www.terroni.com

I was traveling through Italy earlier this year.  Between museum & cathedrals visits, strolling around, and shopping, you better believe that I was in search of something to satisfy my stomach.   

After much, much research during my trip, when I arrived in Rome I was introduced to a pasta dish known as Bucatini all'Amatriciana.  My life has forever changed upon the first bite.  Believe it or not, just the thought, makes my mouth watery. Now, it wasn't until recently that I began to appreciate Italian cuisine.  In my opinion Italian cuisine is a well-balanced array of flavors that complement each other.Bucatini all'Amatriciana, I later learned, is a dish dating back to Roman times.  The sauce is a tomato-based sauce, usually with guanciale (different cut of bacon, incredible amount of flavor), Pecorino Romano, and most importantly a dash of red pepper flakes which give a tiny little bit of a kick, which makes this dish quite memorable.

Now, my dilemma with this dish began upon arriving in the US and trying to find a place that does it with justice. After many attempts, in several cities, and much much disappointment,  I stumbled upon it on the menu of one of my favorite restaurants here in LA and Toronto called Terroni. 

 I stumbled upon Terroni back in 2008 when I read a review stating that if you couldn't get a table at Mario Bitalli's Pizzeria Mozza, you should go to Terroni.  So I did.   In Toronto and LA, Terroni has kept its appeal of fantastic Southern Italian cuisine with a hip, yet welcoming environment that is family-friendly. It allows parents to feel hip while embracing the culinary scene of the respective cities. It has great atmosphere, tasty food, and Bucatini all'Amatriciana all under one roof.  I couldn't be happier.  By the way, the rest of the menu is phenomenal: pizza, traditional salads, Panini's, and if you're in Toronto and see horse tartar on the menu, don't be afraid of it.