Happy Birthday Candy!

In early March, a few of us cold members celebrated Candy's birthday! We found a very special limited-time Italian restaurant and had a very satisfying and happy birthday dinner. The location is none other than The Italian Pop-Up Schnitzel & Schnaps in Central. This Italian restaurant is a three-month pop-up, utilizing the old restaurant's decor to great effect without any sense of incongruity and with a rather nice atmosphere. The lower level is mainly a bar area, while dinner is served on the upper level. As soon as we sat down, the waiter brought us Italian Grissini! The crispy breadsticks were quite tasty and went well with white wine as a nice appetizer. The restaurant's corkage fee is not cheap, so we chose from the restaurant! We ordered the Attems Sauvignon Blanc Friuli Venezia Giulia Italy $480/BT, a white wine that is not too sweet but filled with intoxicating floral aromas that are unforgettable. The three gentlemen also ordered Peroni draft beer at $65 to chill! I tried a sip, and the smooth, aromatic, and slightly bitter hop flavor was quite easy to drink. The three ladies chose the Daily Special Cocktail at $80, a cocktail made with passion fruit and pineapple that was fragrant and sweet. Even friends who don't like to drink would love this flavor. The first round of appetizers to hit the table was the Charcuterie of the Day at $128, which included three types of cold cuts paired with my favorite soft Focaccia. The three were dry-cured ham, spicy salami, and cooked ham, with the savory and appetizing Salame being the most attractive to my taste buds. Then there was the Peppers Stuffed with Tuna at $56, which was exquisite! The small and delicate oil-marinated peppers were hollowed out and stuffed with tuna paste, bursting with a sweet and fresh flavor when popped into the mouth. Next up was Prosciutto di San Daniele at $138! The texture of the Italian San Daniele ham was as tender as Parma ham, but I found the flavor to be even sweeter and richer. Paired with roasted pears, walnuts, and other ingredients, it made for a richer taste, especially with the blue cheese sauce and balsamic vinegar that added an extra delicious touch. Grilled Squid at $108 was cooked to be very tender, paired with capers, olive paste, and the special Nduja sausage, making for a spicy and tempting dish. The Pickles at $38 were definitely an appetizing choice, with cucumbers, red onions, radishes, fennel, and carrots, all pickled to a refreshing taste that was great for relieving greasiness. Marinated Peppers at $88 with tri-colored sweet peppers were very sweet, and the onions and garlic inside also added a lot of flavor, topped off with fresh and fragrant basil for a refreshing taste. Fried Sardines at $98 had a crispy coating that added to the flavor, and the rich taste of the fish inside was enhanced by the fresh dill. The Burrata at $130 was really pleasing! The plump and white Burrata cheese was interesting to look at, and the fresh cheese had no bitterness or sourness. The aftertaste of fresh cream and hazelnuts was delightful, paired with sweet roasted peaches, refreshing cucumbers, and a bit of chili for a harmonious flavor. Manzo Tonnato 'Soldier' at $59/piece, toast topped with tuna egg yolk sauce made from Japanese broth, and of course, the super tender and delicious raw beef was the star. The buttery French toast was super crispy, and the aroma of the raw beef was captivating, making this French raw beef toast so delicious that I wanted another piece. At this moment, the waiter brought over a complimentary nut liqueur that was sweet with an almond flavor. Although it wasn't my cup of tea, the taste was quite special. For the main course, I insisted on having the Potato Gnocchi at $148! The freshness came from the tender mussels and plump clams, and the soft Gnocchi was cooked with parsley and garlic sauce, making for a very satisfying and fresh taste. Then there was the Paccheri all’Amatriciana at $188! Made with fresh tomatoes for a savory sauce and paired with salty dried pork cheek, topped with Pecorino cheese, this chewy tube pasta was even more appetizing with the savory sauce. Then came a serving of Cavolfiore gratinato at $78, which was the most appetizing intermezzo! The roasted cauliflower was crispy, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese for added aroma, and dipped in a rich and creamy white sauce for a layered taste. For the main dish, we ordered Veal Milanese at $388, a bone-in Milanese veal cooked until the outside was crispy and the inside was tender. The mixed herb salad was super sweet, and the special black garlic egg yolk sauce made for a very fresh and tasty dish. For dessert, there were only three options, so we ordered the whole menu! One of them was made into Candy's birthday dessert. Candy's birthday dessert was a Lemon Tart at $70, with a sweet meringue on top of a perfectly sour and sweet lemon tart, nothing too surprising but decent. The Tiramisu at $75 was very moist, and the special use of caramel condensed milk sauce added sweetness and reduced the alcohol flavor, which could be a matter of personal preference. Zuppa Ingleses at $80 was made with sponge cake, vanilla chocolate custard, and fruit-flavored liqueur, which was smooth but quite sweet, not quite to my taste. We cold members have been celebrating birthdays together for many years, and we have all experienced a lot of joy and hardship. I hope the six of us will also be healthy and have long-lasting fun. I'm very happy to have found a restaurant that everyone likes for our gathering, and the birthday girl also really enjoyed this Italian birthday dinner. Hearing that the restaurant will open a new store in the same area in April, we have already agreed to go there for a pilgrimage.