This Week at Casa Dante

www.casadante.com       See us on    FACEBOOK  or Casa Dante Facebook Dear Friends, Valentine's Day will prove to be a busy day and weekend. This year we're providing a Valentine's Day Weekend  of love, wine, and food. Saturday, Sunday and  Monday, February 14th. Including special menus, and a "lovers" prix fix; all of which you can see on our website. Weve gotten some very positive feedback for our Friday, February 11th singles-only cocktail party in the main room. Most who responded were happy to hear that a "nice" place was hosting this kind of event. Many commented that there are few places to mingle and meet people in an elegant environment; without blaring music, loud DJ's etc. Casa Dante will provide Hors D'oeuvres, half price drinks, live jazz entertainment, group tables; a forum, if you will, to speak, mingle, listen, get to know and to generally have a good time.  However, its up to you to call or email your interest ( convince friends if you can ), the more the better. We will do our part if you do yours. On February 3, we will confirm that were "on" or it just didnt take off. Its up to you!  This will also be posted on our  Casa Dante Facebook page. Email us at info@casadante.com or respond by Facebook. Please plan to attend the  Antinori Wine Dinner on Thursday February 24th. Big Wines, super menu and guest speaker from the winery. All details will be posted this coming week on our website.  As usual were keeping it small ( 40 guests or so), Please reserve a spot. Dom & Toni Marino Proprietors Casa Dante 3.5 stars Star Ledger, 2010 Wine Spectator Award, 2009 & 2010 Wine Enthusiast Award 2009, Best Italian in NJ by AOL, Top three Italian inNJ, Inside Jersey Magazine Check out the specials and discounts below and join our  FACEBOOK  fan page. www.casadante.com/entertainment or other events at www.casadante.com/events Entertainment this week!       Friday January 21, 2011          The Champain Trio   smooth, hot  and light Jazz        Saturday January 22, 2011     "Dominique and Julian"    Get ready for a big night! If you love great music and dance, I guarantee you will be amazed on Saturday January 22. Dancers will abound!  If you love to dance or love to watch great dancing, come in for dinner. Reservations please!

Healthy Italian    Lemon and Garlic Roast Chicken   A simple, lighter and tasty recipe for a cold winter day. We don't have this on our menu here at Casa Dante. But we occasionally make it for our staff's lunch.     Ingredients 1 (5 to 6-pound) roasting chicken Kosher Salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 large bunch fresh thyme  4 lemons 3 heads garlic, cut in 1/2 crosswise 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1/2 pound sliced bacon 1 cup white wine  1/2 cup chicken stock Directions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the chicken in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, reserving enough thyme to garnish the chicken dish, 1 lemon, halved, and 2 halves of the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Cut 2 of the lemons in quarters and scatter the quarters and remaining garlic around the chicken. Lay the bacon slices over the chicken to cover. Roast the chicken for 1 hour. Remove the bacon slices from the top of the chicken and set aside. Continue roasting the chicken for an additional 1/2 hour, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove to a platter and cover with aluminum foil while you prepare the gravy. Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the bottom of the pan. Add the wine and chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until reduced by half. Slice the chicken on a platter. Garnish the chicken platter with the bacon slices, roasted garlic, reserved thyme and 1 lemon, sliced. Serve with the gravy. Did you know?    Valentine's Day  Foods of Love   Love Foods History is rife with the human pursuit of aphrodisiacs in many forms. Scientific tests have proven that some aromas can cause a greater effect on the body than the actual ingestion of foods. Here are some common foods of love used through the ages.  ( Champagne, Chocolate, Oysters and other items listed will be on our Valentines weekend menus here at Casa Dante) Alcohol: lowers inhibitions and increases confidence; however, over-indulgence has a sedative effect not conducive to a romantic tryst. Asparagus: three courses of asparagus were served to 19th century bridegrooms due to its reputed aphrodisiac powers. Banana: due not only to its shape, but also its creamy, lush texture, some studies show its enzyme bromelain enhances male performance. Caviar: is high in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone, maintaining male functionality. Champagne: viewed as the "drink of love," moderate quantities lower inhibitions and cause a warm glow in the body. Chocolate: contains both a sedative which relaxes and lowers inhibitions and a stimulant to increase activity and the desire for physical contact. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago. Figs: seasonal crops were celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulation ritual. Ginseng: increases desire for physical contact. Perfumes: made of natural foodstuffs such as almond, vanilla and other herbs and spices act as a pheromone to communicate emotions by smell. Puffer Fish: considered both a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in Japan. If the poisonous gland is not properly removed, the tiniest taste is deadly. The flirt with death is said to give a sexual thrill. Not recommended. Oysters: Some oysters repeatedly change their sex from male to female and back, giving rise to claims that the oyster lets one experience the the masculine and feminine sides of love. Radish: considered a divine aphrodisiac by Egyptian pharoahs, most likely because its spicy taste stimulated the palate. Truffles:  probably due to its rarity and musky aroma, it has long been considered to arouse the palate and the body. To sustain his masculinity, an ancient lover in lore was said to have gorged himself to death on Alba truffles during the wedding feast

quote of the week   A good friend provided this next quote. Its not food related, but relevant all the same! "Whether you think you can , or think you can't, you're right!" Henry Ford       Casa Dante  40th Anniversary since 1971.  We would love your participation. If you have a story, photo or just a blurb of a memory involving Casa Dante, please forward it for inclusion in this section. Send it to info@casadante.com   Looking forward to hearing from you! A customer sent me an article from July 30,1978. New York Times review of Casa Dante. Two stars, not bad! B H Russell, of the NY Times described the then newly relocated Casa Dante  "....like a boisterous Italian embrace....in a Fellini movie".    I agree with the comparison. I will post the full review as soon as possible. Extra Specials for email group only ...we want you to take advantage of us!  We are offering a 10% discount on parties of four ( minimum, please!)  to eight guests on Monday through Wednesdays for the month of January 2011. This is only for email  or Blogger customers! Just print this and bring it along. You must be in our database, so make sure you are included by calling or emailing your request.  Mondays through  January 2011...half price on bottles of wine ( no price limit) in our award(s) winning wine list.  Just come in and order dinner.  ( This one is really catching on....Monday evenings are becoming a big wine night here.) The above deals are for email customers only and may not be combined with any other offer.  Heres a tip.....Google " Casa Dante" and check out web coupons and deals we have out there! Im trying to help you have a great meal, and save money too! Remember that we deliver larger office orders on weekdays throughout Jersey City and closer vicinities. Call 201-795-2750 for details! If you are a fan of  Casa Dante, the best way to get the word out is on the internet! You can help us improve Casa Dante's online visibility on the internet. Please review us on on any of the following sites and keep tried and true institutions like ours in play. Thanks for your help!  Zagat, Urban Spoon, Yelp, Open Table,Citysearch