Il Buco.  Il Buco.  Il Buco.  (I was secretly hoping that if I said it three times in a row, I would be immediately transported back to this incredible restaurant!)  Oh what a treat Sunday night was.  After spending the afternoon with my sister Leanne and my Mom Elizabeth in Sorrento, we continued on to our much-anticipated dinner reservation at Il Buco.  This Michelin-starred restaurant was one of the first places my husband Scott and I visited in April, and I knew I had to bring my family back when they arrived in Sorrento this weekend.  It is truly the most memorable restaurant in the city, if not also one of the best in the country.

Housed in the former wine cellar of an old monastery, everything from Chef Giuseppe Aversa’s uniquely creations, the restaurant’s contemporary atmosphere, and the superior wait staff tell an extremely satisfying story of the cuisine of the Sorrentina Peninsula.  Everyone that works at this fine restaurant is dedicated to presenting their high level of culinary knowledge to each and every dinner guest, as well as the highest level of service.  They truly make you feel relaxed, pampered, and entertained all at the same time.

We started dinner in the classic way—with cocktail hour.  My Mom ordering her mainstay cocktail, a Kir Royal, while Leanne and I indulging in another classic, gin martinis.  My version an extra dry martini and Leanne’s a dirty martini. Unlike any dirty martini I’ve ever seen; their version is made with the olive juice of local black olives, instead of the traditional splash of green olive juice.  A dramatic visual presentation seeing a black-tinted martini with a spear of the best green olives in the world tempting you.

We then ordered a bottle of red wine from the local Campania region of Italy; recommended by one of our delightful waiters, this wine is made by Taurasi vineyards and is named Cinque Querce.  Aerated and decanted tableside, this was a perfectly mellow wine with a deliciously peppery finish.   Next, onto the exciting task of ordering our meals!  Leanne and I chose to order their Exploration Menu.  A price fixed, five course meal that included:

 

And for dessert, we ordered a glass of tawny port, the Chocolate-Hazelnut Tart, the Ricotta and Pear Pie with a calvados gelee, and the restaurant’s Lemon Delight.   My Mom ordered off of the a la carte menu and her choices were also a pure delight:

A lovely Vegetable Terrine, a warm bowl of their Cauliflower Soup with a Poached Egg, and their pasta special of the evening, which truly resembled a Jackson Pollock painting, fried large Macaroni filled with Ricotta and Sundried Tomatoes, served with a tomato and a basil sauce.

It was truly an extravagant gastronomic experience, in an extravagant country, shared with incredible people.

Tagged: culinary school, externship, Il Buco, Italy, Michelin-starred restaurant, restaurant, Sorrento