Let's chat about risotto!

Risotto is a tasty Italian rice dish. Yes, that's right: rice. Although Italians do love a good pasta, sometimes, a little change is a good thing! 

Risotto is a North Italian dish that is cooked in a broth until the rice reaches a creamy consistency. Just like pasta, your culinary imagination is the limit when it comes to the savoury flavours that the rice can hold. It can be cooked in a meat, vegetable or fish broth. Adding to the richness of the dish, you'll also find butter, wine and/or onions added to the base of the flavours. 

Of course, most chefs don't stop with adding flavour to the base, including Chef Claudio. On the menu at La Piazza Dario you will find our special risotto ai funghi misti. It is a delicious dish of pearl rice sautéed with wild mushrooms, garlic and fine herbs, finished with fresh parmesan cheese. 

Join us for dinner and have a taste of an Italian classic! 

(Image via Wikipedia, Public Domain)

An Italian culinary experience awaits you at La Piazza Dario with Chef Claudio's delicious fettuccine dishes!

Fettuccine, which means "small ribbons" in Italian, is a well known type of pasta that is enjoyed by pasta lovers all over the world. Cut flatter and wider than, say, spaghetti pasta, it is an absolute joy to eat. This is especially true when it is made fresh and cooked al dente, which is, of course, how Chef Claudio prepares it at La Piazza Dario. In fact, we have not one, but two incredible fettuccine dishes that you simply must try!

Chef Claudio has created both of his mouthwatering fettuccine dishes to satisfy your palette. Whether you're in the mood for pasta accompanied by a cream sauce or a tomato based one, Chef Claudio has got you covered! If you're craving cream, may we suggest the fettuccine al pistacchio, an absolutely delicious plate of fettuccine pasta made with a pistachio pesto cream sauce. It is magnificent. However, should you be more in the mood for a dish laden with tomatoes, we highly recommend the fettuccine “affumicato” alla claudio. This delightful pasta dish comes with sautéed sundried tomatoes, smoked ricotta chesse and arugola. You will not be disappointed!

Come to our table tonight and try Chef Claudio's handcrafted fettuccine! In the mood for something else? Peruse the rest of our dinner menu.

Make your reservation by calling ahead at 604-430-2195, or online via OpenTable. We look forward to seeing you and your friends and family!

(Image via Pixabay)

No need to stumble over Italian food names! 
Pronounce Italian Foods and Wines Like an Italian!

There's no need to struggle with Italian. It can be as easy as 1-2-3! If you want to learn how to speak this romantic language with all its wonderful rolling r's and emphatic syllables, one of the best ways to start is to expose yourself to it!

Listen to it, read it, try and say it! Come and visit La Piazza Dario and take a look through our menu of delicious, authentic Italian dishes! Don't know how to pronounce things? Well we've got two fun and fabulous resources for you today!

First, enjoy this short clip from Zagat and get the proper pronunciation of tricky words like guanciale, arancini and cynar.


Then explore Dall'Uva's guide to pronouncing Italian wines! If you scroll down, you can listen to soundbites that will let you hear how to pronounce a long list of Italian wines!

Enjoy and we look forward to practising Italian with you at La Piazza Dario!

(Image via Pixabay)

Celebrate the warmer weather with chilled Italian lemon liqueur!

The weather is warming up here in Vancouver and, as the skies become sunnier, our craving for refreshing, citrus-infused digestifs is growing! One of my personal favourite digestifs, especially during the warm evenings of spring and summer, is the Italian lemon liqueur known as limoncello.

Made from lemon zest that is steeped in grain alcohol, and then added to simple syrup, limoncello is served chilled in small glasses, made of ceramic or glass. It is mainly produced in regions found in Southern Italy but it is enjoyed throughout the entire country.

I first enjoyed limoncello one hot summer evening while visiting Rome. After our meal, my dinner party and I were offered complimentary glasses of this particular liqueur and, upon my first sip, I knew it would become a staple throughout the remainder of my trip. All at once, refreshing, sweet and tangy, limoncello is the perfect digestivo to sip on after having enjoyed a delicious Italian meal.

Come join us at La Piazza Dario and end your meal with this light, citrus liqueur!

(Image via Pixabay)

Indulge your Italian side tonight and join us for Italian egg drop soup.

Visit us for dinner and warm up with stracciatella!

For those of you who have never heard of stracciatella, it is a delicious egg drop soup that is quite popular around Rome. Stracciatella, which means "little shred" in Italian, consists of lightly beaten eggs and a variety of other ingredients, depending on where you order it.

The perfect dish for brisk winter days like today, we know you'll enjoy Chef Claudio Ranallo's version of stracciatella. Served with a lightly beaten egg, cooked to perfection, Chef Ranallo's stracciatella is also accompanied by spinach in a chicken broth.

Join us tonight at La Piazza Dario for a taste of Chef Ranallo's incredibly delicious version of stracciatella soup and you will not be disappointed.

We look forward to seeing you!

(Image via Pexels)

Discover the flavours of Italian pasta, perfectly prepared for a cold winter day!

It's January. It's chilly. Nothing sounds better than a bowl of warm soup with noodles, no? Chef Claudio whips up a delicious Italian version of the classic chicken noodle soup that will have your mouth watering.

Rich, luxurious tortellini stuffed with veal all bathed in a light chicken consomme, Chef Claudio's Tortellini in Brodo is the perfect comfort food to indulge in. As cozy as your couch and fleece pajamas sound, treat yourself to a night out at La Piazza Dario. You'll get that home cooked meal and satisfy those comfort food cravings in style and without having to do any cleaning up!

Not a bad deal! Visit us for a delicious bowl of Tortellini in Brodo and a glass of perfectly paired wine. 

(Image via Pixabay)

End your meal the Italian way, with a glass of grappa!

It is an Italian tradition to end a meal with a digestivo, or small alcoholic beverage, which is meant to help aid with the digestion of your meal. Although there are several afterdinner liquors and liqueurs to choose from, such as amaro or limoncello, grappa is a popular choice among many Italians.

What is grappa?

Grappa is an Italian liquor made from the pomace of grapes after they have been pressed to make wine. Originally made in the northern region of Veneto, in Bassano del Grappa, today, grappa is known worldwide and enjoyed by many. A distinctive flavour, and an acquired taste for some, grappa is served chilled in small glasses and consumed in small sips. It is generally between 40 to 45 percent alcohol.

What's your favourite digestivo? Let us know in the comments below!

(Image via Pexels)

Discover an Italian tradition: the passegiata!

Coming from the Italian word, passeggiare, to stroll, la passeggiata is the the Italian ritual of the evening stroll. Before dinner, it's a healthy habit that gets you moving and relaxed after a day of work and routine. It's a social affair where people go to see and be seen, often dressed to impress. If you find yourself out and about in almost any Italian city, town or village for la passeggiata, you'll be able to observe entire families with children on proud display, young women fluttering eyelashes, acquaintances tipping hats, stories of the day being exchanged... It's a cultural performance that is a quintessential part of the Italian way of life.

It's a tradition enjoyed by all generations and one of the best times to people watch. As the sun goes down, the people come out and the passeggiata commences. Watch...



Come by La Piazza Dario to fuel your love of Italy and inspire the Italian lifestyle!
Learn more about the passeggiata from Fodor's Travel and discover the most Italian time of day. Ciao! :)

Lift your mood & your energy with the appropriately named Italian dessert!

As we have explained in a past post, tiramisù is Italian for "pick me up." Appropriately named, this popular Italian coffee-flavoured dessert is a pick me up in more ways than one. Dipped in coffee and layered with a combination of lady fingers, separated egg yolks and whites, tiramisù is also often flavoured with cocoa. It's bound to lift both your energy and your mood! 

Although you may have enjoyed tiramisù in the past, you have yet to experience a little piece of Italian heaven until you try Chef Claudio Ranallo's recipe. Garnished with small cannoli, gooseberries and berries, we think the picture above speaks for itself!

Book a reservation today online or by calling 604.430.2195.

Today's Italian word is the word for wine!

Maybe vino is an obvious word for most, but we just had to include it in our Monday Italiano series this week! Why? Well we want to share our wonderful wine collection with you; for what is an Italian meal without its wine pairing?!

Wine is just as much a part of Italian culture as the geographic boot shape of the country. All across Italy you will find wine regions and vineyards with unique flavours and grapes! But in spite of the vast Italian wine selection, we like to expand our horizons as well and include only the best wines on our menu, both local and global!

Here are a few snapshots of our collection but you really must come for a visit to be able to truly explore and view our collection that make up our six page wine menu!

See you at La Piazza Dario Ristorante Italiano!

Cin cin to a new week with the Italian wine Pinot Grigio!

Although pinot is not an Italian word, it is derived from the French word for pine, pinot grigio denotes the Italian version of the the pinot gris grapes of France. It is believed that the wine is termed pinot due to the pine cone shaped arrangement in which these grapes grow and, further to this, the grigio, or gris, presumably refers to the grey colouring of the grapes.

A light, fruity and clean taste, pinot grigio is the perfect wine to try if you're new to white wines. It's not too acidic nor is it overbearingly fruity. Even if you're not new to the world of white wine and would consider yourself a wine connoiseur of sorts, if you have yet to try pinot grigio, there's no time like the present. Up until recently, I didn't stray too far away from sauvignon blanc believing that it was the only type of wine that I liked. However, after recently discovering pinot grigio, I can safely say that it is now definitely one of my favourites!

With plenty of pinot grigios to choose from on our menu from all over Italy, including labels such as Banfi and Santa Margherita, a label that boasts the first Italian pinot grigio in the world, you're bound to find a pinot grigio that you'll love.

Feel free to peruse our full wine menu before dropping by!

(Image via Pexels)

Today's Italian phrase, La Dolce Vita...

La dolce vita, or the sweet life, is something the Italians know how to live really well! And we're not just talking about the famous film by Fellini! Charming music, outdoor cafes in city piazzas, Vespas weaving in and out of traffic, impeccable style, vibrant youth and feisty nonas, rich wines and of course, incredible food, all set to a historical backdrop of many ages past!

Maybe we can't fly you to Italy but we can take you on a culinary journey! Come and visit us at La Piazza Dario Ristorante Italiano and let Chef Claudio take you and your taste buds on a journey of Italian flavour and enjoy la dolce vita! 

(Image via Pexels)

Learn to speak Italian in Italy through Il Centro's exchange program!

There's no better way to learn a language than to fully immerse yourself! You can get yourself started by attending local classes or even trying out language software, but there really is nothing like visiting the country. You would be completely surrounded by it: the signs, the people, the music, the sights and the food...

We at La Piazza Dario can help you get started with Italian food. Come and visit us for an Italian meal, explore the menu and learn the Italian for authentic dishes such as lumache alla pavarotti, spaghetti alla vongole, zabaglione, and grapa di proseco!

And then hop on over to Il Centro (conveniently located across the plaza) and explore your options to study abroad!

See you soon! 

(Image via Pixabay)

The Mediterranean dish with the Italian name!
Calamari is thought of by many as a Mediterranean creation that we've come to enjoy deep fried and breaded, especially in North America. However, did you know that calamari is actually the Italian word for squid? It was adopted by many Mediterranean languages and English alike to represent this delicious dish!

At La Piazza Dario, you can find Head Chef Claudio Ranallo's authentic version of this tasty appy with a little bit of an Italian flare to it. Available in three different dishes, Chef Ranallo's calamari fritti are incredible. Fresh, tender and flavoured to perfection, you can order your calamari as an appetizer, have it accompany your salad or get it atop your pasta entrée. You can even find Chef Ranallo's calamari on our lunch menu!

Get to know your kitchen Italian with these easy online flashcards!

If you are planning a trip to Italy, you're going to need a little bit of Italian to help you get around and order delicious Italian meals. But who says you can only learn if you are travelling?! At La Piazza Dario, we've got authentic Italian menus (with English descriptions of course) to go with our authentic Italian dishes.

Give these flashcards a go and learn kitchen Italian, ingredients and how to pronounce their names like a true Italiano! Simply click on the card to hear the pronunciation.

Enjoy! Buon divertimento!

(Image via Pixabay)

Come enjoy one of Chef Ranallo's tastiest culinary creations: La Piazza Dario's rack of lamb!

Rack of lamb, or costolettine d’agnello in Italian, always delivers a rich and satisfying meal. However, if you have yet to taste Chef Claudio Ranallo's Italian version of this dish at La Piazza Dario, there's no time like the present! Roasted to perfection and served with garlic and rosemary, this is a rack of lamb that you won't soon forget.

Not in the mood for red meat? Have a look through our menu and see what else Chef Ranallo has cooking.

Book your reservation with us online or give us a call at 604.430.2195 and we'll be happy to accommodate you! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Synonymous with thoughts of Italy are the thoughts of rich, decadent desserts, like panna cotta! Wouldn't you agree?

Panna cotta, coming from the Italian for "cooked cream", is a deliciously simple and creamy Italian dessert. The beauty of this dessert is that, even though it is so simple, it embodies a richness and decadence that is the perfect finishing touch to the meal.

And we'd like to think that panna cotta is the perfect metaphor of the authentic Italian experience: simple, fresh ingredients that together create that gioia di vivere so natural to Italians!

That perfect blend of cream, sugar, and vanilla flavours, panna cotta is a delicious culinary experience your taste buds are craving to have! ;)

(Image via Pixabay) 

The Italian appy you won't be able to get enough of!

Aside from proscuitto and melon, bruschetta is one of my all time favourite Italian antipasti. Always a crowd pleaser, bruschetta is made with grilled bread, topped with olive oil, garlic and a combination of tomatoes and other such toppings depending on the preference of the chef. For instance in Abruzzo, the region of Italy that La Piazza Dario's Head Chef calls home, bruschetta is often made with an Italian salami referred to as ventricina. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Come visit us and taste Chef Claudio Ranallo's version of bruschetta. We promise you won't be disappointed!

What's your favourite Italian appy? Share with us in the comments below.

(Image via Pixabay)

What's not to love about Italian formaggio?!

As you've probably already guessed, formaggio is Italian for cheese! You think France is the only European country renowned for its cheeses? Think again. If there was a contest for the most delicious, delectable, tasty cheeses, Italy would be the running for gold!

Asiago, taleggio, parmigiano reggianno... The list of delicious Italian cheeses is actually quite long! 

Learn about some of Italy's tastiest cheese and the best places to try them in The Walks of Italy Blog's, The Best Cheese in Italy: Some of Our Favourite Formaggio!

(Image via Pexels)

Cool down from those hot summer days with the frozen treat of gelato!

Summer is in full swing here in Vancouver and it is getting HOT! And what better way to cool off than with a delicious frozen treat? (Hint: there is none!)

Gelati (the plural form of gelato) or sorbetti (the plural form of sorbet) is the perfect solution to those sizzling summer days. Italian ice cream made with milk, rather than cream, gelato is my absolute favourite Italian dessert. My first experience tasting gelato was not unlike many of my other Italian cuisine experiences: it was love at first bite. I didn't quite understand the difference between North American ice cream and Italian gelato before I tried it, but there definitely is a difference. And given the option, I would pick gelato every time.

Fortunately, for me (and all you Vancouverite gelato lovers out there!) La Piazza Dario boasts a selection of delightful gelati and sorbetti flavours. Come give them a try one night after a hot day on the beach or after a hard day at the office.

Ice cream not your thing? Check out the rest of the divine Italian after-dinner treats we have.

(Image via Pexels)