Christini’s Ristorante Italiano has announced the launch of the September specialty prix-fixe menu featuring classic favorites in celebration of their 40th year serving the Orlando community.
The September specialty dining menu will feature 3 antipasti options alongside 5 entrees, and a daily selection of desserts. This limited-time, prix-fixe menu will revive several of the original dishes served on the Christini’s menu at the time of its founding over 40 years ago to celebrate the ongoing success of the restaurant.
For more information, visit https://christinis.com/orlando-restaurant/christinis-originale-september-menu/
The September menu, as is typical for the establishment, focuses on simple dishes carefully prepared using fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. For example, the antipasti menu is limited to three offerings only: Calamaretti Fritti, Mozzarella alla Contadina, and Fettucinni all Christini, all of which are personal favorites of the chef.
These lighter offerings compliment a selection of 5 entree options; highlights include the Dalla Sargegna Costata d’ Agnello—herb crusted lamb chops, broiled and served alongside delicately seasoned broccolini—and the Gamberoni Portofino, fresh-caught jumbo shrimp paired with a dijon cognac cream sauce and served on a bed of risotto.
Several of the dishes featured on this menu echo the decades-long legacy of the restaurant, and are being served to honor the memory of founder Chris Christini, a beloved name in the culinary scene and friend to many. These dishes were largely inspired by Christini’s own upbringing in rural Italy, and now exist as a testament to the value of simple flavors, quality ingredients, and skilled preparation.
The September prix-fixe menu is available alongside the larger, always-available dining selection. Patrons may choose from a wide range of dishes spanning the Roman, Venetian, and Tuscan culinary traditions, including pasta, seafood, salad, steaks, and a rotating selection of gourmet desserts.
It should be noted that, in order to preserve the atmosphere of the establishment, Christini’s does enforce a formal dress code for all patrons. A full explanation of permitted and forbidden attire can be found on their website.
Those interested in this exclusive September menu should make a reservation as soon as possible; space is limited, and weekend dining often fills up completely. More information about the new prix-fixe menu and reservation details can be found at the link below.
Learn more at https://christinis.com/christinis-menu/
How To Get The Most Out Of Your Italian Dining Experience, Or, A Love Letter To Old Country Cuisine
I don’t need to explain to you what makes Italian food so special, but I’m going to anyway. Very few other culinary traditions respect ingredients as deeply and reverently. Few other cuisines prepare food with such love, such attentiveness. These are simple ingredients, virtually unchanged for hundreds of years, and yet the marriage of these pure flavors delivers such harmony. It cannot be matched. This is an immutable fact.
However, here in America, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dining experience that faithfully emulates the flavors of the Old Country. For some reason unknown to science, chefs across the country have chosen to dilute, adulterate, and generally disrespect these timeless traditions. Need an example? The other day, I was served “garlic bread”, and by that I mean, “a buttered, toasted hamburger bun with garlic salt sprinkled on top“. Has the world gone mad? Well, says I: no longer!
Today, we explore Italian cuisine as it was meant to be: delicate, subtle, meticulous, and delicious. Let’s break it down according to the three traditions your are most likely to encounter in your quest for culinary perfection.
Roman Cuisine
We begin in the oldest of the Old Country, Rome. Here, the roots of classic Italian food run deep, all the way to antiquity. In Ancient Rome, staple ingredients like wine, olive oil, and even pasta can trace their genesis, and are still pillars of the culinary tradition there to this day.
When enjoying a dish in the Roman tradition, consider a meat-forward option featuring beef, chicken, or seafood. These meats are often prepared in a wine reduction, lending a bright, tart quality to compliment the savory undertones of the food.
Tuscan Tradition
We move on now to Tuscany, birthplace of the Renaissance and home to some of the most lauded vineyards on planet earth. When ordering Tuscan cuisine, expect to encounter a heavier focus on rustic ingredients; wild boar, wild mushrooms, fresh greens, and seafood are all common.
Dishes such as Filleto alla Barolo and Spigola are prime opportunities to enjoy such ingredients as they were intended to be enjoyed. Ingredients such as these should speak for themselves, and should not be muddied by excessive seasoning or drowned in an overly heavy sauce: facts central to the Tuscan tradition as a whole.
Venetian Style
Finally we arrive in Venice, the jewel of the Adriatic sea and one of Italy’s most iconic cities. Venice’s status as a major port city historically led to the emergence of a fairly unique culinary tradition there, and one which is echoed even today in contemporary circles. Yes, of course, you will still find your fresh seafood, but rather than pasta, you will often find pairings that feature rice, polenta, and risotto, thanks in large part to the city’s access to dry goods and other imports.
In Venetian cooking, cheese is often the star. Consider choosing a dish, such as the classic Pollo Quattro Formaggi, in which the flavors of these imported cheese are allowed to shine and compliment the fresh ingredients beneath.
Other Can’t-Miss Dishes
Still hungry? I can’t imagine how, but if so, consider seeking out these exceptional dishes, as recommended by the team at the Orlando-based Christini’s Ristorante Italiano.
- Dalla Sargegna Costata d’ Agnello: herb crusted lamb chops, broiled and served alongside delicately seasoned broccolini.
- Gamberoni Portofino: fresh-caught jumbo shrimp paired with a dijon cognac cream sauce and served on a bed of risotto.
- Linguini con Vongole: linguini topped with braised clams and a garlic white wine sauce.
Of course, these choices are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to gourmet Italian cuisine. Keeping everything we have just discussed in mind, you are now uniquely prepared to enjoy the nuances and delights that this beloved culinary tradition has to offer. Go forth, dig in, and, most importantly, enjoy!
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