My Birthday Dinner AT Osteria Mozza or "God, These Testicles Are Delicious"

So, yesterday was my birthday and because we had a $150 gift certificate from my father and stepmother (from xmas last year), we decided to visit one of my favorite restaurants ever -- Osteria Mozza.

Now, Carl had never been there and I had only been there twice, but we both knew it was going to be a treat. I had called only the day before, so the only time available was 6p or 9:30p. As I am heading rapidly toward the senior home, we opted for 6p. We were seated immediately in a crowded two top area near the bar and, thus, requested a quieter table against the wall on the side. Wish granted.

But, we seemed to be ignored our first few moments. My first two times, the service was impeccable from the moment we got there to the sweet end. This time, maybe they were a smidge off. When the waitress did come over, she took our drink orders, answered a few questions and then told us that the chef requested we place our complete orders all at once.

Yeah, right. I'm sure it had nothing to do with wanting to move the table. Anyway, we deferred as we still had to make our decisions.

The drinks arrived and decisions were made and communicated. And, the ride began.

For our appetizers, I ordered the Pig Trotter and Carl got the butter lettuce. The butter lettuce was as if each cup of butter lettuce was hand selected for the salad. It came with roquefort, grapes and walnuts. Now, Carl thought the grapes were olives, but only the best tasting sweetest olives he ever had. I think he did it to dissuade me from having more of his. My pig trotter was fried and delicious in a mustard sauce perfectly juxtaposed with cool field grees. Both really delectable.

Next up was primi. Carl ordered the Maccheroni alla Chitarra with guanciale, tomato & spicy pickled peppers and I took on the Fresh Ricotta & Egg Raviolo with browned butter, which I have had twice beofre. Carl's pasta was absolutely magnificent with the deliciously combined flavors of pork jowl, tomatoes and pickled peppers. I mean it was breathtaking. And my Raviolo was just as spectacular as ever, as the egg yolk, cracked, spread over the raviolo. Jesus.

Secondi. A friend had previously ordered the sweet breads and insisted that I do so this time, and, so I did, while Carl got the pork loin. The sweet breads (not actually testicles -- more thymus glands -- but still looking like your average balls) came in a wine/lemon/caper berry picata. They were poached then fried and then, with every bite, took on the flavor of the picata more and more. The pork loin was done exquisitely as well. We even got rosemary potatoes on the side, but each could only finish one spear.

Finally, we finished up with Torta della Nonna, which is but the simplest dessert but so incrediby tasty. The only thing that could have made it better would have been a small scoop of homemade vanilla.

After the meal, it was a race home to see if we could get our clothes off before they actually were burst off my our growing happy bellies.

Can't wait to go again.