panna cotta

when it comes to mealtime i do not usually care so much for the desserts as much as i enjoy the entrees. today, however, i am opening this post about my dinner at alfredo of rome with praise for their panna cotta. literally it means "cooked cream" but that is a misnomer because it is not actually cooked at all. it is a combination of milk, cream, and sugar then mixed with gelatin to set it. most other cream desserts involve eggs, usually cooked over a double boiler, and are more difficult to make because you need to worry about overcooking or undercooking. it is widely accepted that this dessert originated in the piedmont region of italy where it might once have been very simply consumed as a cream mixed with fruits and maybe nuts. just when the addition of the sugar came in, which would have been very expensive and difficult to find, is not exactly known; and some sources say that the gelatin added to make it set may have come from some very unsavory sources, including boiled fish bones. while there are savory as well as sweet versions of panna cotta, somehow the idea of fish panna cotta seems particularly unpleasant to me. at alfredo the panna cotta came in a very traditional berry sauce and it was the perfect ending to a heavy meal of their signature dish, what else? the fettuccine alfredo. that and the grapa of course (this is after all, about food AND drink!) alfredo has a very tony spot off the corner of fifth avenue and 49th street, and has a perfect view of the rockefeller center plaza with all the holiday trimmings. the service was excellent, our waiter jovial and expert, offering to fillet john's branzino (silver sea bass), and, as i mentioned, plying us with grapa. i'm always impressed with comfortable seating, and while there was just a little too much holiday music for my taste, they did manage to play one of my favorites which i offer to you here,
BUONO APPETITO

and yes!!! santa if you can leave johnny for me too i promise to be ohhhh soooo good (wink, wink)
although this is my absolute favorite christmas song and it is NEVER really the holidays until i hear the waitresses sing CHRISTMAS WRAPPING