Buon compleano é natale

To celebrate Tom's birthday, we headed to the little town of Istia where we were the only patrons on Christmas Eve at the 15 seat trattoria osteria Oca Nera di Michele. We ordered a first and second course, but what happened after was right after The Big Night. First came a delicate "sandwich" of beautifully prepared duck, then a single spinach ravioli with foie gras and truffle, then a risotta with wild boar, followed by a white bean puree with delicate circles of pig fat, followed by what we ordered -- Tom had pork encroute and I, deer. The presentation was spectacular and the food, unbelievable. Finally, the chef came out and talked with us telling us the restaurant would close at the end of the year and reopen next fall in Grosseto. Istia's loss. We toasted to his future restaurant with gratis grappa and a plate of tiny tarts. Also gratis. We felt like principessi for an evening. Check out the photos below.