Drinking and kissing your spouse or life partner at the stroke of midnight is a very popular New Year superstition. Most superstitions, traditions and customs related to beginning of a year stems from the belief that whatever you do on the first day of the year will set the pattern for the whole coming year. January 1st is supposed to be the most important day of the year as everything we do on this day is supposed to become a part of our life for the next 364 days.
When it comes to celebrating the New Year, every country and every culture has its unique routines and charms to influence the incoming year. They are believed to bring into the new year good fortune, health, prosperity and love.
My family and I celebrate each New Year's Day dinner going to have a traditional Italian dinner at Trattoria L'Incontro, owned by my friend Gino Maritinel and his wife Linda. Gino, has been a very good friend of mine and I have known him for the past 10 years. Eversince he has opened his restaurant in Reposo Street ( now Nicanor Garcia Street ) ... I have been going there at least once a week. I just love his Northern Italian cooking.
Our new year's dinner is always the same... I want it that way... because I believe that the menu that he prepares for me and my family is very lucky for me. I would like to share it with you ... Gino's version of the Traditional Italian New Year's dinner...
we had Caprese Salad ( tomato and cheese with arugula )
then we had a special vegetable soup ( not minestrone )
then THE MAIN COURSE....... ZAMPONE with Lentils ( Zampone con Lenticchie )... It is a hearty and satisfying dish that is traditionally eaten on New Year's by the Italians to bring abundance and fortune. Zampone is an Italian fresh pork sausage. It is creamy and delicate in flavor. It is sometimes sold precooked or boiled. Zampone is not readily available here in the Philippines. In case you would like to have this dish... you have to call Gino at least a week in advance so he can order it.
for dessert... we had Cannoli..... They are tube like deep fried pasta filled with ricotta cheese, finely minced candied orange peel, pistachio nuts, creme de cacao and topped with grated bittersweet chocolate. This dessert is not in the menu of L'Incontro.... you have to order it at least a day in advance. Gino's restaurant has the best tasting Cannoli.
and we had for dessert ... panna cotta..... I highly recommend this dessert... it is so good that it melts in your mouth.
This might be a little late in my posting about the New Year's Italian Traditional dinner ... but you can have it it for next year's new year's dinner...
Bon Appetito!!
Trattoria L'Incontro
207 Nicanor Garcia Street ( formerly Reposo Street )
Makati City
tel.nos. 899 - 0635
contact person - Gino Martinel
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