El Dorado County_Foothills_Style Magazine - November 2018

eat & drink
DINING SPOTLIGHT
By strange coincidence, when I was asked
to review the Gold Country’s newest
Italian bistro, I had been craving the authentic,
rustic cuisine of Northern Italy. I just didn’t
expect it to be in Placerville. As my plus one
and I strolled down a quaint courtyard off
Main Street, we came upon our destination:
Amore Mio.
The bistro is the collaboration between
owners Sigrid and Mari—two personalities
bubbling with gioia e amore (joy and love),
thanks to a passion for their new life in the
foothills, their customers, and each other.
We witnessed the latter when Sigrid brought
Mari flowers as consolation for “a tough
day.” The “awww” factor was palpable.
After a glass of local vino was poured, my
trip back to Tuscany officially began with il
Amore Mio
Italian Bistro
Love at First Bite
by LORN RANDALL // photos by DANTE FONTANA
“THE BISTRO IS THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN OWNERS SIGRID
AND MARI—TWO PERSONALITIES BUBBLING WITH GIOIA E AMORE
(JOY AND LOVE), THANKS TO A PASSION FOR THEIR NEW LIFE IN THE
FOOTHILLS, THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND EACH OTHER.”
fritto misto della casa—delicately
fried zucchini flowers stuffed
with mozzarella alongside
arancini (breaded risotto balls)
and a drizzle of balsamic
reduction nestled atop fresh
greens and diced tomatoes. While
it’s possible to find arancini on menus from
time to time, the addition of fried zucchini
flowers is a rarity, making this a must-order
antipasti.
My mother recently blessed me with
a parcel of melanzana (eggplant) from her
garden, so I was excited to see the oblong
purple orb featured in Amore’s di rughetta,
pomodorini e melanzane. Grilled eggplant
strips, rolled and filled with ricotta and
sun-dried tomatoes, accompanied by
cherry tomatoes and fresh-picked arugula
was a salad match made in heaven. The
addition of sun-dried tomatoes gave the
subtle flavors of eggplant and ricotta a
bright burst, while the arugula provided a
palatable, peppery bite.
The entrée round at Italian eateries
always torments me: pasta or protein?
Fortunately, I had already forwarned my
girlfriend that I would be pirating the gnocchi
in liguria from her plate (she will always
order gnocchi in creamy pesto), while I
savored my way through the salsicce e pollo
in coppia. My dish, sausage and chicken with
peppers and onions in tomato sauce, was hearty and satisfying, and I knew I could enjoy
any leftovers later; but the large bowl of pillowy potato dumplings in basil-infused cream
with pine nuts and parmesan could not be postponed. Gnocchi in creamy pesto waits for no
one, and those that pirate from their significant others are soon rewarded—or so the saying
goes…mangia bene!
HOURS: 5-9 p.m.
(Tuesday-Sunday);
closed Monday
TRY THIS: Il Fritto
Misto Della Casa,
Bruschetta, Di
Rughetta Pomodorini
e Melanzane, Giulio
Cesare, Soup of the
Day, Gnocchi in Liguria,
Salsicce e Pollo in
Coppia, Pennette in
Salamandra, Tiramisu
DRINKS: Beer and
wine
TAB: $$
HEADS-UP: Glutenfree
and zucchini
Clockwise starting top left: Di
Rughetta Pomodorini e Melanzane,
Fritto Misto Della Casa, Gnocchi in
Liguria, Salsicce e Pollo in Coppia,
Bruschetta
pasta noodles; daily
selection of desserts
from Bindi in Milano,
Italy; catering and
private events; dogfriendly
patio; happy
to make special, offmenu
dishes upon
request; family-style
dinners available for
groups of 8+; daily
happy hour from 3-5
p.m.; everything is
made to order from
scratch; reservations
are recommended
Amore Mio Italian Bistro, 451 Main
Street, Suite 8, Placerville, 530-303-
3148, amoremiobistro.com
38 styleedc.com // NOVEMBER 2018 // /styleedc /stylemediagroup /stylemediagroup /stylemagedcf