Dinner at Salumeria Rosi
It's been a very busy summer and it seems that my birthday keeps getting celebrated over and over. My hair and makeup artist, Mary Curren, wanted to take me out to dinner in Manhattan and it was suggested that we try Salumeria Rosi located at 283 Amsterdam Avenue (73/74th St.). Cesare Casella, the Executive Chef/Partner at Salumeria Rosi and I have been friends for many years. Cesare successfully opened two other New York City restaurants, Beppe and Maremma, which received rave reviews when he was in the kitchen. Salumeria Rosi is a small neighborhood restaurant and salumi shop, much like what you would find on any street corner in Italy - very authentic and very delicious.
1 Lisa Wagner joined Kevin, Mary Curran, and me for dinner at this fabulous new restaurant - Salumeria Rosi.
2 On one side of the restaurant, home cured hams, pork, salamis, and homemade condiments are for sale.
3 Here I am with Cesare - The fresh herb sprig in his pocket are a trademark.
4 The tables are communal and each place is elegantly dressed.
5 The homemade breads are crusty and flavorful.
6 A map of Italy adorns the ceiling and walls. The restaurant was designed by Italian Oscar-winning set designer Dante Ferretti. It looks like a traditional salumeria found throughout Italy.
7 Each diner is served a spectacular aperitif of prosecco - sparkling white wine, aperol - an Italian apéritif, and tonic.
8 We are toasting to another year!! Ugh!!
9 Fresh, hot popovers of cheese and proscuitto - so yum!
10 The salumeria platter - notice the amazing assortment of meats
11 Fresh white anchovies served on a bed of dressed radicchio.
12 The house bread pudding with a creme anglaise
13 A wonderful ricotta cheesecake with gelato
14 An amazing semifreddo of mocha
15 Chocolate mousse - a large snowball
16 A fresh and cold fruit soup.
17 A rich gianduia of chocolate and hazelnuts
18 We drank lots of lemoncello, and wine, and spirits.
19 Kevin and Lisa after a glass of wine
20 Here I am with Mary.
21 Cesare gave me a large bag of wonderful dried beans, which he imports from Italy. www.republicofbeans.com
Gorgeous!! What an amazing meal! It just so happens I'm in the midst of planning another trip to Manhattan next month and was discussing with my fellow travelers whether or not we ought to try this gem -- I think you just helped make that decision a snap! Thanks for sharing these!
Posted by: Christian | August 20th, 2009 at 2:28 am
My mum and I will be in New York at the beginning of December - the restaurant is definently on my list to go to.
But most importantly, I really want to come and see your show being taped Martha. As you couldn't come to London I've decided that we should come to you instead. I hope I can get tickets.
Pru
Posted by: Pru | August 20th, 2009 at 3:33 am
Yum. Such a great place to go for a birthday. Happy Birthday Martha!!! Many, many more.
Posted by: Theresa G. | August 20th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Lovely gesture and beautiful meal, were I not at the beach for the season I would be there in no time!
Posted by: The Blushing Hostess | August 20th, 2009 at 9:19 am
oh my goodness. What an amazing meal! The fruit soup, mocha dessert and lemoncello would be my favorites I think!
Posted by: Monica F. | August 20th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Such lovely presentation appeal in that restaurant's offerings, without overdoing the fussiness. It's hard to give dark colored foods some prettiness, and Salumeria Rosi succeeded (the gianduia, the plate of meats). The fresh anchovies were especially interesting...a rare dish in restaurants, yet just the right, light touch to start a meal. Thank you for the good photos, Martha...you always bring great meals to us online...and we can almost taste from your photos. I'm sure your visit made Cesare (what a doll, so New York) very happy.
Posted by: Penny | August 20th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Happy very belated birthday Martha! The food looks amazing. I would have to sample the cheesecake. I'm counting down the days for new episodes of the show to begin next month. It's been a long summer!
Posted by: Kari | August 20th, 2009 at 11:53 am
These pictures have convinced me to go to the restaurant. Mmmm good. So beautiful! Happy Belated Birthday! I am looking forward to your new season beginning on September 14th. Many more wonderful creative and productive and happy years.
Posted by: Teresa Touey | August 20th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Hi Martha,
Happy Belated Birthday!!!
Hope it was fabulous. We should celebrate our birthdays everyday of the year. If it weren't for our birthday...
Skylands is looking great from your last blog entry. Oh what a hike you had! My friend is going up to Acadia park next week. Hopefully, I'll make it up that way this fall. Really looking forward to it.
My next trip in a few weeks will be up to the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY. You would love it and never want to leave that magical place. Right in that same area is Minnewaska State Park. Love Love Love it!!!
Be good,
Kim in N.J>
Posted by: Kim in N.J. | August 20th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
Dear Martha,
Love your life and show, on today's cooking segment, bulgar, is it the same as quinoa?
Not much luck cooking it?
I also, tried to register on your site, it continued coming back to the initial page,
Again, great show and you go girl!!!
Posted by: Sandee | August 20th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I'll definitely have to put this restaurant on my queue of restaurants to try!
Posted by: Jessica | August 20th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
That meat plate looked YUMMMM!!
Posted by: Fifi Flowers | August 20th, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Your friends take you to some great places to eat! The food looks fabulous. Happy Birthday again!
Posted by: Sherry | August 20th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
I just love going to dinner with you through this blog, Martha!!! Such fun!!!
Posted by: Heidi | August 20th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
Hi Martha, What a lovely restaurant Salumeria Rosi is and how thoughtful of Mary Curren to take you there to celebrate your birthday again. Your photos tell the whole story-a great time was had by all four of you! The food and drinks look absolutely fabulous and I'm sure they were delicious. Cesare Casella seems like a terrific friend. Thanks for sharing. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | August 20th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Hi Martha!
Still celebrating? Well I don't see where it's slowed you down any. And by the way, you're really looking great. You have a nice chiseled look to you, an in-shape countenance. But Kevin Sharkey looks like a peeled grape! Poor guy! But still, he smiles like a champ.
The food at Salumeria Rosi looks so rich and delicious. What a feast! And the bag 'O beans...who could beat THAT?
Posted by: tinay | August 21st, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Hi Martha,
What a mouth-watering dinner. I am a big fan of Cesare --he is one amazing Italian chef. I ate at his restaurant Beppe when it first opened and luved every single bite of his Tuscan cuisine. I am definitely going to visit this new place he opened. Thank you once again for a delightful blog.
Sincerely,
Sherrie Tan from Chicago, IL.
Posted by: Sherrie Tan | August 28th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
hello martha.
how are you?
i hope you were fine.
are you still celebrating your birthday?
it's very nice to celebrate your birthday at salumeria rosi.
however,iwish you
******HAPPY BIRTHDAY******
Posted by: rina | August 28th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Just love the food there. Yum!
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