At Home: Sugo Eggplant Caponata

Next on Restaurant Recreations...At Home, I tackle one of Cava’s most popular Mediterranean small plates called eggplant caponata. Punched up with chopped olives, capers, and a scattering of mint it was a huge hit at the restaurant.  No longer available on Cava's menu, Chef Dimitri Moshovitis now features it in his newest restaurant, Sugo Cicchetti in Potomac, MD. As with many Italian preparations, prime produce and good olive oil are the keys to the dish. Eggplant and mint are more abundant at farmers markets as the weather warms, and the rest of the ingredients can be found in grocery stores.

At Home: Eggplant Lasagna

Whether you like traditional eggplant parmesan or lasagna, try this hybrid featured on What Micky Eats...At Home known as Eggplant Lasagna.  This is a great noodle-free spin on a classic Italian comfort dish, and a way to satisfy those with pasta/gluten allergies as well.  It is much easier (and slightly healthier, despite all the cheese) than eggplant parmesan, as you do not coat the eggplant in breadcrumbs and fry them.  Simply layer the eggplant as if they were your lasagna noodles.

Cava

Cava is Greek mezze/wine bar/martini lounge that brings a little more upscale eating experience to Barracks Row.  Replacing the former Marty’s restaurant, prepare to indulge in unique Greek-inspired dishes served mezze style—in small plates, but with portions large enough to share. Cava’s mezze-style dining inspires conversation and laughter at the table. The dim candle-lighting and black and white family photos adorning Cava’s charming brick interior walls creates a dark and mysterious atmosphere that appears far from casual to the local patrons of Barracks Row. Closest Metro is Eastern Market.

Strofi

Strofi Restaurant has been recently refurbished and is hosted in a mid-war house with seating on three different levels and has a wonderful location that overlooks the sacred rock of the Acropolis. Famous for serving Greek celebrities, politicians, and renown artists, Strofi is a fine dining restaurant with a high-class atmosphere. For our last night in Athens, Greece we decided to walk over towards this other area of the city to check out this highly rated restaurant Keith had found.  We did not have reservations (which were apparently needed), but since we arrived early enough for European standards and were just a party of two, we were seated at a lovely table on the third floor in the open air seating with a prime view of the Acropolis. This was the perfect way to end our amazing honeymoon in Greece.

Total Rating: 4.75
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 4 

What I ate:

Smoked Eggplant Salad

eggplant spread with onions and garlic

Spinach Pie

spinach and feta cheese baked in phyllo dough

Rooster

in a wine sauce served with pasta

Ekmek with Ice cream

a Greek pastry stuffed with custard cheese

Plus Keith ate:

Pork Filet

served with tomatoes, cheese and peppers

Loukoulos

Last date I was here: 05/24/2011

Restaurant: Loukoulos (http://loukoulos-restaurant.gr/)

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 5, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Located in the heart of Heraklion, Loukoulos is one of the most romantic restaurants we dined at. Serving contemporary Greek cuisine with French influences as well as traditional meals from their wood oven, Loukoulos balances formal and warm family dining with its open courtyard dining experience. This was our last meal in Crete and so we wanted to enjoy ourselves. Loukoulos was the most formal place we dined at, with nice linens on the table, comfortable chairs, and candlesticks. We were offered an amuse bouche of fresh vegetable soup that was both rustic in flavor yet refined in texture and taste. When my entree arrived, I was a little taken aback because I was not used to seeing scallops still in the shells, like mussels. With only a little bit of meat inside, I was a little disappointed with my choice, but it was a very fresh seafood experience. After our meal, we were again offered a complimentary shot of Raki.

What I ate:

Baked eggplant with feta cheese

Zucchini Balls

served with tzatziki sauce

Grilled Scallops

bay scallops in the shell served with lemon

Plus Keith ate:

Dorado

fresh whole fish grilled, served with vegetables

Ippokampus

Last date I was here: 05/23/2011

Restaurant: Ippokampus

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 4.15
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This charming restaurant is just a short walk from the port and Venetian Fort area. With seating outside, patrons have a great view of the seaside and sunset over the mountains. We were very anxious to try some fresh seafood and Ippokampus did not disappoint. The service was very friendly and prompt. The food was very fresh and flavorful - one of my favorite meals while in Greece. We even considered coming back the next evening, but of course decided we should go somewhere new. As is customary at most Greek restaurants, we concluded our meal with a complimentary dessert and shots of Raki, aka "fire water" - a strong Greek liquor made of fermented white grape skins.

What I ate:

Eggplant Salad

smashed smoked eggplant spread with onions and garlic

Mussels

steamed with tomatoes and onions

Seafood Pasta

spaghetti in tomato sauce with mussels, cuttlefish, and shrimp

Plus Keith ate:

Red Mullet

four lovely pieces of fish lightly breaded and grilled, served whole

Herb's Garden

Last date I was here: 05/22/2011

Restaurant: Herb's Garden (http://www.lato.gr/amenities/roof-garden.html)

Location: Heraklion - Crete, Greece

Total Rating: 4.35
Food: 5, Price: 3, Service: 3, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 4

Summary: Located on the roof top of the Lato Boutique Hotel, the Herb's Garden was our choice for dinner our first night in Crete since we arrived so late. With a small seating area, we were asked to wait for almost 40 minutes until a table opened up. But we ordered drinks while we waited and were seated with the a view overlooking the Venetian Fort and harbor. Offering contemporary Greek cuisine, the food was some of the best we ate and well worth the long wait. Typical, classy hotel restaurant service and quality with reasonable prices - Herb's Garden seemed to be a destination spot for locals looking for a romantic evening out as well. Although limited seating, the food and view rank Herb's Garden among the top restaurants in Greece.

What I ate:

Baked Bread Rolls

filled with smoked eggplant, tyrozouli (semi-hard goat local cheese) & aged balsamic dressing

Grape Leaves

wraps filled with shrimps finished with wine, lemon grass and white tarama (fish roe spread)

Local Orzo

with morilles, porcini & pleyrotous with grated ladotyri (hard table cheese aged in olive oil)

Plus Keith ate:

White Grouper

fillet on the grill with ginger sauce & Greek-casserole vlita (summer greens)

Skala

Last date I was here: 05/21/2011

Restaurant: Skala

Location: Oia - Santorini, Greece

Total Rating: 4.7
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Rated one of the best restaurants in Oia, Skala Restaurant is a secret gem with an amazing view that is overlooked by most tourists. Serving fresh seafood and Greek specialties, Skala has great food and even better prices. We went to Oia side of Santorini to catch the famous sunset, but headed out early to beat the crowd. We ate dinner here overlooking the beautiful caldera. The house white wine was fantastic and at only 8 Euros a bottle, the best I had while in Greece. Since we didn't eat a decent lunch, we splurged on appetizers as well as ate the free desert that came at the end. Overall, Skala was one of the best places we ate at in Greece and I highly highly recommend this restaurant to other travelers. Do not overlook this gem!

What I ate:

Baked Feta

served with tomatoes

Eggplant Salad

smoked eggplant spread with garlic and onions

Baked Cod

served with boiled potatoes and tomatoes

Plus Keith ate:

Fresh Sea Bream

grilled, served whole with potatoes and vegetables

Meteora

Last date I was here: 05/20/2011

Restaurant: Meteora (http://www.santorini-meteora.com)

Location: Perivolos - Santorini, Greece

Total Rating: 3.6
Food: 3, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Along the black sand beaches of Perissa and Perivolos are several beach cafes and restaurants. One - the Meteora - was crowded every night and so we thought it must be a good place. The owner, Irene, who speaks many languages, takes orders and has charted out an extensive and varied menu. Full of energy and enthusiasm, she will have her guests up and dancing in no time at all. The feta in the oven or pastitsio (Greek chicken) and "Chicken Santorini", prepared from tender chicken are some of the treats at Meteora, and particularly divine is Irene's "Fire, Fire, Fire", a sinfully rich sweet that rounds off the evening meal. The restaurant organizes theme nights, which are a hit with both locals and tourists. There is lots of singing and dancing. Meteora is open for breakfast through dinner and prices are quite reasonable.

Keith deemed this restaurant the "TGI Friday's of Greece" as some of the entrees had flashy names and we expected the dancing and singing servers to yell "Happy Birthday!" at any moment. Overall, the service was very warm and welcoming. The food was not the best though.

What I ate:

Hummus

chick pea spread

Tomato Balls

fried fritters of tomato

Edam Baldi

stuffed eggplant

Plus Keith ate:

Meatballs

ground veal meat fried into a ball

Santorini Pork

breaded filet in a spicy tomato sauce served with rice and vegetables

Butera's

Last date I was here: 09/03/2010

Restaurant: Butera's (http://www.buteras.com/showContent.php?linkid=3/)

Location: Seaford, NY

Total Rating: 3.9
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 4

Summary: Butera’s of Seaford, owned and operated by the Butera family and Randy Narod. This newly renovated room is tastefully decorated with a mix of traditional and contemporary design. It’s the best of both worlds. The restaurant exudes a warm Italian charm with a fresh and modern twist, without losing the “comforts of home” feeling. The new Italian cuisine features Northern and Southern influences. Italian food lovers will never grow tired of the expansive menu. The great Butera reputation continues as we are known for our generous portions. Whether it be pasta entrée’s, grilled fare and fresh fish. The menu runs a gamut from pasta marinara to veal prosciutto, marsala and sage.

Keith and I went to dinner with his family while we were visiting for the holiday weekend. We were seated right away in a comfortable booth and were immediately intrigued by the many choices on the menu. We ordered a few appetizers specials for the table to share and they were all very tasty and fresh. With the nice Sangiovese wine we had, I was quickly filling up. I am not sure if we were just too full from the appetizers, but the entrees were mediocre. Keith and his brother each ordered veal, yet the meat tasted different in each. The chicken sausage in my dish was a little underseasoned and dry. Yet, Keith's father enjoyed his bassa fish, which was very flavorful and flaky. The portions were very generous so there were plenty of left overs. Supposedly the desserts are really good too, but those were to be saved for another time. All in all, Butera's is a nice family restaurant with classic Italian dishes that were very satisfying.

What I ate:

Baked Clams

Calamari Fritti

Golden fried calamari with spicy marinara sauce and lemon

Baked Eggplant

Stuffed Mushrooms

Jumbo whitecap mushrooms stuffed with spinach, sun dried tomato, fresh mozzarella & bread crumbs

Rigatoni with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Spinach

in a white wine sauce

Plus Keith ate:

Veal Sorrentino

sauteed veal, topped with eggplant and proscuitto in a red wine sauce over linguini

Famous Luigi’s

Last date I was here: 04/16/2010

Restaurant: Famous Luigi’s (http://www.famousluigis.com/)

Location: Dupont Circle

Total Rating: 4.6
Food: 5, Price: 5, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: One of the oldest Italian restaurants in Washington, DC, Luigi’s is a casual restaurant offering classic Italian cuisine in a convenient location. Attempting the Trattoria-type restaurant, Luigi’s can get packed at times even with the bountiful seating on two floors and an indoor patio area. Closest Metro is Dupont Circle.

We have had dinner here several times and it is a favorite of mine in the city. Famous for its pizza, the other traditional menu items are very generous and tasty and hit the spot every time. Great prices! Tourists and locals dine here, making it crowded at times. But I love this spot so much, I have even brought out-of-town family to Luigi’s for a nice meal.

What I ate:

♥Pizza♥

with mushrooms and prosciutto

Insalate di Marre

Cold salad of lettuce, tomatoes, olives, shrimp, calamari, mussels in a vinnaigrette dressing

♥Involtini di melanzane♥
Thin slices of eggplant wrapped around tomato & topped with cheese

Calzone
Folded pizza dough stuffed with ham, mushroom, pepperoni & mozzarella

Antipasto Luigi
Old fashioned antipasto salad with sliced Italian meats, mozzarella, lettuce, & fresh vegetables

♥Seashell alla partenopea♥
Pasta sautéed with zucchini, garlic, herbs in a pink sauce

Manicotti di ricotta
Homemade pasta stuffed with ricotta, parmigiano & spinach baked in tomato sauce

Lasagna al forno
Spinach pasta with ricotta

♥Parpadelle Sottobosco♥

wide pasta with ham and mushrooms in a cream sauce

Plus Keith ate:

♥Vitello Parmigiana with Spaghetti♥

Breaded veal cutlet topped with spinach, tomatoes, and mozzarella

Linguine del pescatore
Mixture of seafood in a spicy tomato sauce

Pollo e salsiccia
Sautéed with link sausage, peppers, onion in tomato sauce

Rigatoni rustici
Sautéed with Italian sausage, mozzarella cheese, parmigiano, & fresh herbs in tomato sauce

Melanzane Parmigiana with Spaghetti

Baked eggplant parmesan with a side of spaghetti in marinara sauce

Siroc

Last date I was here: 11/28/2009

Restaurant: Siroc (http://www.sirocrestaurant.com/)

Location: McPherson Square

Total Rating: 4.05
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Serving a unique blend of modern and Italian cuisine, Siroc is a fairly new restaurant in the DC area with superior and friendly service; delicious food; an excellent, well-chosen wine list; and overall one of the best dining values for fine food. Closest Metro is McPherson Square.

We went to this restaurant to celebrate my Aunt's birthday, and it was a hit overall. The service was very attentive and the food was fresh and bursting with flavors. After our orders were taken, we were each served an amuse bouche of gorgonzola stuffed raviolinis in a pistachio cream sauce - yum! The fresh bread and olive oil was also flavorful. The restaurant itself is fairly small, and as the evening progessed, filled up quickly with patrons. The menu is more modern Italian, so do not expect any marinara sauces or tiramisu desserts. Instead, others in my party enjoyed the tagliatelle with scallops and trio of homemade sausages (although would have preferred a small side of pasta to go with it). Overall, we had a lovely meal and I would recommend this place for small groups and romatic dates.

What I ate:

Arrugola Salad

with Gorgonzola, Roasted Golden Beets and Toasted Pine Nuts

with Lemon and Black Pepper Vinaigrette

Cappelacci

filled with Lobster and Roasted Corn with a Sweet Pepper Buerre Blanc and Baby Cilantro

Warm Almond Cake

with Blueberry topping and a Cinnamon Zabaglione Sauce

Plus Keith ate:

Beef Rolls

filled with Portobello Mushroom and Caramelized Red Onion

served on Soft Polenta and a Gorgonzola Sauce

Eggplant Lasagna

with Braised Lamb Shank, Oregano, Pecorino Romano Cheese and a Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

La Dolce Vita Ristorante

Last date I was here: 03/12/2009

Restaurant: La Dolce Vita Ristorante (http://www.ladolcevitaristorante.com/)

Location: La Jolla, CA

Total Rating: 4.55
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 4

Summary: Find a little piece of Italy nestled away in the heart of La Jolla. Hidden in a pretty courtyard of international shops, La Dolce Vita Ristorante will charm you. As the customers walk up the alley, the mood changes; it looks like a small part of Italy made its way to La Jolla. The ambiance makes it charming to eat on the out door patio by the fountain. The indoor dinning rooms also have a cozy and romantic feeling. At La Dolce Vita Ristorante you will find home cooked Italian food at affordable prices.

Took a day trip to La Jolla with some coworkers, and we stumbled upon this charming place. We sat outside and enjoyed eating our meal in the sun. Service was friendly and quick. Our food was fresh and generously portioned. I really enjoyed my meal here and would recommend this restaurant to others.

What I ate:

Prosciutto e Melone
Thin slice Parma cured Italian ham, served over fresh ripe cantaloupe melon

Penne alla NormaFresh tomato sauce with grilled eggplant and melted mozzarella cheese

Levante’s

Last date I was here: 10/31/2008

Restaurant: Levante’s (http://www.levantes.com/)

Location: Dupont Circle

Total Rating: 4.05
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This chain restaurant from Austria is fairly new to the DC area and offers eastern mediterranean cuisine in a casual dining environment and fair prices. The flavors of Greece and Turkey are fresh and indulging. Open kitchens and wood-fired ovens produce charcoal - grilled meats and vegetables, which are prepared in full view of diners. Pita and flat breads are baked fresh. Unique Turkish pides with generous size and homemade crusts offer a unique alternative to Italian-style pizza. Closest Metro is Dupont Circle.

We ate dinner here on Halloween night and had a great seat by the window so we could watch all the crazy costumes walk by as they headed to the bars. The seating area seemed plentiful with a nice bar and large patio area. Not sure if it was the festive-ness in the air, but I found it to be a little noisy at times and hard to hear during our conversation. I really enjoyed the appetizers, a little too much batter on the fried veggies, but the flavors were good. Also enjoyed my pide but was too full to finish it all! I wish I could have taken the leftovers, but we had to catch a movie and I did not want to carry it the whole time. I would definitely eat here again.

What I ate:

♥Levante Plate♥

Assortment of favorite Levante appetizers: Cigars, Tsatziki, Dolma, Greek Cheese, Fried Zucchini, Fried Eggplant

♥Eggplant Pide♥

Eggplant puree, olives, garlic, and parsley on a base of Kaser cheese

Plus Keith ate:

Mixed Grill Plate

Assortment of Levante’s grill specialties: Adana Kebab, Shish, Chicken Skewer, and Lamb Chops
Served with rice and broccoli