Cari Amici di Sotto Sopra, 

As 2011 comes to a conclusion I will let this newsletter serve you both for November and December. December is way too busy for me to really concentrate and do a newsletter with intent and focus.

It has been a very good year at Sotto Sopra so far.  Honestly, I cannot thank you enough for supporting us in these challenging times. It has been amazing the show of support that we had from all of you this year. 

To respect your commitment, we have really worked to bring innovative and inspiring Italian cuisine to Baltimore for the first time in a long time. Our specials alone have become almost another menu and this shows what a great staff I have assembled. Everyone is excited about food and service. The fact that we get very creative with seasonal products and in sync with the trends motivates and inspires us all. I really enjoy motivating people, even though my reputation might resemble that of a brutal dictator! Who me? Well my enthusiasm and focus to make sure our guests have a wonderful dining experience from the food, the service and the atmosphere can sometimes be off putting to the staff...well, dictator like.

Last month I told you we had a whole pig coming in and we created a delicious porchetta and many other dishes from my friend Porky. In Porky's honor check out the animated video below of Ormie.

Monika, Amelia and I went apple picking at Baugher's farm. It was amazing and what a discovery for me. It's a great farm and you can also pick cherries, peaches and other fruits when in season. Amelia had a blast and fun visiting the animals and their playground.

On The Menu

This month we will be running quail, wild boar, gnocchi and pumpkin pasta, baked acorn squashes with a sage pesto, butternut squash ravioli with pork shoulder confit and a fig, raising agrodolce, pumpkin soup with homemade marshmallows, broccoli rabe with pine nuts and pomegranate, skate in coriander dust with spaghetti squash and feta cheese, eggplant and chocolate. The last dish was suggested by Mr. Goldberg and it is unbelievable.

I hope all of you will come out and enjoy these last 2 months of 2011 with us and celebrate the holidays in our beautifully decorated restaurant.  Dates for parties in December are moving at a nice speed so I will suggest you call before coming in to make sure we are not closed for a private party.

In this Thanksgiving month, we hope you give blessing for all that is positive and good in your life. We are surely thankful for your support. Take care of yourselves, health and the gift of life are the most valuable gifts. To those of you that are sick in health or other means of hardship  we want to  extend the most sincere and warm wishes for a speedy recovery or better times ahead. 

i Amici di Sotto Sopra,

Ciao, alla prossima newsletter in 2012,