What's Right About Nonna Tata

(Editor's Note to web searchers: This post was written almost 2 years ago. Since then I have received more bad reviews about Nonna Tata, written and in conversation, than good ones. Food and Fort Worth no longer endorses this restaurant in a "Best of" Category)
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I was in Philadelphia when the Fort Worth Star-Telegram ran an article on the new Italian restaurant Nonna Tata. I read the review yesterday and have to say that they got it right. The following quote pays a high compliment:

Make no mistake: Trotti's Nonna Tata is not just a restaurant that Fort Worth should be thankful for, it's one that would be treasured in any city in the nation, including New York or San Francisco. (September 19, 2007 / FWST )

High praise that is well deserved.

I am puzzled why more people don't start restaurants in the same way. That is, she makes the food she loves and knows. She is present. She greets her guests. The menu is limited to what can be done well. The overhead is low and the seating is limited but suitable to her budget and her time. Is she going to get rich with a small restaurant? No, but she seems to be enjoying herself, and if she wants to expand, she can, and do very well.

Fort Worth needs authentic Italian cuisine, until she opened I think our Italian food has been mostly bad with a few exceptions like La Piazza. But that's a little pricey. Nonna Tata has a more affordable menu, so it's more of an everyday restaurant and not a special occasion restaurant.

If you want an authentic, reasonably-priced Italian restaurant try Nonna Tata.

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Nonna Tata: 817-332-0250, Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Worth Star Telegram article: http://www.star-telegram.com/food/story/239949.html

The Tastiest Chicken Breast Recipe Ever

Personally, I find most baked chicken without a lot of flavor.
But not last Sunday night. For her weekly Sunday night dinner, my daughter made chicken with pasta and artichoke hearts. The long marination and touch of lemon made it as good as it gets.

Chicken and Artichoke Pasta Recipe.

Marinate Chicken for 3-24 hours.
6 chicken breasts
2 cloves garlic minced
juice of 2 lemons
1 tbsp coarse salt
1tbsp coarse pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
Put all ingredients in ziplock bag in refrigerator until ready to grill.

Pasta sauce
1 lb bacon
12 oz marinated artichokes
1 clove minced garlic
5 tbsp butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
juice of 1 lemon
1 cup white wine

salt and pepper to taste

Render fat from bacon until bacon is crispy. Drain
bacon  and put fat to the side. De glaze pan with
lemon juice and wine. Add butter and garlic. Simmer
for about 5 minutes. Add artichokes and heavy
cream/salt and pepper-return to simmer. Cook pasta
until done, drain and put in a large bowl. Add 2 tbsp
bacon fat and toss pasta. Pour artichoke sauce over
top, add bacon and top with grilled chicken and
Parmesan cheese.

Food in the News

Restaurants coming soon to Fort Worth, we think:

Bob's Steak and Chop House / Omni Hotel Downtown

Ruth's Chris Steaks / Hilton Hotel remodel Downtown

Ronin Sushi & Sake / Montgomery Plaza

Sheraton Hotel with restaurant to be named / Downtown

Anybody know of others?