Treat yourself and indulge in Chef Claudio's delectable créme caramel!

Créme caramel may not be a traditional Italian treat, but trust us when we say that La Piazza Dario serves the best créme caramel around. Handmade by our very own Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo, this dessert is the perfect way to finish off a meal when dining with us at La Piazza Dario.

For those of you who have never experienced this one of kind dessert, créme caramel is made of custard and topped with a delectable layer of soft caramel. As seen below, the La Piazza Dario version of créme caramel is beautifully presented with a little extra caramel, a gooseberry and a wafer cookie! Served chilled, this is the perfect dessert to enjoy on a hot summer evening. And with all of that delicious caramel, it will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth!

Come try Chef Claudio's delectable créme caramel! We invite you to join us for lunch, dinner or even just dessert! Make your reservation online via OpenTable or give us a call at 604-430-2195.

See what else is on the La Piazza Dario dessert menu.

Get in the Christmas spirit this Monday and start your week off with beautiful music and delicious Italian food!

We can hardly believe it's December already! Time flies when you are enjoying the beautiful flavours of Italian food and excellent company of our guests at La Piazza Dario! We know the weekends get busy but we hope to see you very soon so we can share an early Christmas celebration with you!

This Monday, just across the piazza, Il Centro is hosting a community choir Christmas concert! It's sure to be wonderfully festive and will inspire that holiday spirit! So we've got the perfect Monday evening planned for you and your loved ones:

First, a delicious dinner created especially for you by Chef Claudio Ranallo in the La Piazza Dario kitchens! He's got every fresh ingredient ready to be whipped up into a truly delectable and authentic Italian meal.

Second, round off the meal with a sweet treat and Italian coffee!

Lastly, walk across the piazza for a lovely Christmas concert beginning at 7pm!

We hope to see you next week!

(Image via Pixabay)

Make next Tuesday evening an Italian Night with La Piazza Dario and Il Centro!

Join us on October 21st for an Italian dinner before attending this month's Italian movie at Il Centro.

Mark your calendars! Next Tuesday night on October 21st, Il Centro, otherwise known as the Italian Cultural Centre, is putting on an Italian movie night right next door to La Piazza Dario! So, why not make an Italian affair out of the entire evening and combine an Italian dinner with us before you head to the movie at Il Centro!

Join us at La Piazza Dario for an authentic dinner, filled with your favourite Italian dishes, such as antipasti platters and both original and traditional pasta dishes, created by our Head Chef, Claudio Ranallo. Then after you've satisfied your Italian palette, make the short trip next door to the Italian Cultural Centre for this month's Italian movie, Human Capital, or Il Capitale Umano in Italian, a film by Paulo Virvzì.

The movie begins at 7 o'clock, giving you plenty of time to get in an early dinner before it's showtime. Il Capitale Umano is just under two hours long and admission is free!

Book your reservation for dinner now via telephone at 604.430.2195 or online at OpenTable.

Find more info on the movie.

(Image via Pixabay)

Enjoy a delicious meal of Italian comfort food lovingly made by Chef Claudio!

It's the first weekend of cool weather and typical fall skies and nothing goes best with chilly weather than a full plate of hearty, fresh pasta filled with flavours of sunny Italia! Chef Claudio has created a delicious menu of pastas that provide an incredible variety of flavours that will have you appreciating this weekend's cozy weather!

After an authentic Italian meal, enjoy a sweet dessert, a cup of hot, specialty Italian coffee to really warm your stomach and heart as we get ready to enjoy the long weekend!

Celebrate the summer's end with a delicious family dinner that will have everyone sleeping soundly and happily full!

Contact us today to make reservations! We can't wait to see you and share the taste of our homeland!

Come enjoy an Italian specialty - burrata bocconcini.
Visit us now and take advantage of the delicious dishes on our Seasonal Menu!

As we mentioned a few weeks back, we are currently celebrating the summer season with our very own Seasonal Menu. Filled with some incredible authentic Italian dishes, created by none other than La Piazza Dario's Head Chef Claudio Ranallo, this special Seasonal Menu is not one you want to miss out on.

Today, we are spotlighting one dish on the menu in particular, the fresh burrata bocconcini. For those of you who have tasted burrata bocconcini, it most likely needs no introduction, as burrata bocconcini is one of the softest, most delicious cheeses you will ever have had the pleasure of eating! For those of who who have not yet had the opportunity to try this magnificent appetizer, burrata is an Italian specialty made from mozzarella, shaped into balls, with a mouthwatering mozzarella and cream centre. Sounds absolutely delicious, doesn't it?

At La Piazza Dario, Chef Ranallo tops this dish off with heirloom tomatoes and arugola. The perfect dish to start your summer meal off when you join us for lunch or dinner.

We look forward to seeing you! Call 604.430.2195 to make reservations, or book them online via OpenTable.

June is not over yet! Come celebrate Italian Heritage Month at Il Centro and La Piazza Dario.

Italian Heritage Month may be more than half over, but there are still lots of events to attend and fun to be had. For example, there's even an event taking place today! Happening today at Il Centro, otherwise known as the Italian Cultural Centre, is the Trevigiano-Veneto Choir & Italian Men's Choir in Concert. 

As you may know, Il Centro is located on Slocan Street right beside La Piazza Dario. Which is why we would like to welcome you to partake in Italian Heritage Month, get lost in the Italian culture, and then finish up your day Italiana with a gorgeous, authentic Italian meal by Chef Claudio Ranallo here at La Piazza Dario.

Can't make the concert today? Below is a list of events, compliments of the Italian Cultural Centre, being put on at Il Centro in celebration of Italian Heritage Month. 

We look forward to helping you celebrate!

(Image via Il Centro)

Wine and dine like the Italians do with the below interactive infographic!

Knowing which Italian wines to pair with your Italian meal can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you don't speak the language. At La Piazza Dario our knowledgable staff is always more than happy to help you select the perfect wine pairing for your Italian meal. We invite you to join us tonight for a delicious meal of incredible, authentic Italian food made by head chef, Claudio Ranallo, and indulge in a perfectly paired Italian wine.

In the mean time, why not become more familiar with how to wine and dine like an Italian with the below interactive infographic, Italian Wine Paring 101! Simply click on the image to enlarge, select your food of choice, and scroll down to see which wines pair best with your chosen meal.

We look forward to seeing you! Peruse our wine menu and meal menus.

 
Click image to open interactive version (via Charming Sardinia).

(Image via Pixabay) 

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)

Bring your large dinner parties to La Piazza Dario.

Anniversary parties, birthday parties, business meetings & more, we want to help you celebrate your dinner with ease!

We've said it once, and we'll say it again: you deserve a night off. Now we know that you can't take every night off but if you find yourself constantly hosting get togethers and dinner parties, why not let La Piazza Dario help you out one of these nights! Even if you aren't always the host or hostess, we'd still love the opportunity to invite you to our table.

So, take a night off from cooking and bring your dinner party to us. We have plenty of space and, of course, lots of delicious Italian food to keep you and your would be dinner guests very happy!

Plan your next get together at our place and let Head Chef Claudio Ranallo take care of you. Make your reservation online or call 604.430.2195.

Check out these posts from the past and discover Chef Claudio's home!

Welcome to all new readers and of course, welcome back to our wonderful patrons! We've had so many great posts from the past that you may not have seen or simply forgotten that we've decided to take a walk down memory lane and share them again!

Learn all about Chef Claudio's story and experience the sights and charms of his home in the Abruzzo region of Italy! Enjoy!

So Where in the World is Abruzzo?!

Learn more about one of La Piazza Dario's favourite regions of Italy in Abruzzo: the Wine Region.
 
Come try Chef Claudio's version of bruschetta!

In Spotlight: Abruzzo, you can take a virtual tour of this beautiful Italian region... 
Abruzzo in Colour features a small town in Abruzzo that tells the region's story through colourful murals!

Get to know the region with the guide we feature in We're All About Abruzzo!

Spotlight: Ateleta, L'Aquila, Italy. Get to know Chef Claudio's hometown!

Lastly, but certainly not the least, discover Chef Claudio's personal story and get inspired to take a culinary journey with La Piazza Dario!

(Top image via Pexels)

Learn more about one of La Piazza Dario's favourite regions of Italy!

From past posts you know that we're nuts about Abruzzo, the region in Italy that Head Chef Claudio Ranallo calls home. From the beautiful countryside and surrounding scenery to its rich heritage, Abruzzo is definitely a place in Italy that you want to visit some day. But did you know that Abruzzo also boasts one of Italy's wine regions?

Including Abruzzo, discover the regions of Italy that produce some of the most well known wine, the world over, in the below infographic, Regioni del Vino d'Italia.

And after you're done with the infographic, check out our wine list and discover which which labels you can find at La Piazza Dario and where they are from!

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.

Find us on Facebook & never miss a La Piazza Dario promotion again!

Did you know that Head Chef of La Piazza Dario, Claudio Ranallo (pictured above), creates a special dish of the week almost every week? Wouldn't it be great to know what special awaits you at La Piazza Dario before you even get to the restaurant? Now you can! Keep up to date on the hot culinary creations of Chef Ranallo on our Facebook page. Our page showcases mouthwatering photos of each special, along with a description of the dish and, of course, the price.

On our Facebook page, you will also find other specials that La Piazza Dario is featuring, such as promotions and savings on wine. Just the other week we had a great promotion going on nine different labels! Talk about magnifico!

Like us and never miss a special again! 

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!

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.

We just can't get enough of the Abruzzo region of Italy, Chef Claudio's home in the beautiful landscapes of Italy!

We've talked about Abruzzo before but there's always more to learn. The best way to discover Abruzzo is to visit! But we know it's not always so easy. If only we could snap our fingers and take you there!

What we can do at La Piazza Dario is invite you to discover the flavours of Abruzzo found in the fabulous creations of head chef, Claudio Ranallo!

In the meantime, enjoy this regional guide to Abruzzo from Italia! Magazine online. See you soon!

(Image via Pixabay)

Fried pastry shell & sweet cream filling. Yum. Need we say more?

When I think of Italian treats, cannoli are definitely at the top of that list. A gourmet dessert that originated in Sicily, Italy, cannoli are tubular-shaped pastry shells that have been fried and filled with a creamy ricotta filling (as pictured above). Depending on where you find these tasty morsels, they can also range in size from tiny, skinny ones to big, fat ones. 

The first time I tried one of these little guys, I nearly fainted (well, not quite - but it was that good!). Clearly, I was in heaven when I discovered that La Piazza Dario makes them. 

Come visit us on Slocan Street and try Chef Ranallo's cannoli for yourself! You'll be glad you did. :)

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)

Check out our Instagram page for some delectable, truly authentic La Piazza Dario Ristorante Italiano photos!

We know that a picture is worth a thousand words. Imagine what all of our Instagram shots would tell you! We've got beautiful photos of delicately plated desserts, a shining espresso machine, the patio filled with sunlight, inviting cocktails...

You're going to want to visit ;)

Make the most of your trip to Italy with travel tips and advice on the best of Italy.

When traveling all the way to Italy, you of course want to make sure that you see everything that beautiful country has to offer. But trying to squeeze the entire country of Italy and all of its historical sights and gorgeous regions into one trip would be virtually impossible, especially if you're only there for a week or two.

If you have a trip booked to Italy this summer, on behalf of everyone at La Piazza Dario, might I say that we are truly jealous. However, despite our envy, we want to help you have the best vacation possible in the beloved homeland of our Head Chef Claudio Ranallo.

Although they seem to be missing the beautiful home of Chef Claudio, Abruzzo, the below infographic is full of gorgeous places to visit in Italy along with fun activities the fill your trip with. Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Have you recently been to Italy? Share your travel tips and advice with us!

(The Best of Italy Revealed in an Infographic infographic)

Come help us celebrate 35 years of serving authentic Italian cuisine!
 

We're extremely proud to have provided Vancouver with authentic, quality Italian food over the last 35 years and we want to celebrate this milestone with you! Come down to 3075 Slocan Street, right by the Italian Cultural Centre, and enjoy a hearty meal made by Head Chef Claudio Ranallo.

Having worked at La Piazza Dario since his move to Canada in 1979, Claudio became Head Chef not long after. Chef Claudio's mission as a chef is to provide all customers with the best of Italy. And through his authentic yet innovative creations at La Piazza Dario, he does just that.

Learn more about la storia di Claudio Ranallo and discover what Chef Claudio is cooking. We look forward to seeing you for lunch, dinner, dessert or just a celebratory glass of wine!