Culinary Adventure #4: Drago Centro

Dear Hungry Housewives:

For our July Culinary Adventure the uptown Housewives went downtown to Italian restaurant, Drago Centro.

It’s remarkable that in four months of starting the HH club we’ve grown from a car load to a bus load…literally.  When I walked on the bus I was overwhelmed to see 23 familiar faces.  It looked like a Vistas for Children charity event since we had all been members.

Our host Amy arranged the nicest party bus I’ve ever seen…complete with dance pole, etc.  This was definitely no charity event!

Personal note to HH:  When I remind the host to allow a half hour to gather all the HH, I never intended for the extra time to apply to me.  I apologize for making the bus wait and for causing Amy undue stress!

The good news is that we zoomed down the 110 bus lane and arrived at Drago in great time.  When we walked into an enclosed patio off the main restaurant, it felt like we had entered our own private garden.  As Janice described, “We were inside but it had an outdoor feel.”

Kudos to Amy:  She reserved the private patio back in April.  In fact, our menu was also prearranged by Amy and her personal friend, Chef Celestino Drago. We were in for a once in a lifetime experience! 

(Tom's in the pic)

 

The meal began with a bread basket filled with Gnocco Fritto’s.  Our waiter affectionately called them, “Pillows of Pleasure.”  He was right and I was in trouble…those sinful pillows were going straight to my pillows!

The second course was my favorite because it combined polenta, gorgonzola and...TRUFFLES!  Amy informed us that Chef Drago had recently returned from Italy with the fresh summer truffles.  I gasped when the creamy delicacy touched my taste buds…did I mention the truffles?

I enjoyed my third course choice, the driver scallops, but was disappointed with myself for playing it safe.  I was tempted to order the Pappardelle with roasted pheasant but chickened out…it was indeed a HH foul!

 Reminder to self:  The purpose of the HH club is to get, “Out of the Box” and go on a Culinary Adventure!

Amy generously offered a taste of her pasta.  I was pleased with the mellow flavor of the pheasant and secretly had Pappardelle envy.  I would just have to return later for a full order!

As I sipped some Tommasi white wine, I rememberd a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Life is about the journey, not the destination.”  I decided to rephrase his quote, “Our evening was equally about the journey and the destination!”

After finishing my wine, it was time to depart Drago.  We climbed back on the bus and had an entertaining ride uptown. Maybe it was too much Tommasi but I had “Blurred” visions of HH “Getting Lucky” with Robin Thicke...or was it a pole?

Note to HH:  What happens on the bus stays on the bus!

Thanks to Amy for going above and beyond, to Kathy for collecting money, to those who contributed beverages for the bus, to Jackie for bringing a real camera, and to Ellen and Kathy for finding my lost phone (it really had been one of those days!)  Finally, thanks to the talented dancers who entertained us!

Mark your calendar for August 8…Karen L. is planning a casual summer soirée!

Your Hungry Girlfriend,

Tiffany

The purpose of the Hungry Housewife Club is to get “Out of the Box” once a month and go on a fun, guilt-free Culinary Adventure with your girlfriends.

Definition of “Out of the Box”:  A dining establishment outside of the home where frivolous food experimentation has no boundaries!