Nostrana

Round up from blog-land!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:30:00 -0800

Dear internet,

Thanks for taking the time to review us!

Here are some recent posts about “the best Italian restaurant in Portland”.

Yours culinarily,
Nostrana

Lunch at Nostrana ‘La Mortadella!’

PDX Eater names Nostrana ‘essential’

NWFoodie is Feeling the Nostrana love

Nostrana on My Northwest Experience

Yes, we even have fans in Camelland

This ‘dude’ likes us, too

We hope to see everyone again soon!

Cathy Whims a James Beard Foundation Award Semifinalist

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:52:00 -0800

Nostrana is proud to announce that Chef Cathy Whims has once again earned recognition from the James Beard Foundation, as a semifinalist for Best Chef Northwest.

More details from The Oregonian. Nostrana wishes to congratulate all of this year’s nominees, particularly the large Portland showing.

Dinner in Trieste

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 13:24:00 -0800

Sunday, February 28

6:30pm

La Belle Trieste

The magical port city of Trieste for centuries captivated authors such as James Joyce, where he wrote Ulysses, with its Baroque old-world caffés and the caffé society culture, the sweet fishes-seafood of the Adriatic, its pork delicatessens, and its dramatic view toward the mystical East.

Experience what Joyce enjoyed at Nostrana.

A Snack of Steelhead salmon
vinegar, griddled potato cake

Smoked trout mousse with spring greens
spring greens, apples, mache, miner’s lettuce, arugula

La Jota - The famous soup of Trieste
bean & pork soup from Suban ristorante high above the city

Rabbit
white wine, grappa-drunken prunes

Marcella Hazan’s torta Friuli
apple, raisin

“Think you’re escaping and run into yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home.”

-James Joyce

$125 per person includes wine pairing with each course.

Dinner commences at 6:30, beginning with a cocktail at the Rooster bar at Nostrana

Courses are prepared and served by James Beard award nominated Cathy Whims

Wines curated by Nicholas Suhor

Please make reservations: 503.234.2427

Valentine's Day at Nostrana

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:25:00 -0800

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with five lovely courses from Cathy Whims!

Sweet & salty focaccia

Baked oysters alla Tarantino with fennel & olio nuovo

Gratin of leeks, ham & mascarpone

Tortellini in brodo villa gaidello

Petrale Sole alla Fiorentina

or

Quail & cotecchino sausage

Mythical orange tarte of Anacapri

Tuscan kiss, brownie sundae with Amarena cherries

$50 not including wine or gratuity

Reservations required: 503.234.2427

Menu available Friday, 12 Feb - Sunday, 14 Feb

Regular menu also available

Wednesday, 10 Feb House Spirits RPM at Nostrana

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:04:02 -0800

Nostrana welcomes House Spirits for a night of Recession Proof Mixology.

Join us! February 10, 6–8pm.

Rachel’s Honey Pear Upside Down Cake

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:42:42 -0800

Rachel’s Honey Pear Upside Down Cake

Laughing Stock Porchetta: on the menu tonight!

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:00:33 -0800

Laughing Stock Porchetta: on the menu tonight!

Venetian Blue Moon New Year’s Eve at Nostrana

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:22:00 -0800

Join us for seven special courses and Champagne!

For reservations: 503.234.2427

Celebrate Olio Nuovo at Nostrana

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:55:14 -0800

Now at Nostrana: A Celebration of Olio Nuovo.

The winter harvest of green olives brings creamy, zesty, super fresh olive oil from Italy to Nostrana! One of the great rituals for food-loving Italians is the annual tasting of freshly pressed olive oil and we hope you’ll join in.

A flight of three freshly pressed extra virgin olive oils with wood oven ciabatta-9

Garlic Bruschetta showered with Oregon White Truffles featuring Frescobaldi Laudemio New Harvest-8

Ribollita–borlotti beans, red cabbage, winter squash and Nostrana ciabatta featuring Tenuta di Capezzana Olio Nuovo-8

Insalata Russa–of potatoes, carrots, cardoons, peas, beets, cornichons and capers in an artichoke bottom featuring Becchina Olio Verde Olio Novello-12

Deschutes Brewery Chefs Challenge at the Portland Pub!

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:54:25 -0800

Cathy Whims of Nostrana will chef it up in an Iron Chef-style beer and food pairing featuring seven chefs from Portland’s top restaurants. A panel of five celebrity judges will decide which combination is the tastiest and most artfully prepared.

A People’s Choice Award will also be given. The beneficiary is Morrison Child and Family Services.

Competing Chefs include:

Kurt Spak - Alba Osteria
Pascal Chureau - Fenouil
Cathy Whims - Nostrana
Adam Berger - Ten 01 and Tabla Mediterranean Bistro
Paul Bachand - Farm to Fork
Jeff Usinowicz & Jill Ramseier - Deschutes Brewery Portland Pub

Where: Deschutes Brewery’s Portland Pub

When: December 14, 5:30 pm

Price: $75, limit to first 100 who register

More information

USA TODAY names Nostrana a great place to savor winter's flavors

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:09:32 -0800

From USA TODAY:

Bon Appetit restaurant editor Andrew Knowlton shares with Kelly DiNardo for USA TODAY his list of 10 spots to tuck into timely treats

Nostrana Portland, Ore.

Many of the foods we crave in winter have a high factor of “umami,” considered the fifth taste after bitter, salty, sweet and sour. Chanterelles, bright orange mushrooms with a meaty taste and fruity smell, are rich in umami, which may be why many consider them “the pinnacle of mushrooms.” Nostrana features a trio of chanterelle dishes that includes scamorza cheese with chanterelles and bruschetta, farro or wheat barley with chanterelles in a risotto-style dish, and chanterelles brushed with marsala wine and served as a rillete. 503-234-2427; nostrana.com

Fresh made spinach farfalle and beet ravioli this morning!

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 10:17:54 -0800

Fresh made spinach farfalle and beet ravioli this morning!

Two Thanksgiving Recipes

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:47:25 -0800

Cathy Whims shares recipes for ‘Porky Collards’ and ‘Joyce’s Sweet and Sour Onion Relish’ with readers of The Portland Mercury.

Per the Mercury: “Collard greens become extremely sweet when the temperature drops and it frosts at night,” says Cathy Whims. “In fact, just around Thanksgiving in Oregon.”

Slow Wednesday, 18 Nov: Douglas Gayeton shows 'Slow: Life in a Tuscan Town'

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:03:37 -0800

We invite you to join us for “A Slow Taste of Tuscany,” a prix fixe celebration of slow food hosted in restaurants across North America on November 18, 2009

A special Tuscan menu will include:

Fabio’s creamy creamless squash soup
Drunken pork roast with grappa and red wine
Biscotti with vin santo

$75 includes prix-fixe menu and artist’s book.
Reservations required: 503.234.2427

Nostrana’s regular dinner menu will also be available.

Livestock 2: A Literary and Culinary Event

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:42:31 -0800

At Livestock Cathy Whims of Nostrana and Adam Sappington of The Country Cat Dinnerhouse & Bar will display their butchery craft as ranchers share their bond to the land, and writers present short stories exploring the food politics and emotions embedded in eating meat.

High Fives from Willamette Week!

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:22:00 -0700

Nostrana is pleased to have been called out several times in Willamette Week’s 2009 Restaurant Guide. In addition to inclusion in WWeek’s top 100 Restaurants, Nostrana is thrilled to have received ‘High Five’ accolades for its Bistecca alla Fiorentina and Butterscotch Budino, among others.

See the whole guide here.

And the High Fives here.

Nostrana Named a Portland Monthly Best Restaurant 2009

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:04:04 -0700

Nostrana: ‘The Regionalist’ See the full article here.

“Whims rarely leaves you wondering what ingredients comprise a dish. Flavors scream, exemplifying both mastery and a humble restraint.”

"The vegetables drive the restaurant. Why buy outside if something’s grown here?"

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:26:11 -0700

““The vegetables drive the restaurant. Why buy outside if something’s grown here?””

- Cathy Whims in the Honolulu Star Bulletin

Melissa Block & PDX food

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:14:00 -0700

Melissa Block & PDX food:

NPR’s Melissa Block came to Portland. Among other things, she dined at Nostrana! She left with the impression that Portlanders are obsessed with food and bicycles, and who can blame her?

Don't miss Nostrana's fourth anniversary and farmers appreciation party Saturday October 17!

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:15:04 -0700

Meet, greet, wine and dine with Oregons incredible farmers and wine makers that make Nostrana one of Portland’s best restaurants. Cathy Whims’ menu will showcase the best of the best local ingredients paired with new releases of 2007 Pinot noir from our favorite local producers.

Pair this meal with a bottle of the anticipated ‘07 Pinot noir releases from Cameron, J Christopher, Matello and Westrey. Meet the winemakers too!

Reserve a table: 503.234.2427

Reservation times available: 5 and 7:30 p.m.

$60 not including wine and gratuity