God provides a wedding feast Italian style

January 2011
Eat, Love, Praise Him! This is the Eating part! Mangia!

Buongiorno!

Although I am Italian by heritage, I am feeling especially Italian today. Still reminiscing over a delightful meal I enjoyed in Savannah recently. I can still smell the Mediterranean spices wafting through the quaint trattoria. The young couple who turned their passion into pasta were quite the host and hostess for a small group which included myself and my friends, included in the group were a couple who recently celebrated their wedding vows. God brought a group of friends together to an unexpected spot and provided a beautiful wedding feast.
What a delightful surprise to plan an impromptu lunch at this quaint authentic Italian eatery (which the bride was personally acquainted with), and to kick off the lunch with a celebratory champagne toast. Shouldn’t all occasions and lunches and days be toasted in such a festive way? Of course, God knew exactly how we would celebrate this couples union. It was a perfectly delightful banquet.
Join me for lunch and soon you may be lunching in such an indulgent way as well. Just another way God shows His grace and delights in making us happy. He is full of surprises. Embrace each one fully. Cheers!
I am at once transported to Italy into a quaint little trattoria, Leoci’s. Situated on an unlikely block in the Abercorn walk, Leoci’s is like a little surprise waiting to be unwrapped by the eager patron, soon to be pleasantly surprised.
Located in the heart of the city on a street lined with boutique style shopping and hotels and inns, Leoci’s is an authentic style Italian trattoria with a variety of fare to please even the most discerning palate.
A quaint little venue before me could not give me indication of the familial lunch to come. I settle in at the bar and peruse the trendy spot, which according to owner and Executive Chef Roberto Leoci is so popular he must operate seven days a week to meet the customer demand.
I can see why; decorated in rich, dark tones, the restaurant is warm and inviting. The bar is just cozy enough that even the lone diner could walk up and feel comfortable. Though they are not yet serving alcoholic drinks, the wine list offers a good variety. The glass of Cesari Mara Ripasso, 2008, from Veneto Italy, offered by the matriarch of Leoci’s, Lacie Leoci, is smooth, creamy and warming-a perfect accompaniment to an Italian lunch. Named for the Italian winery’s matriarch, it is fitting the matriarch of Leoci’s would also offer it to me.
My party arrives and she offers us a tour of the newly extended deck with ample outdoor seating for up to 60 or so guests. We pass a cozy spot with couch seating and a fire pit, inviting us to sit with a drink and converse for a bit before the outdoor space opens up to a surprising space. Covered under a white sail tent with twinkling white lights and heated on this cold winter day, I immediately imagine the evenings of fun and celebrations yet to take place here.
What Italian would be disappointed with the newly installed bocce pit installed on the back grounds? Bocce is a truly Italian tradition and fun for all ages. It can be played with two players or two teams of four, up to eight people. It is great follow-up entertainment after an authentic Italian meal. And, a unique twist for your typical restaurant, which by now, I can see Leoci’s is not. Back inside, original art with splashes of bright colors adorn the walls. Lacie shares the stories behind the art and the décor and how the restaurant evolved. The television runs silently with black and white classics for a fun distraction.
The tour is over, but the meal has yet to begin. Chef Roberto, Sicilian by heritage and Cordon Bleu trained, generates course after course of inspired dishes. Beginning with saffron infused risotto and topped with charred shrimp, the taste buds are awakened and eager to taste what’s next.
In between ordering our selections, Chef Roberto works the room to greet every patron and ensure their experience is to their satisfaction. You can see his passion shine through as he taps each on the back and intermittently shakes hands warmly, literally beaming ear to ear. In between, he heads to the kitchen to order yet another course, this time of Papparadelle Bolonegse, made with veal, and delivers the beautifully styled dishes to our table. In one fluid motion, he follows up with a sweet kiss to his bride and complements her efforts in helping to make the restaurant run smoothly. It is a sweet picture, an inside look of both the rhythm of the restaurant and the heart of the chef, thus the heart of this delightful restaurant.
The wine is flowing; the food is in constant stream, from risotto and Bolognese to tender cheese purses with cream sauce and brick oven pizza topped with prosciutto. Everyone in the party is laughing and in complete bliss, as if we were all in Firenze enjoying a midday break. Meals like this are what good memories are made of.
As if we could tolerate one more bite, the dessert ensemble of creamy cannoli, tiramisu, cheesecake, and flourless Godiva chocolate torte is delivered. We groan, but willingly indulge in every last bite.
Perfectly stuffed, it was a perfect ending to a perfect meal. And, this being only lunch, I can simply imagine how Chef Roberto tops this at an evening meal. I think a repeat visit is definitely on the agenda. I look forward to dining outdoors, under the twinkle lights of the white tent and taking dessert on the conversation couch. Strategically, I think I’ll plan a game of Bocce before I eat, knowing it will be a gastronomic feast, reminiscent of my travels in Italy and of this beautiful first experience. Until then, I will delight in the memories made and possibly review the menu on their website periodically to dream about the feasts to come.
There are many good reasons they are listed as the number one Italian restaurant on Urban Spoon and in the Top Ten restaurants overall in Savannah. Leoci’s is reason enough for me to make Savannah a frequent travel spot. What a fabulous idea; I’ll call ahead to reserve a table by the wood burning fireplace. I think if I leave now, I can still make it by lunch. Shall I make it a table for two?
Ciao, bella!