Saturday Night - Ristorante Evu' - Vietri Sul Mare (Sa)Andiamotrips

Saturday Night - Ristorante Evu' - Vietri Sul Mare (Sa)

I had never walked the streets of Vietri Sul Mare at night. Sure, I've spent numerous summer Saturday afternoons with family and friends ceramic shopping in the numerous negozi all along this famous centro storico on the doorstep of the Amalfi Coast.
But at night? Never. That may be why my latest visit to Vietri seemed a little surreal. Cold, a light drizzle, semi deserted...fantastic. Almost as fantastic as the sharp colorful contrast that hit me immediately as Annabella D'Elia opened the door and invited me into Ristorante Evu'...

Evu...a small ristorante packed with colors, calore, and smiles. A young restaurant with an eager enthusiastic staff led by Riccardo Faggiano, his two chefs; Michele De Martino and Saverio Di Domenico, and a dining room staff with his fiance' Annabella and his mom Anna Borriello. So what was it that made me feel so comfortable right away. The Christmas decorations? The interior decor? The benvenuto glass of DUBL spumante Feudi de San Gregorio as I made my way to my seat? Well, Persi nel gusto is what is written on the Evu's door...loosely translated as lost in flavor, lost in taste...I was ready to 'get lost'.
Get lost in a various appetizers taken from an antipasta menu that changes weekly...

Red shrimp with an onion ring (ramata di montoro) and a sweet and sour sauce on the side....

Grilled squid with potatoes, green olives, capers, and raisins...

Anchovy parmigiana with a San Marzano tomato sauce...

Green pepper stuffed with squid and aromatic breadcrumbs. Topped with a buffalo cheese fondue...

I was ready to 'get lost' in the wine list overflowing with Campania wines...my choice was Fiorduva 2009 from Marisa Cuomo in nearby Fuore.

I was ready to 'get lost' for awhile with the ragazzi in the cucina as they cooked for what was now a jam packed dining groom...

Linguine with frutta di mare...

Paccheri with frutta di mare

I was ready to 'get lost' with a recipe demonstrated by Chef De Martino. Maybe his linguine pasta with a his homemade pesto which included basil, black olives, anchovies, and walnuts...

Then maybe just a taste right after he plated it up...

I was ready to 'get lost' with a couple of items from the dessert menu.

Mille foglie

Lemon tiramisu

Yes, I can truly say that I was ready. Ready for an evening leggera, light, fun. In the company of Evu's staff, their customers, their friends. And if that is what it feels like to be persi nel gusto, I'm more than ready to 'get lost' again, and again and again...