Gracious Italian Hospitality, A Most Memorable Meal

GRACIOUS ITALIAN HOSPITALITY, A MOST MEMORABLE MEAL

I write this post for my friends and readers in the Greater Los Angeles Area aka The Southland, all 17 million of you. And also for those who plan to visit LA or the OC anytime soon. Wherever you find yourself in this great basin of 34,000 square miles, I promise that a trip to Long Beach, or more specifically the charming neighborhood called Naples (a little island in Alamitos Bay) for a dinner at Michael’s on Naples Ristorante is well worth the drive.

Leave the food and wine choices to Executive Chef David Coleman and General Manager Massimo Aronne, as we did, and you will enjoy an Italian dining adventure like no other…Massimo’s expert wine knowledge paired with Chef Coleman’s gifted approach to Italian cooking will refresh your appetite for Italian cuisine.

The dining experience here is not only about the food, or the wine, the service or  the atmosphere – it is the synergy of all these elements. At Michael’s we feel as if we are guests in his home. The staff is professional, artfully trained yet simultaneously warm and friendly. Massimo is not only a master of Italian wine, but is generous with his knowledge and happy to share his passion. Chef Coleman’s cooking is bright and creative, while still respectful of the traditional Italian kitchen. And Michael is that ultimate gracious Italian host.

For my friends who won’t be visiting The Southland in the near future, I hope you take a look at, and gain inspiration from, Chef Coleman’s dishes – a true treat to Taste With The Eyes.

the chef’s choice menu

CROSTINI
crostini of goat cheese, mission fig preserve, house cured duck prosciutto, and micro arugula
Prosecco, Zardetto NV

TORTELLINI IN BRODO
prosciutto consommé with beech brown mushrooms, and Tellegio cheese tortellini
Tiefenbrunner Lagrein Castel Turmhof DOC 2008

INSALATA DI SPINACI
spinach and poached duck egg salad with pickled red onions, pecorino,
pancetta Dijon mustard vinaigrette
Argiolas Serra Lori Isola Dei Nuraghi Rose 2008

AGNOLOTTI
braised goose neck stuffed in spinach agnolotti with brown butter, sage, and bread crumbs
Cascina Adelaide 4 Vigne Barolo DOCG 2005

GNOCCHI CON CODA DI BUE
potato gnocchi Poutine style with fontina and chianti braised oxtail
Terre di Balbia Balbìum Calabria Rosso 2008

BRANZINO
whole grilled branzino
with brussels sprouts & beet greens
(always accompanied by what’s freshest at the farmer’s market)
served with confit meyer lemon oil
J. Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Nero Alto Adige DOC 2009

DESSERT

TORTA DI MANDORLE
almond cake
&
CIAMBELLE DOLCI
Italian potato donuts with orange glaze
Saracco Moscato D’asti 2009

 

CROSTINI
crostini of goat cheese, mission fig preserve, house cured duck prosciutto, and micro arugula

WINE PAIRING
Prosecco, Zardetto NV

TORTELLINI IN BRODO
prosciutto consommé with beech brown mushrooms, and Tellegio cheese tortellini

WINE PAIRING
Tiefenbrunner Lagrein Castel Turmhof DOC 2008

INSALATA DI SPINACI
spinach and poached duck egg salad with pickled red onions, pecorino,
pancetta Dijon mustard vinaigrette

WINE PAIRING
Argiolas Serra Lori Isola Dei Nuraghi Rose 2008

AGNOLOTTI
braised goose neck stuffed in spinach agnolotti with brown butter, sage, and bread crumbs

WINE PAIRING
Cascina Adelaide 4 Vigne Barolo DOCG 2005

GNOCCHI CON CODA DI BUE
potato gnocchi Poutine style with fontina and chianti braised oxtail

WINE PAIRING
Terre di Balbia Balbìum Calabria Rosso 2008

BRANZINO
whole grilled branzino
with brussels sprouts & beet greens
(always accompanied by what’s freshest at the farmer’s market)
served with confit meyer lemon oil

WINE PAIRING
J. Hofstatter Meczan Pinot Nero Alto Adige DOC 2009

Michael’s Kitchen

Read what makes Michael’s BRANZINO the Best this Side of Italy here.

DESSERTS

TORTA DI MANDORLE
almond cake

CIAMBELLE DOLCI
Italian potato donuts with orange glaze

WINE PAIRING
Saracco Moscato D’asti 2009

THE WINE LINE-UP

We are in awe of Massimo’s wine knowledge and food pairing choices.
When dining at Michael’s make sure to take advantage of Massimo’s expertise.

David Coleman, Massimo Aronne, Michael Dene

“My lifelong passion has been to open a restaurant that reflects my high standards of taste – from the overall design and professionalism of the staff to, most importantly, the menu and wine list. Thanks to a team of dedicated professionals, who hold that same commitment to excellence, my vision has been realized with Michael’s On Naples. Now my wish is to share my dream with you. I hope you will join me in a celebration of dining at its finest.” Michael Dene

Grazie Signori

ROOFTOP PATIO

No time for dinner?
Relax on Michael’s rooftop patio, order from a great selection of Italian wine-by -the-glass,
and try beef filet tartare on grilled ciabatta with wild arugula, lemon, pancetta aioli from the Bar Menu.

Michael’s on Naples Ristorante
5620 East 2nd Street • Long Beach, CA • 562.439.7080