M'tucci's Amaro Pairing Dinner
/To most of us who love Italian cuisine, an Italian meal is not complete without wine and maybe an espresso to finish. An Italian might suggest that you’ve omitted an important part of the meal - an Amaro. A few years ago, my knowledge of these wonderful bitter-sweet beverages didn’t go beyond Campari (which I drank with club soda and lemon) and Jagermeister (which I hate).
I have discovered that there is one thing universally loved by management, the chefs and the bartenders at M’tucci’s - and that is amari (plural of amaro, which means bitter in Italian). Because of their influences and a few recent trips to Italy, my spirits cabinet usually has 2-3 different amari.
Amanda Romero, the General Manager at M’tucci’s Bar Roma, says they are much more than just an aid to digestion.
“I love that each amaro has different flavors and layers, mixing between bitter, herbal & nutty. Although I have my favorite brands, I will always order an Amaro that I've never tried to see what flavor combinations it has to offer. All Amaro are different which means you can order one to match your mood! There are sweeter amaro, extra bitter amaro, earthy amaro, the list is endless. My favorite amaro has remained Cynar,” she said.
Spend some time at our bars, or at any bar that cares about the craft of cocktails, and you’ll notice the increasing number of amari on the shelf.
A centuries-old beverage, amari began as healing tonics or elixirs used for medicinal purposes. While there are an astounding number of styles and makers of amaro throughout Europe, nearly all of them begin with a neutral spirit or wine that is macerated with bitter barks, seeds, spices, flowers, vegetables, herbs and citrus peels, then balanced with sugar. Some of the bitter agents include gentian root, angelica root, wormwood and cinchona bark. You might find anise, cardoon, clove, rhubarb, cardamom, licorice and juniper among the herbal profiles. Some amari are barrel-aged for complexity. The recipes are all closely guarded secrets.
The flavor profiles of amari are definitely local. Amari made in the North rely more on the herbs and flowers available in the mountains, while Southern amari might use more citrus peels.
Humans are born with an aversion to bitter flavors and many of us (Americans) have more interest in the flavors: sweet, sour and salty - even umami. So, a little palate education is necessary to appreciate bitter flavors, and we are acquiring that appreciation by drinking IPAs, cocktails with tonic water, and even coffee and tea. Italians embrace bitter foods early in their lives (greens, chocolate, espresso) and consequently have a long history with bitter flavors and especially with amari.
To an Italian a liqueur is an amari if it is consumed after dinner, which would leave Aperol, Campari and many vermouths off of the list. Is a vermouth an amaro? Technically it’s not, but you would have to consider them bitter cousins, vermouth is usually the lower alcohol cousin. Vermouths fall into the category of aperitvo (before dinner), not digestivo.
M’tucci’s Zero Proof Cocktails
Do you want a tasty cocktail without the alcohol? Then we have some specials for you at all locations beginning next Wednesday.
SPICE OF LIFE MARTINI
Ritual Tequila Alternative, Lyres Triple Sec, Liquid Alchemist Tamarindo Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Simple Syrup, Tajin Salt Rim
ELDER & WISER
Seedlip Grove 42, Liquid Alchemist Passion Fruit Syrup, Fresh Mint, Muddled Lemon, Simple Syrup, Elderflower Fever-Tree Tonic
AFICIONADA
House Smoked Ritual Tequila Alternative, Seedlip Garden, Lyres Triple Sec, Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters, Agave Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Orange Zest, Half Salt Rim
aficianada, Spice of life and Elder & Wiser
Weekend Specials
M’tucci’s Italian
Ravioli - Pesto Ricotta Fill - Lobster, Shrimp, Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Turnip Greens, Vodka Sauce, Pesto Bread Crumbs $27
Hand Cut 14 oz Ribeye - Hand Cut Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Grilled Lemon, Balsamic Reduction $49
Pan-Seared Grouper - Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Arugula, Grilled Artichokes, Lemon Caper Sauce $35
Braise - 14 oz Beef Short Rib - Blueberry Shrub Braise - Gnocchi, Wild Mushroom, Caramelized Onions, Beef Brodo $31
Weekend Cocktail -
Crème Brûlée Martini - Absolut Citron, Frangelico, Half & Half, Vanilla Syrup, Chocolate Bitters
M’tucci’s Moderno
14 oz NY Strip - Salt Water Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Salsa Verde $36
Pan-Seared Ruby Trout - Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sautéed Broccolini, Roasted Artichoke, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, Prosciutto Powder $24
Pasta Prestata - Chardonnay Cream Sauce - Pink Patagonia Shrimp, Baby Scallops, Whole Clams, Diced Salmon, Sundried Tomatoes, Cream Sauce, Linguine Pasta $24
Weekend Cocktail
Estremamente Rosa - Pink Whitney Vodka, Sandia Watermelon Cider, Apple Blossom Bitters, Grapefruit Juice, Pineapple Juice, Simple Syrup
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five
12 oz Veal Porterhouse - Grilled Broccolini, Whipped Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Smoked Blackberry Bone Marrow Butter $36
Pan-Seared Ono - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Greens, Stem on Artichoke Hearts, Lemon Butter Caper Sauce $36
Special Seafood Gnocchi - Homemade Pan Seared Gnocchi - Patagonia Pink Shrimp, Chopped Wild Clams, Roasted Sweet Corn, Green Bell Peppers, Wine Cream Sauce $24
Cicchetti Special
Duck Pâté - Agave Braised Apples, Pickles, Red Onions, Arugula, Herb Crostini, Smoked Shrub Jam
Weekend Cocktail
Basil Smash - Aviation Gin, Passion Fruit Syrup, Muddled Basil, Citrus
M’tucci’s Bar Roma
Garlic Sausage & White Clam Pizza - Linguica, Pink Patagonia Shrimp, Marinated Peppers, Calabrian Chili, Aged Mozzarella, ‘NDuja Butter, Fresh Herbs $16
Pan-Seared Grouper - Garlic Whipped Potatoes, Braised Arugula with Garlic, Seared Stem-on Artichokes, Lemon Caper Butter Sauce $35
Weekend Cocktail
La Mariposa - Red River Gin, Montenegro, Creme De Cassis, Lemon Juice, Simple Syrup
Live Music for March
M’tucci’s Bar Roma - Wed 6:30-8:30. Sunday noon-2pm
3/5 Oscar Butler
3/8 Shane Wallin
3/12 Alex Long
3/15 RJ Perez
3/19 Shane Wallin
3/22 Cali Shaw
3/26 Lani Nash
3/29 Gilbert Uribe
M’tucci’s Twenty-Five - Thursday 6:30-8:30 * Friday 7:30-9:30
3/3 Lani Nash
3/9 RJ Perez
3/10 Eryn Bent
3/16 Nathan Fox
3/17 Cali Shaw
3/23 Lani Nash
3/24 Matt Jones
3/30 Shane Wallin
3/31 Alex Long
M’tucci’s Moderno - Thursday 6:30-830 *Friday 7:30-9:30
3/3 Alex Long
3/9 Shane Wallin
3/10 Lani Nash
3/16 Matt Jones
3/17 RJ Perez
3/23 Marisa
3/24 Oscar Butler
3/30 Cali Shaw
3/31 Matt Jones
Thanks for reading. See you next Friday. Ciao!
