Is it Tuscany?

Images of San Gianamo and Gambassi Terma flashed in my mind. A window lined with wine bottles. Brick interior walls. A mural depicting an Italian village perched atop a mountain. A small cozy restaurant. A plate of olives. For a moment I thought there might actually be a god, and I’d died and gone back to Tuscany.

But, no. I was in the Third Ward. The Man Whose Tastes Are Oh So Much Fussier Than Mine always lets me choose a restaurant on my birthday. It was my birthday. I chose what turned out to be a perfect Italian restaurant for both of us: The Third Ward Caffe.

Let’s see. What did we eat? Well, we started with a plate of bruschetta, crispy warm Italian bread toasted and topped with tomatoes and cheese (perhaps pecorino) and broiled. But what were the other vegetables? What was this yellow stuff? Soft, and it had a skin, but didn’t taste like peppers. I asked the waitress. You’ll never guess. At least I didn’t. It was yellow tomatoes! Turns out the restaurant’s owner has a vegetable farm in Door County where much of the produce served in the Third Ward Caffe is grown. Is that Cool, or What? Locally-grown produce.

Remembering the words Quatro Frommagio from our Italian vacation, The Man ordered the four cheese tortellini ($18), rich and swimming in a cheesy sauce. I always want seafood when eating out, as you all know, but there was this interesting seasonal dish I couldn’t resist. Pumpkin-filled Ravioli ($21) is just not on every menu you see. Our waitress said many customers come asking when it will be back on the menu each year. I can see why. It was amazing! The sauce was a bit sweet and prettily garnished with finely chopped carrots. I asked the waitress for a suggestion of a wine that would complement this unusual dish. She poured me a glass of a reserve wine from Montalcino – a wonderful choice.

The Third Ward Caffe truly has all the charm of Osteria de Montegue in Gambassi Terma, Italy. And that’s no small compliment. “I could probably eat here again sometime,” The Man said. Ah, the promise of future pleasures.

Stirring the Pot