Wednesday, September 14, 2011

This Week at Casa Dante




 
 www.casadante.com       See us on    FACEBOOK  or Casa Dante Facebook

Dear Friends:

Alot of buzz on tv and online about healthier menu options at restaurants around the area. We've been promoting this concept for years; in spite of what many think Italian cooking should be. While many consider "authentic Italian" cooking to represent food that's been fried, sauced over with cheese and baked ( ie: Parmigian), we differ in this view. Sure, we make our share of these items.We believe no one does it better, particularly since these and all items are "made to order" from scratch. However, we have always included  and are still expanding on such items as fresh fish, vegetables, fruits, quality meats & poultry in our menu. Grain & whole wheat breads have been mixed in our bread baskets for years now. Quality olive oils, reduced fat, higher nutrion & top grade products are our standard! We even accomodate, when possible, special requests related to dietary restrictions, allergies and the like ( ask your server).  We thought you should know! 
Big weekend coming. Jazz with Don Carter and the great vocal renderings of Julian & Dominique. Great sounds, food and laughter. A prelude to the Fall and Winter season schedule which all restaurants love. Read below for info on upcoming events, entertainment, wine dinners etc.
 Thanks for reading!
Dom & Toni Marino
Proprietors


Reserve a spot on Open Table or call direct.
Casa Dante

3.5/4 stars Star Ledger 2010, Wine Spectator Award 2009, 2010 & 2011
Best Italian in NJ by AOL,
Top three Italian Restaurant inNJ, Inside Jersey Magazine
Check out the specials and discounts below and join our  FACEBOOK  fan page.
Rooms for small or large parties up to 140. Valet parking.




Entertainment this weekend!
  Friday September 16, 2011 
The Don Carter Jazz Trio.... Quality Jazz by fine musicians

 
    



Saturday September 17, 2011
 "Dominique & Julian"  Always a special night with these two around! Reserve now as we book early
 See the full entertainment schedule at www.casadante.com/entertainment







Happenings at Casa Dante



Preliminary date for upcoming first of the season Wine Dinner is Thursday November 3rd. We will feature Wines of Family Run Vineyards. Mondavi Family, Ornellaia, Frescobaldi are some notable wines and names will be featured and, of course, the food pairing of Chef Gregg. Please let us know your interest at info@casadant.com. More info shortly. We keep wine dinners intimate, so consider this a heads-up to reserve a spot now. Formal advertising will begin next week.
We are increasing our "daily additions" to our menu effective Saturday, October 1  It will reflect daily &, weekend specials. Inclusion of additional "healthier" items such as freshly prepared fish, vegetables, salads, fruits,  meats, & poultry.
The "classic" Casa Dante dishes will remain, of course, but the focus will be towards made to order, lighter, lower fat, lower sodium and higher nutrition.
     
Casa Dante is back on a seven day schedule. Open Daily Lunch and Dinner, Friday late closing, Saturday Open 4 till late closing, Sunday 2pm till 9:30pm.
 Julian & Dominique will be featured at Casa Dante on New Years Eve. If you've been here during this holiday, you know its always alot of fun. The New Years Bash starts at 9pm. It includes dinner, welcoming cocktail, party favors and entertainment.We will open our doors at 3 PM for regular diners in our front room.
I'll be posting more information as we get closer right here and on our website.
I hope you take advantage of this early notice for our regular attendees. We are taking reservation now for this big night!
( see our FACEBOOK page to view photos & videos of last years celebration )
Holiday Season Reminders:
Although Thanksgiving is tradionally celebrated at home, we know that in today's busy lifestyle, this is often unrealistic and expensive. Combined with the time needed for shopping, preparing, cooking, serving & cleanup, the holiday's could become more of a chore than a celebration.
Casa Dante offers an alternative; We are open forThanksgiving Day celebration on Thursday November 24th. Featuring either a Special Menu or just order ala carte off our regular menu. We don't do "seating's"( ie: 1pm, 3pm, etc )  so you choose the time by making reservations ( first come, first served so act soon). Let us do the work, the service, and the cleanup; you enjoy time with you family in a great restaurant!
Christmas Eve Fish Dinner: Open 3 till 9pm  Traditional Fish Dinner or ala carte menu. Spend a quiet evening surrounded by your family. Enjoy a fabulous meal, award winning wine list for your choosing and then still have time to go home and open gifts. We make it enjoyable, easy and no work for you or your family!
Holiday Parties welcome. Plenty of room for large groups. Reserve as early as you can. we can customize your menu or order ala carte. Valet parking in our lot.
Come in for dinner and Jazz this Friday September 16th & I'll buy your second round of drinks. Tell your server you read the Newsletter (Your reward for reading this far down & I get to see who's paying attention!). 


Great Recipe

Oven Baked Penne with Eggplant



This is a Batali recipe which we're thinking of incorporating into a Casa Dante special menu. Let us know what you think. write to info@casadante.com
Total Time:
2 hr 30 min
Prep 1 hr 0 min
Cook 1 hr 30 min
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients
Directions
Stack eggplant slices in a colander, each piece sprinkled with sea salt. Weigh the slices with a large, full can of tomatoes or other weight and set aside in the kitchen sink so that juices run free. After 1 hour, rinse and pat dry.
Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt.
In a 12 to 14-inch saute pan, heat 3 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat and saute eggplant slices until golden brown on both sides, working in batches if necessary and removing cooked eggplant to a plate lined with a paper towel.
Cook the penne in the boiling water until not quite done; about 5 minutes. Drain the pasta and toss with 3/4 cup of tomato sauce.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease a glass or ceramic oven dish with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Cover the bottom of the dish with a few tablespoons of tomato sauce. Top with half the bread crumbs, and salt and pepper, to taste. Add half the cooked pasta, then half of the eggplant slices, arranged in a layer. Drizzle about 1/4 cup of the tomato sauce over, and top with half the grated cheese and torn basil leaves. Repeat the process with remaining tomato sauce, bread crumbs, pasta, eggplant, cheese, and basil.
Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil and bake in oven for 1 hour. Let rest 30 minutes before serving.
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 Spanish onion, chopped in 1/4 inch dice
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, or 1 tablespoon dried
  • 1/2 medium carrot, finely shredded
  • 2 (28-ounce) cans peeled whole tomatoes, crushed by hand and juices reserved
  • Salt
In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot, and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often. Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.
Yield: 4 cups









quote of the week

" Ham and Eggs - A day's work for a chicken; a lifetime commitment for a pig. "
  author unknown
             &
   Just for laughs
"I wouldn't touch the metric system with a 3.048m pole!"

-- If you have a quote you think worthy, please email to me at info@casadante.com with your name and I will approve, post it here and give you mention

Did you know? 
Macaroni Mania


  • Pasta is one of America�s favorite foods. Last year, 1.3 Pasta is one of America's favorite foods. Last year 1.3 million pounds of pasta were sold in American grocery stores. If you lined up 1.3 million pounds of 16 oz. spaghetti packages, it could circle the Earth�s equator almost nine times!
  • Noodles got their start in China, not Italy as many people might think.
  • Pasta made its way to the New World through the English who found it while traveling through Italy. The English made pasta by cooking it for about a half an hour and then smothering it with cream sauce and cheese. This was the beginning of Macaroni and Cheese!
America�s first large pasta factory was built in Brooklyn, New York in 1848 by a Frenchman who would spread out his spaghetti strands on the roof to dry in the sunshine.
We have a large Pasta selection at Casa Dante. Made in the great tradition of pasta makers, chefs and Mom's everywhere!

Berry, Berry Good for You!
  • Blueberries are the second most popular berry in the United States.
  • Michigan and New Jersey produce 66% of all the blueberries in the United States, followed by North Carolina, Oregon and Washington.
  • Over 200 million pounds of blueberries are grown every year in North America.
  • Blueberries are first picked by hand to gather the best of the early fruit. Later, if the fruit is to be mechanically harvested, a harvesting machine goes through the field and gently shakes each bush so only the ripe blueberries drop off.
Blueberries are a good source of Vitamin C and fiber.
( you may know that we have a berry cup dessert at Casa Dante. Some even top the entire mixture with Cannoli Cream. ( well, maybe not the cream, but what a dessert!)

  • Broccoli Basics
    • We are eating 900% more broccoli than we did 20 years ago.
    • In 1970, consumption of broccoli was only a half a pound per person. Today, the average person in the United States eats four and one half pounds a year.
In the United States, broccoli was probably first grown by immigrants from Italy in home gardens in Brooklyn, New York. In 1923, a group of Italian vegetable farmers in Northern California started to grow broccoli commercially and in a few years they were shipping fresh broccoli to Boston and New York.
( we have great Broccoli sides at Casa Dante. Broccoli Rabe is also a great favorite here!)





Extra Specials for email group only

Mondays through September 2011..
This is only for September and email customers so read carefully
50% discount on any bottle from my wine list up to $150 when you order dinner, and mention this posting.

The above deals are for email customers only and may not be combined with any other offer. 

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!
Looking for a previously posted recipe or item? See this and most prior broadcasts anytime http://casadanterest.blogspot.com


 






 See the full Casa Dante Star Ledger Review at www.casadante.com/aboutus    

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