Bella Notte at Aragosta

Boston has a new girls’ night out, and it’s at the Fairmont Battery Wharf’s recently opened Aragosta. Bella Notte Thursdays offer Boston ladies the chance to get together over cocktails and appetizers. Drink and food pairings are just $20, and they give groups of food-loving women the chance to mix and match from their carefully selected appetizer menu. On Thursday, I was lucky to be part of a group of blogger friends hosted by the Fairmont for an evening at the chef’s table. Lindsey organized everything, and I met her, along with Megan, Daisy, Bridget, and Elina and Ashley from the Fairmont for a delicious evening.

Sitting at a counter overlooking the busy but super organized kitchen was a feast for all of the senses. Chef David Daniels and his team never stopped moving, and it was a treat to watch our food being made. While we caught up with each other and awaited chef to work his magic, we nibbled on fresh, crusty bread, fruity olive oil, and olives. I was ravenous, and I was more than happy to have a couple pieces.

Instead of ordering, chef surprised us with a bunch of favorites from the Bella Notte menu. Some of the dishes I had tried before and loved, and others were new to me. The food kept coming, and in between lots of chatter, we kept eating.

Truffle rigatoni with warm goat cheese fondue – this was the ultimate comfort food, creamy, warm, with hints of truffle and a dollop of tomato paste that offset the creaminess. We had this over the summer when we were staying at the Boston Yacht Haven and had dinner at Aragosta, and I was excited to see it again.

Margherita flatbread with vine ripened tomatoes. In-season, locally sourced (when possible)ingredients are a staple in Aragosta’s menu, which changes multiple times throughout the year. Heirloom tomatoes went out of season, so chef changed up this flatbread to include tomatoes that were available. This crispy flatbread with flavorful, soft tomatoes had that little bit of smoky char that gives pizza that rustic flavor. It was divine.

Lobster and truffle crostini with white bean puree – need I say more? Lobster an truffle with creamy white beans, heaped on to crunchy crostini made for the perfect bite.

Of course, I washed everything down with a couple of glasses of Prosecco.

Baked veal and pancetta meatballs – Not always a huge meat eater, I was surprised to find that when we visited Aragosta in the summer, these meatballs were one of my favorites. They are soft, rich, and delightful.

Warm black mission figs wrapped in prosciutto with gorgonzola dolce – this could have easily been a dessert for me. I thought it to be one of the best dishes of the night, each bite complete with soft, sweet fig, salty prosciutto, and tangy, creamy gorgonzola dolce.

Handcrafted selection of salumi

We truly had a feast, and it was the perfect food for sharing and spending time with friends. I love that Aragosta has created such a fun and delicious way for Boston’s ladies to get together. With the added bonus of nail polish changes and mini massages, Bella Notte Thursdays will definitely be something I will look forward to attending again.

Many thanks to the Fairmont Battery Wharf for hosting us.

What’s your favorite way to spend a girls’ (or guys’) night out?