restaurant was constant and there was not an empty spot all night. You may think with all of the Italian places on the Upper East side we would not be able to say more about another but this is totally a standout winner. What is different about Girasole? They do all of the regions of Italy-they are cross-country! Listen to the fabulous panelists now:

I remember living on 83^rd and Lexington and yearning to go to Girasole but I never found the right occasion. I imagined that it was a little more stuffy environment, but that was not the case for this upper-east side moderate-expensive price point. And now being there for the evening I realized how much of neighborhoods gem it is and feel a loss that I have never been there until last night! It is no wonder it is dubbed a “Sunflower”; not only is the restaurant charming, the wait staff and owners are also very courteous and attentive. Zoran, the owner, who is Italian, noted that there are people that have been coming to his place for over 20 years. He explains that the difference is their restaurant vs. other places is that their food is from ALL regions of Italy, not just certain regions. Every dish is perfect and they only use top ingredients; I couldn’t agree more. I started with the “miestra di verdura”; the potatoes, green beans and carrots were extremely fresh.

For my main meal I had the pleasure of experiencing the “risotto a piacere”. The risotto was the perfect balance of rich with flavor but also tasted very healthy. I don’t generally love mussels but these were delicious and the scallops were perfect. For dessert the chef prepared an assorted dessert plate for each of us at the table: strawberry gelato, cheesecake ricotta and a chocolate mouse with molten shell. I will definitely go back, even though I am living downtown now!

It was love at first bite for me at the Upper East Side’s Girasole. Featuring Italian fare from all regions of Italy, Girasole provides a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, top-notch service, and excellent food. When we first sat down, we were treated to an assortment of bread as well as a plate of antipasti while we mulled over the menu. Our “humble waiter” (who did not want to be named in this review – just referred to as the “humble waiter!”) listed the specials for the evening and also said that the chef is always happy to make items that are not on the menu, provided he has the proper ingredients. The menu items sounded terrific, though, so I decided to stick to them! To start, I had Crostini Di Polenta Con Gorgonzola, which was out of this world! The polenta squares were firm but tender and they were topped by a browned blend of gorgonzola and three other cheeses. Humble Waiter said that the cheese blend was a secret, but whatever it was, it was absolutely delicious!

I chose pasta for my main course, opting for the Orecchiette con Zucchini E Melanzane (pasta with zucchini, eggplant, fresh tomatoes, and mozzarella). This, too, was excellent. The ingredients were fresh and the pasta was perfectly tender. For dessert, we were sent an assortment of Girasole’s homemade desserts to sample, and they were so good, I nearly polished them all off entirely! There was a delectable chocolate mousse, a light, airy Italian cheesecake, creamy strawberry gelato, and fresh berries. Oh, and homemade limoncello – delizioso!! Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone in search of well-executed Italian fare accompanied by excellent service!

Peachy Picks Girasole!

151 East 82nd St

212 772 6690

http://girasolerestaurantnyc.com/

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