Taranta

I finally made it to Taranta! After meeting Chef Jose Duarte at the Spoonful of Ginger event in the spring, my interest in Taranta grew and grew, and the more I heard about his innovative use of QR codes and his devotion to a green, sustainable restaurant, the higher it went on my Boston dining list.

Taranta is right on Hanover Street in Boston’s North End, and for our early reservation, we got a nice table right by the window. To start I ordered a cool glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc which was the wine special of the day. I didn’t get to see who makes this wine, but if you would like to try Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, I highly recommend Santa Carolina.

This wine had a nice acidity to it, and it went perfectly with my entrée:

Pan seared tuna served over braised leeks, and crispy potatoes with a sauce of sweet roasted peppers, capers and “Rocoto” (Spicy)

I ate every single bite of the perfectly cooked, fresh and meaty tuna, which rested on a bed of creamy leeks and tangy sauce.

My husband had the fish special, paiche, which is the largest freshwater fish in the world. It was served with a watercress salad, fragrant risotto, and three tender clams. The paiche was meaty but also flaky, making it a great choice for a summer dinner. These dishes, as I had hoped highlighted Chef Duarte’s expertise in choosing and preparing fish. It was spectacular.

While we cleared our dinner plates, we still had a little room to share a hazelnut mousse. Served in a light pool of dulce de leche, the mousse had a layer of fluffy hazelnut, a thin layer of chocolate cake, and a layer of flaky wafer. It was divine, the perfect portion to share, and not too heavy for the 90 degree evening we had to step into after our meal.

The food at Taranta was exceptional. The service was a little absent and then rushed. We were handed the bill while eating dessert, before we asked for it. I would have likely had an espresso or another glass of wine. There were four empty tables in the dining room, and it was after 7:00 so it is not even as though people were waiting for us to leave.

After dinner, we wandered the Greenway, one of the most perfect places to be on a summer night, before heading to The Grand Canal  for a celebration to send Michelle off to her new home in style!