For both of us, it has more or less become a tradition to have our Christmas Eve dinner at Ristorante da Maria. Lady Chef Maria Runggaldier, from Bolzano, Italy is the best Chef in the region and she makes a delicious five course dinner from authentic Italian recipes. Everything fresh and made from scratch; you feel pampered when dining there. Heinz will pour you the best wines as he is very knowledgeable and it makes us feel like we are back 'home' in northern Italy where we used to work and live... Fond memories!
Yep, my eyes sparkle with glee... Happy to be together!
Since we were going to midnight Mass at Church afterwards, we had a Church friend join us.
She made these photos with my iPhone.
Toasting with a hot cider, which felt great on a cold and rainy day...
Crispy bread to nibble on and this is the hot cider.
Appetizer:
Quiche agli asparagi e prosciutto
Asparagus – prosciutto Quiche, served with herbed olive oil crostini
First dish:
Risotto con pere al chardonnay
Risotto with Bartlett pears, Chardonnay and cream, topped with basil
Fish-Entrée:
Gratîn di capesante e gamberi su vellutata di zucchini ed olio d´oliva
Gratîn of Scallops and Shrimp over a zucchini/olive oil veloutée
Sorbet:
Sorbetto alle pesche
Peach/Lemon Sorbet
I already drank from it, as I forgot to take a picture first...
Maria also makes the BEST Sorbets!
Dessert:
Sorpresa di natale
Christmas surprise
Such dessert I cannot let go... for once forgetting my no-sugar diet!
Church friend Barbara enjoyed it too.
Pieter's espresso cup is smiling at you...
A great dinner with a decaf coffee for me to round it off.
Lady Chef Maria always prepares three different Entrée choices.
♥
It was the perfect food for making us sing out loud at midnight Mass.
Of course, next day we did not have another five-course dinner!
Hope you also had great food for your special Christmas time with your loved ones.
Related link:
{Buon Natale - Our Christmas Eve Dinner at Ristorante da Maria} previous post by me
Ristorante da Maria link to the authentic Italian restaurant
i have no doubt it was delicious and rich! nice photos of you!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I'm jelous! Wish that place was close to me, as I just totally adore Italian food..my very fave! That menu looks yummy and I can see why you enjoy it so much, my friend. Lovely photos of a happy couple, I love that!! Big hugs.
ReplyDeleteFabby
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeletehow nice, you and Pieter have had such a delicious Christmas Meal! Looks great!
And you both, so wonderful to see your spakrling eyes....just like a fallen in Love Couple on their frist Christmas :O)))
Wonderful photos!
Have wonderful and calm days and a good and healthy Start into 2013, and Thank you so much for your wonderful friendship throughout the last year! It means a lot to me :O)
With Love and hugs,
Claudia
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWhat a GORGEOUS Christmas Dinner you and your husband had♡♡♡ I loved to see you both and your friend look so elegant♬♬♬ Perfect way to spend the holly night, wasn't it☆☆☆
Wishing you both of you will be expecting bright 2013 as well, my dear friend.
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
Liebe Marktete ,heißer Apfelwein (Äbbelwoi )Ist richtig hessisch!!!Ihr hattet einen schönen Abend .Klasse!!Liebe Grüße Ina
ReplyDeleteDearest Mariette
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice restaurant and so well-composed menu you got.
You and your husband looks very good together on those pictures.
Hugs to you
Kajsa
What a wonderful tradition Mariette! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt, Italian cuisine is the best (as told by the international best Chef ..I almost forgot his name ;))
I can see the dish soo yummy
Beautiful photo,you have sparkling eyes like pearls. you look gorgeous as always
the best moment
Wishing you a bright coming New Year
hugs to you
My dear friend Mariette:
ReplyDeleteHow neat and special Christmas you and Pieter had. I could see in your pictures that love is in the air...you and Pieter are such a nice couple. Beautiful pictures you share with us. I hope you and Pieter and all of you family have a New Year full of blessings, love and peace. Send you a big hug, your friend
Laura :0)
Dearest Mariette what a lovely tradition you and Pieter have. Risotto is one of my favourite Italian dishes and this one looked and sounded delicious (will have to look up a recipe for this one). Wonderful photos ... wishing you both a magical New Year's Eve and 2013 filled with good health and abundance... from G. and I. xo (HHL)
ReplyDeleteI have one so sweety, lovely blog award... for you.
ReplyDeleteDearest Mariette you and Pieter look so lovely in your church finery. What a wonderful meal you had and you didn't have to do dishes. We were in Tennessee for Christmas Eve and attended Candlelite Service with our family at their church.
ReplyDeleteI count knowing you a blessing and I wish you and Pieter a Happy and Healthy New Year. Ginger
What a great dinner and you look so happy.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Het ziet er heerlijk uit en gezellig.
ReplyDeleteMooi berichtje van je familiefoto's met de kinderen en de herinneringen daarbij, ik heb er van genoten en er kwamen bij mij meteen veel herinneringen naar boven.
Fijn weekend, lieve groet
My o my - yummy meal -- but I would have you know I eat my dessert first - wink - and your dessert looks sooooooooooooo tasty!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit... means a great deal!!!!!
Hugs
The restaurant looks very nice! And the food - they all look so delicious! Especially the dessert, mmm!
ReplyDeleteYou look very lovely and happy :-) what a wonderful Christmas eve you had!
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Christmas you and Piete together on lovely pictures,
Hugs and love to you always!
Michiko
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletemit einem Wort: ZAUBERHAFT!
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth