It was one of those brilliantly sunny, spring afternoons when that voice inside your head says, "I wish we could take the rest of the day off." So, we did!
It was lunch-time, and a walk to Coppa seemed like a good start.
We arrived to see diners relaxing at outside tables, but decided to settle inside, at the bar– great decision. It was immediately obvious that the man behind the bar was of the kitchen, not the front of the house. Watching while he prepped plates, was like having a front-row seat to what everyone was eating.
We were weak from hunger and needed a quick-pick from the menu.
Suddenly, a tantalizing mound of prosciutto appeared, and we dove in. A couple of glasses a rosé were perfect complements.
We began to feel the week's stress melting away. I could imagine we were at an enoteca in a small Italian village. When a couple sat down next to us and began to rush their order, Penny tried to convince them we were now on "Tuscan time." (I think it worked.)
The minutes stretched into hours as we tasted one morsel after another.
We watched the precision of the salumi slicing, while waiting for our next course. It was the Boston food-cart classic, a sausage and pepper sandwich, but this one was in a league by itself. I can only show you half– most of the rest was gone before Penny could pull out her camera.
There was salad, pizza, tuna crudo, and thinly sliced tongue that was perfect with my glass of nebbiolo.
We asked our cuisinier how he was going to use the large bowl of egg whites he was whipping. He combined the mixture with copious amounts of salt to make a pedestal for serving lightly poached oysters. "Did I want to try one?" Of course. It was sensational.
A lunch meant to begin an afternoon of leisure, became the main course of an afternoon of pure pleasure. I love it when that happens.
Shop Amazon through BostonZest and help keep the posts coming. Father's Day or graduation gifts are just a click away.
Related Post:
Details:
Coppa
253 Shawmut Avenue, Boston MA (map & reviews)
617-391-0902
Writer: Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino
