Simply Superb Cucina Italiana at Café Alaia on Garth Road
- Details
- Written by Judie Dweck
- Hits: 11980
Vincenzo Alaia flanked by his chefs.
According to owner Vincenzo Alaia,"We take our food seriously. Our meals are an important part of the day. One of my favorite meals might include pappardelle or linguine and branzino." Alaia grew up in a town near Naples. He was exposed to the food industry at meat, bakery and trattoria businesses of his family. He watched his Mom, aunt and grandmother prepare fresh pasta every day. He wanted "to see the world", worked on cruise ships and arrived in New York in 1997. He worked in the culinary field for years and his dream was "to do what I love." Thus, Café Alaia became a reality. "I love people and I welcome our guests the way I would in my home, with a warm greeting. I believe in simplicity and fresh ingredients. I aim to have our guests experience and taste the culture of Italy. Many of our ingredients are Italian as are all of our wines. I love serving the food I believe in and hope that my guests recognize my passion for the simple natural flavors and come to taste the culture that Café Alaia expresses."
The kitchen is run by Chef Manuel Palaguachi and Chef Marcelo Victor Yubi, who execute the carefully planned menu items and daily specials. As we examined the menu, we were presented with warm and crusty country bread accompanied by a homemade sun dried tomato dip with hints of basil, garlic and extra virgin olive oil. This whet our appetites for the treats to come. A fine way to start your meal is with a selection of crostini. This grilled rustic bread can be topped with a classic mix of cherry tomatoes, scallions, basil and extra virgin olive oil, sautéed chicken livers, pearl onions and balsamic, a mix of imported cheeses or meats or burrata and prosciutto, or as I enjoyed a topping of mixed sautéed mushrooms and caciocavallo cheese. The combination of oyster and porcini mushrooms added a wonderful texture and woody taste to this terrific appetizer. The 4 large crostini, nicely grilled and crisp sat atop a wooden cutting board for a rustic presentation that was certainly ample enough to share.
As we moved on to selections from the antipasti, it became evident that each dish was thoughtfully conceived, with choices to suit every taste. We chose polpo alla griglia. The marinated grilled octopus was placed over a salad of potatoes, fresh green beans, parsley and olive oil. The combination was simple so the quality and freshness of the ingredients shone through. We considered house made tortellini in brodo, fried calamari and zucchini with aioli, beef meatballs with tomato sauce and buffalo ricotta, and grilled shrimp with sautéed cannellini beans and decided upon parmigiana blanca di zucchini as our second appetizer choice. The layered dish of zucchini and cheeses arrived bubbling in a small skillet resting on a wooden cutting board. A variety of cheeses and bread crumbs were layered with the sliced zucchini and a touch of fresh mint added a fine note. I look forward to sampling sformatino di melanzane a rich eggplant soufflé topped with burrata fondue and a light tomato sauce. On the lighter side, several salads are offered including a rainbow beet mix and a crispy artichoke salad.
Very special here, are the pasta selections. The house made pappardelle al ragu di agnello was a dish to remember. The leg of lamb was braised and shredded and combined with red wine and tomato sauce. With a shaving of pecorino cheese this dish was just heavenly. House made potato gnocchi was light and excellent, as well. The bright green basil pesto that enveloped the gnocchi gave a spring like look on this cool winter day. Yet to experience is the very popular linguine alla vongole, house made tagliatelle alla Bolognese, spaghetti pescatora and home made tortellini with taleggio cheese sauce, ham and peas.
Secondi selections each served with daily fresh vegetables, include poultry, fish, lamb and beef offerings. We thoroughly enjoyed our salmone in padella. The hearty portion of wild salmon was perfectly pan seared perfectly and accompanied by a peppercorn, mustard lemon sauce. Fresh carrots and green beans added color to this delicious plate. For the lamb lover, I highly recommend the rack of lamb. The four grilled and trimmed chops were tender and filled with flavor. A reduction of balsamic, mint and herbs worked well with these glorious chops and carrots and green beans completed this plate. Future entrees may include orata marechiaro, branzino al forno, chicken Milanese or grilled sirloin with a rosemary and black pepper reduction. Several vegetable side dishes are offered, as well. Specials vary each day and may include stuffed squash blossoms or perhaps, potato crusted red snapper.
You can complete your meal with zabaglione, pear tart, or perhaps fig panna cotta.
Try this new dining experience at Café Alaia in Scarsdale soon, where the Cucina Italiana is simply superb.
Café Alaia
66/A Garth Road
Scarsdale
(914) 725-3000
Recipe: Parmigiana Bianca Di Zucchine (Serves 2)
4 medium zucchini
6 cheese slices, mozzarella
About 2 Tbsps. romano cheese
About 2 Tbsps. parmesan cheese
1 tsp. butter
Bread crumbs, to taste
¼ cup water
Fresh mint for garnish
Rinse and cut zucchini lengthwise into 1/8 inch thick slices. Grease a rectangular baking pan with butter. Add a sprinkling of the bread crumbs. Start to assemble the white parmigiana into layers. First layer is raw zucchini. Next is mozzarella slices. Next is ½ Tbsp. each of romano and parmesan. Repeat and end with zucchini. Sprinkle the top layer with bread crumbs Add the ¼ cup of water to the corners of the baking pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 356 degrees Fahrenheit for about 40 minutes or until surface is golden brown. Remove from the oven. Cut into squares and let it cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with mint.
Friends of Music and the Arts Hosts Winter Festival
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4417
Violin students from Fox Meadow and Heathcote perform “Entrance of the Queen of Sheba” from the opera “Joshua" by G.F. Handel. A 7th grader from Scarsdale Middle School plays Chopin Polonaise, Op 22. Budding artists enjoyed crafts and cookies while the musicians played.
Friends and family took in the student art exhibit, curated by district art faculty.

Art featured in the art exhibit
Drama Club Double Feature on Stage at SHS this Weekend
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4567
Support friends and local community at the Scarsdale High School Drama Club's student-directed double feature TRACKS and CHECK PLEASE on stage at Scarsdale High School this weekend.
Performances:
Fri, Jan 12th @ 7:30
Sat, Jan 13th @ 7:30
Here are synopses of the two plays:
Tracks (Directed by Alexa Trujillo and Steven Orlofsky):
A group of strangers meet in a dirty subway station. They have arrived with limited personal belongings, their watches have stopped and they all claim to be in different cities. Soon they learn there is no way out of the station, and the unfortunate truth is told to them: they are all dead. Since subway stations have two sides, they reason the train leaving from one platform must be bound for heaven, while the train leaving from the other platform must be bound for hell. But which platform are they on?
Check Please (Directed by Camila Tardif and Daniella Ashman): Dating can be hard. Especially when your date happens to be a raging kleptomaniac, your grandmother's bridge partner, or a mime. Check Please follows a series of blind dinner dates that couldn't get any worse -- until they do. Could there possibly be a light at the end of the tunnel?
Purchase tickets at the door or online here or at the door.
Upscale Northern Italian Dishes at La Fontanella
- Details
- Written by Judie Dweck
- Hits: 8825
La Fontanella's seafood dish
From the dining room to the kitchen, La Fontanella is a detail oriented dining spot. A pleasant bar area greets you at the front of this charming spot. The formal yet comfortable dining room is divided into separate areas by draperies. We chose to dine at the intimate area towards the back, where the white linen clad tables, fresh flowers and mellow music set a relaxed but formal tone. Special sound proof panels along the walls muted any excess noise .This is a fine addition, which allows you to dine in a fine restaurant and actually enjoy a conversation with your guests without being interrupted by conversations surrounding you. The cream La Fontella's seating arrangement
Chef Joe Palaguachi has been lighting up the kitchens of New York since his arrival almost 30 years ago from his native Ecuador. He worked in many renowned Manhattan kitchens from Giambelli's to Il Nido, where he honed his natural skill and talent. He combines traditional and creative ideas in his dishes and has been at La Fontanella since it opened. "The ingredients I must have in my kitchen are garlic, onions, olive oil, basil and parsley. We offer many daily specials in addition to our menu selections and we have seasonal changes. Osso Bucco, beef short ribs, whole roasted branzino with garlic, olives and lemon are some favorite dishes."
At a recent tasting, I sampled many of the specials of the day as well as some menu items. I came to the conclusion that I probably could have closed my eyes and picked any item and been totally delighted. Our professional and knowledgeable waiter, Carmine helped to guide us through our multi course meal with expertise.
Vegetable quinoa with grilled shrimp and roasted pepper coulis Pasta dish
Fish dishes sparkle at La Fontanella. Chef Palaguachi personally chooses the freshest of fish at the market each morning. We had the pleasure of enjoying one of his specials of black sea bass served over saffron risotto studded with rounds of fresh zucchini. Slivers of garlic, shrimp and scallops added style to the presentation and a light scampi sauce completed this superb creation. A touch of lime juice brought out the flavors. Outstanding was the Tagliarini Fontanella house made with clams, mussels, calamari, octopus, tiger shrimp and Maine lobster. A light tomato sauce completed this elaborate dish where each seafood component was cooked to perfection. Other fish choices include wild salmon Provençale, bronzino filet, shrimp scampi and filet of sole almondine. Several chicken dishes are offered as well as pork, veal and New York Strip steak. We were presented with a special. Arriving on a large platter was a huge tomahawk steak for 2. On the bone, this thick rib eye was encrusted with crushed peppercorns and surrounded by roasted potatoes and sautéed onions, mushrooms and peppers. It was a dish fit for royalty.
If you have room for dessert, tiramisu, crème brulee are some of the house made possibilities. At lunch on Monday through Friday, choose from a la carte offerings or a price fixed 3 course meal. If you are craving upscale beautifully prepared Northern Italian dished where everything, even the pasta is prepared in house in formal but friendly surroundings, by a capable staff, then La Fontanella is a fine destination to savor the pleasure of dining. Try it soon. Lamb chops with potatoes
La Fontanella
115 Wolfs Lane
Pelham
914 738 3008
Recipe for the Salmon Alla Vinagreta {serves 2}:
1 pound salmon fillet [ in 2 pieces]
Pinch salt and pepper
2 tsps. olive oil
3 plum tomatoes
1 ounce scallions
1 tsp. chopped parsley
1 pinch pepper flakes
3 spoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tsps. balsamic vinegar
Directions:
Preheat skillet. Add a couple of teaspoons of oil. Season salmon with salt and pepper and pan sear for a couple of minutes for a good medium rare. Keep longer if you wish it to be cooked more. For the sauce, chop the tomatoes, scallions, and parsley. Add pepper flakes. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Serve with cooked fish.
Judie Dweck has been writing about restaurants and food for many publications. She teaches creative cooking to children at Scarsdale elementary schools. Through the years, her articles have appeared in Jack and Jill Magazine, Spotlight, The Pleasure of Cooking and The Scarsdale Inquirer. She balances her restaurant tastings with daily ballet classes.
Follow Scarsdale.10583 on Instagram
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4622
Follow Scarsdale10583's instagram account at Scarsdale.10583 to keep up with everything Scarsdale! Tag us in your photos to be featured, whether it's of sunsets, school events, restaurants, snow days, or whatever floats your boat! We would love to have your participation and we'll publish your best photos!