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Thursday, April 9, 2009

Mangia Qui

Mangia Qui Restaurant, Harrisburg Pennsylvania © Susqueats.com 2009

On Harrisburg's somewhat off-the-beaten-path North Street, just off Restaurant Row you can find yourself in a totally different epicurean neighborhood - Tuscany. Mangia Qui brings authentic tastes of Italy to central Pennsylvania.

Mangia Qui strives to use sustainable organic foods, buy local and find the finest ingredients available.

An example of that mindset are these Oysters on the Half Shell with a Classic Shallot Mignonette. There are three different kinds (two of each) that are farmed and raised sustainably, or from populations that are not over-harvested.

Other Antipasti includes selections like La Toscana (micro black tuscan kale, cannelini beans, pesto and jumbo lump crab), Carpaccio Di Bresaola (dry aged Fillet Mignon, arugula, lemon aioli and shaved parmigiano-reggiano cheese) and this Boletus Grigliati (marinated and char grilled Pennsylvania royal trumpet mushrooms, spring onion, arugula, shaved Manchego cheese and warm vinaigrette).

The bread served with dinner is a fresh-baked herb-crusted foccaccia. Pictured is a whole loaf fresh out of the oven before it gets cut into individual slices.

Some of the selections look more like works of art than food, such is the case with this Prosciutto Rollitini (Prosciutto stuffed with asparagus, chives and goat cheese with a celery and parsley sauce).

The dinner menu includes Primi and Secondi selections.

The Primi menu features a variety of pastas like the Linguine Integrale pictured here which is whole wheat linguine, zucchini, oven roasted tomatoes, grilled red onion, fresh oregano, tiger shrimp and pecorino. Some of the other choices include Malfada Rossa (ruffled edge wide fettuccine, rich lobster and brandy sauce, and sauteed crab claw), Linguine Vongole (linguine, sauteed littleneck clams, Sicilian moliche and goat cheese) and Fusilli (fusilli pasta, basil and arugula pesto, Keswick Creamery organic ricotta, and sweet Italian sausage).

The fish isn't included on the menu as it changes daily. Pictured here a striped bass is poached in white wine and fresh herbs, purple Peruvian potatoes, English peas, littleneck clams and finished in a light cream sauce

The Secondi section features non-pasta dishes. Some of these selections include Maiale ala Friulia (grilled marinated Berkshire pork tenderloin, slow cooked Corona beans, Jersey sweet potatoes, and pistachio gremolata), Risotto Savoiardi (sauteed veal tenderloin, Pino Grigio pan juices, risotto tossed with savoy cabbage, house made mozzarella, garlic and parmigiano-reggiano) and Costoletto d'Agnello (marinated grilled lamb chops, crispy polenta, pomodoro and sauteed greens).

Additionally there is a selection of nightly specials like this Scottadito d'Agnello (grilled marinated rack of lamb, Venere rice with edamame, grilled baby eggplant, spring onions and smoked tomato coulis).

To compliment your meal Mangia Qui has a wide selection of Italian wines as well as a variety of grappas.