Birthday Eat Out #3

Cheers to my little sister for turning one year older and wiser.

We took a stroll along the upscale roads of Santana Row and enjoyed a meal at Maggiano's Little Italy.

Italian restaurants has the custom of serving their traditional bread and a dip. Bread was fluffy with a light crunchy outer layer served with a balsamic vinaigrette olive oil dip. Although I am not a fan of the acidic dip, the bread was delicious.

We had multiple switch-offs of what our appetizer should be: from bruschetta to calamari to stuffed mushrooms. Our final decision of what started off the meal was the jumbo lump crab cakes. Crabmeat was coated in Japanese breadcrumbs and sauteed and served with a side of tomato aioli with arugula salad.

Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes

Our main course was two entrees of pastas. One is the Rigatoni 'D' with rigatoni pasta, herb-roasted chicken, mushrooms and caramelized onions, tossed in a Marsala cream sauce. The sauce was a little heavy on the cheese side which is not what I preferred but it was a yummy dish nevertheless.

Rigatoni 'D'

The other entree dish is the Taylor Street Baked Ziti with italian sausage, pomodoro sauce and ziti topped with a layer of melted Provolone and Parmesan cheese. I'm surprised the cheese on this dish was lighter for my palate, something of which I enjoy. This order of classic pasta also came with another perk of an additional take-home-pasta that could be brought back home to eat. Its like a buy one get one. What a great deal! 

Taylor Street Baked Ziti

After our full yet stuffing meal, we opt for some dessert, but not before a little surprise from the restaurant. Vera's Lemon Cookies that were crescent shaped glazed with lemon frosting lit in three long candles. Those little cookies were my addiction. It was so soft and light with a zing of sweet lemon flavor.

Vera's Lemon Cookies

What came next is my guilty pleasure, a Mini Dessert Sampler of the restaurant's classic dessert: Tiramisu, Chocolate Zuccotto Cake,  Apple Crostada, New York Style Cheesecake, and Creme Brulee. 

By far, one of the yummiest dessert sampler I tried. My favorite was the chocolate zuccotto cake, it was amazingly rich and creamy.

Mini Dessert Sampler (left to right):
Tiramisu, Chocolate Zuccotto Cake, Apple Crostada, New York Style Cheesecake, Creme Brulee

Mini Dessert Sampler (left to right): Creme Brulee, New York Style Cheesecake, Apple Crostada, Chocolate Zuccotto Cake, Tiramisu 

We ended off the night with lights that filled the midnight street.

Santana Row