Lunch @ Della Nonna

We're back for another Saturday Lunch.



We begin with a warm mix of olives,rosemary and rosemary and




a serving of the tomato and basil bruschetta - the base is cooked in the wood-fired oven.

For mains:



I have the rigatoni with meatballs - this is the main course size and it is rather large. I think that even an entree size would have been more than enough.



Paalo orders the pizza with prosciutto, rocket and parmesan. The base is thin and crisp, just how we like it.

The details:

Della Nonna
844 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

Phone: 9819 6444

Open:

Lunch:
Wednesday - Saturday Noon-2.30pm

Dinner:
Sunday - Thursday 6pm - 10pm
Friday - Saturday 6pm - 10.30pm

Lunch @ Della Nonna

Paalo needs to answer the call of the wood-fired pizza so we've headed back to Della Nonna.

For starters:


Plate of Veneto Salami


Chilli and Garlic School Prawns with rocket and lemon



For Mains:


Pizza with cherry tomatoes, white sicilian anchovies, olive paste and basil



It's a big call but this pizza now gets the title of "our favourite pizza since Italy". It has that ideal combination of wafer thin pliable crust with just the right amount of topping - those white anchovies are particularly impressive


Risotto with Chicken, Chicory and Camembert

Risotto is one of those dishes that even though I love, I tend not to order as it come out resembling fried rice. Just like "al dente" has moved to mean undercooked pasta, risotto is served as hard dry rice maybe with cream or the like added (shock horror).

Risotto should be like this one, creamy but with just some texture remaining in the rice. A great combination, earthiness from the camembert, restrained bitterness from the chicory all cradled in a great creamy risotto.

Onto dessert:

Paalo orders the Blueberry and White Chocolate Tart


while I enjoy the Calzone with nutella and roasted hazelnuts

This is hazelnut lovers heaven.

The details:

Della Nonna
844 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

Phone: 9819 6444

Open:

Lunch:
Wednesday - Saturday Noon-2.30pm

Dinner:
Sunday - Thursday 6pm - 10pm
Friday - Saturday 6pm - 10.30pm

Lunch @ Della Nonna

It's a cold and rainy day and a good time to check back in at Della Nonna.



We begin this time with Shaw River Buffalo Mozzarella served with a preserved artichoke half (that sits on a thick balsamic vinegar) and pieces of a simple chilli spiced focaccia.



and a platter of assorted cured meats - capicollo, prosciutto, salami served with grissini.





For mains:


I have the osso buco with risotto - a lovely cheesy creamy risotto that is topped with a deliciously tender piece of osso buco.




and Paalo has the pizza with spicy salami, sliced olives, roasted capsicum and bocconcini. A lovely thin base is easily one of the best you can find. If you can't fold your pizza it is not a pizza.

For dessert



I have the mini cannoli filled with limoncello cream - filled to order these are light and crisp.




Paalo has the kitchen's least favourite dish, zabaglione - and yes it is also whipped to order and poured at the table from its copper bowl.


The details:

Della Nonna
844 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

Phone: 9819 6444

Open:

Lunch:
Wednesday - Saturday Noon-2.30pm

Dinner:
Sunday - Thursday 6pm - 10pm
Friday - Saturday 6pm - 10.30pm

Lunch @ Della Nonna

We're still in an experimental mood even after our breakfast experience. We decide to dip our toes in at Della Nonna.

Della Nonna is a world away from it's previous incarnation as the Courtyard Deli. It certainly looks like the new owners basically gutted the place and have moved it from the 1970's to become a stylish modern cafe - complete with wood burning pizza oven.

We start with some of the meat-stuffed Olives



hot, crisp, salty, meaty - they tick the boxes to get your appetite going.

We decide to test out the pizza



Paalo opts for the prosciutto - on a cooked tomato base, freshly sliced prosciutto, rocket and shaved parmesan are draped over the hot pizza topped with a final drizzle of olive oil before it's bought to the table



I order the Pizza Bianco - white pizza with mushrooms.

We are pretty impressed with both pizzas - the bases are lovely and thin, perfect for folding and certainly do remind up of those we enjoyed in Italy.


The details:

Della Nonna
844 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

Phone: 9819 6444

Open:

Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday Noon-2.30pm
Dinner: Sunday - Thursday 6pm - 10pm; Friday - Saturday 6pm - 10.30pm