The International Food Club (IFC…still looks like “Independent Film Channel” to me…) was back at it again this month, this time visiting Italy via Angelini Osteria.  I won’t ever turn down a trip to my favorite (so far!) Italian restaurant in the city.

EXCUSE ME WHILE I FOODIE GEEK OUT FOR A MOMENT.  Top Chef fans out there will understand my utter elation when I spotted Carla Hall (Season 5 and most recently, All-Stars) dining in the same restaurant.  Whilst residing in LA, I’ve become accustomed to spotting a few famous faces, but have never really felt the inclination to be a rabid fangirl.  (Although let’s be real.  If Justin Timberlake or Leonardo DiCaprio were to be within eyesight, I might actually pass out.  I clearly have not outgrown my childhood obsessions cough NSYNC and Titanic cough).  But I digress.

After a few encouraging words from the table (and Adam’s pretend restroom trip to get me to move out of my chair), I mustered up the courage and walked up to Carla’s table.  Let me point out that I did wait until they had finished eating and they’d already paid the bill.

I bring along Christina as the photographer.  In what quite possibly could have been my geekiest fangirl voice EVER, I hesitantly tap Carla on the shoulder and mumble something along the lines of “I’m so sorry to bother you, but I’m a huge fan.  Would it be possible to take a picture with you?!” ::Insert inner giddy scream::  She seems genuinely flattered and jumps up out of her chair for the photo op.  Thanks Carla, for being so awesome and not a meanie, even after having to “pack your knives and go”

End foodie geek out moment.

The IFC is growing!  Here we are with our smiling faces.  We had a few additions to this month’s culinary voyage.  Matt’s mamma joined us since she was in town, and another Matt tagged along as well…which brought our total party to 8.  Multiply that by a few plates per person, and we’ve got a smörgåsbord of photos to follow.

The Antipasti:

Shrimp Salad (DECEIVING little sucker.  Where are my greens?), Fried Calamari

Beef Carpaccio, Tri-Colore Salad

Minestrone, Mixed Greens with Gorgonzola

The Primi and Secondi:

Potato Gnocchi, Lasagna Verde

Pumpkin Tortelli, Tagliatalle with Lamb, Veal Saltimbocca

And finally, the Dolci:

Apple Tart with Vanilla Gelato, Tart with Pistachio

Pecorino Wrapped in Walnut Leaves with Figs and Honey, Crostata di Cioccolato

Attempting to comment on every single dish would mean a much, much longer blog post.  And I’ve got to get back to last night’s DVR’d episode of America’s Next Great Restaurant.  So I leave you with a few highs and lows.

The highlights:

• Meeting Carla
• Lasagna Verde (this will always be a winner in my mind)
• Affettati Misti (not pictured, but I’d had it before) Christina used her best “TV Food Critic Oxymoron” and described it as “Fresh, but well aged.”
• Potato gnocchi
• Veal Saltimbocca

Things to avoid:

• Shrimp Salad (good but…where’s the salad?)
• Pumpkin Tortelli (a bit too rich and creamy, but ironically, lacking in flavor)
• Minestrone (I believe Adam described it as “hot water and vegetables”)

After trying some of the pumpkin tortelli, I’m finding this place is a bit hit or miss.  Thankfully, the hits are superb, and those alone will keep me coming back (I’m talking to you, lasagna verde, affettati misti and torta della nonna).

This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.