MrsMista and I searched the internet for a quiet romantic place to have dinner for our anniversary. We didn’t want a formal place where we had to get all dressed up. We just wanted good food in a comfortable atmosphere. What we found was Cucina Picarelli.
From the time we walked in the front door, the owner, Joe Picarelli, doted on us like we were family. He spent time getting to know us, cracking jokes and just making us feel at home. Our waiter Pablo gave us excellent service and that made the meal even more enjoyable.
After a glass of Chianti and a dinner salad (with a very healthy amount of greens) we got down to dinner. MrsMista had the crab ravioli.
The ravioli was shaped like long, thin empanadas instead of the traditional square pillows. There was lots of crab inside and the sauce was smooth and creamy. The flavors were delicate and balanced.
I had the Linguine con Frutti di Mare. It was a combination of calamari, clams, mussels and shrimp in a bold, spicy red sauce.
Joe wouldn’t let us leave with out trying his homemade Tiramisu. It rare that I eat dessert at a restaurant but this was the best Tiramisu I have ever had.
If you are ever in Long Beach, or L.A. County for that matter, head on over to Cucina Picarelli. It is definitely worth the trip. But don’t tell anybody. Let’s keep this our little secret.
Cucina Picarelli
5096 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, CA 90804
Phone 562.494.5118
Pictures courtesy of http://www.cucinapicarelli.com
Enjoy!
Bigmista
The Survival Gourmet
