The Big Night @ La Morra

Excited. That's the word I would use to describe the anticipation I felt as we arrived at La Morra for "The Big Night" on Wednesday, April 14, 2010.

Simply put, it was dinner and a movie, hosted by the lady owner herself who personally served us alongside her black clad staff.

The movie was "The Big Night" starring 'Monk' (Tony Shalhoub) and the creepy guy from the American version of "Shall We Dance?" (Stanley Tucci) Dinner was a recreation of the huge dinner they prepared on the film.

They seated us at three long tables running through the length of the room and a fourth shorter table that capped the space. Yes, the food was served family-style so you had to share with your neighbors whom you may or may not know. We began with pours of our choice of a red (Quattro Mani Montepulciano 2008) and white (Mandrarossa Fiano 2008) wine - as much as we could drink - and a spread of three appetizer plates: cannelini beans/house-pickled vegetables/beet & fennel salad. Then the movie began playing on a sheet taped up with duct tape.

It was quite a leisurely meal, with bowlfuls of a golden liquid served as La Zuppa nearly a half hour after the movie started. The chicken broth was surprisingly intensely flavored and the homemade pasta perfectly al dente.

The two parter I Primi began with the Italian flag lookalike serving dish of creamy risotto - spinach/bianco/tomato-seafood, and was then followed by Il Timpano. The baked pasta/egg/sausage in a pastry shell was first paraded around the room for us to oh and ah over, before it was served in slices on individual plates.

After viewing the actual dinner on our big screen, I was wondering if we'd have a whole pig to dine upon. Nope, but we did enjoy striped bass and roasted chicken for I Secondi, along with a platter of roasted asparagus, potatoes, and carrots. Both fish and fowl were waltzed around the room before they were portioned out for our enjoyment.

As I Dolci course was missing from the movie, I had no idea what to expect. Tiramisu and eclairs ended up being a simple finish to an enjoyable meal.

At $65pp plus tip & tax, I left with a full belly and fond memories. Two quotes especially stuck out in my mind. The first, from the movie, spoken in response to the American diner who insisted that spaghetti should always come with meatballs: "Sometimes spaghetti likes to be alone." And the second from a tablemate, as we watched yet another course pass us by before it was our turn to be served: "This is the most excruciating table."

Elephant Walks Again

It is highly unusual for me to order the same dishes as my dining companion.

First and foremost, this is mainly because people tend to have different tastes, and so usually there is a difference of opinions on what sounds good.

Also, it is generally a good idea to order something different because it gives you the opportunity to try a variety of dishes (assuming your companion is willing to share). And, if you have a friend who has a gift for choosing the best dish at the table (like I do), a better chance at tasting something yummier than what had caught your eye.

Oddly enough, during a recent visit to the Beacon Street branch of the Cambodian French restaurant The Elephant Walk, it turned out that both my friend and I had our eyes on the same dishes of the Tasting Menu ($33.95 for 4 courses; $29.95 for 3 courses).

Nataing ($6.95 on the regular menu) - Ground pork simmered in coconut milk with sliced garlic, crushed peanuts and chili pods; served with crispy jasmine rice

Leah Chah (which doesn't seem to be on the regular menu) - Prince Edward Island mussels sautéed with garlic, Asian basil, red bell pepper, jalapeño, and scallion (gluten-free)

Saumon à la Crème de Poireaux et Champignons ($18.95) - Atlantic salmon filet pan-roasted and topped with julienned leeks and Shiitake mushroom in a savory garlic and shallot cream sauce, over steamed potato

This time, we decided, so be it! We can live dangerously! ;) And since she’s no sweet tooth, while I am, but I’ve tried and don’t really care for either of the two Tasting Menu dessert options (Le Péché au Chocolat - A rich creamy chocolate truffle cake perfectly paired with raspberry coulis, and Mousse aux Fruits de Passion - Refreshingly tart & sweet passion fruit mousse served in an almond lace cup; garnished with fresh pineapple crushed in dark rum, sugar & lemon juice, $8.00 each) we decided to opt for the three course option and tossed in an order of the Rouleaux, Cambodian spring rolls filled with ground pork, crushed peanut, bean thread noodles, carrot and onion; served with fresh greens and herbs for wrapping and tuk trey on the side for dipping, $8.95 for 5 rolls (vs 2 rolls as a part of the Tasting Menu).

I’ve had the Rouleaux many a times in the past, actually, virtually on every visit to this restaurant. It is food and fun in one! You’re supposed to take a nice crispy still warm spring roll, lay it on a leaf of lettuce, add some basil and bean sprouts, roll up the lettuce and dunk it in the sauce, and take a bite. It is cool and warm, crispy and crunchy, and just plain yummy!

Nataing turned out to be another interactive and wonderful dish, reminiscent of chili or a meaty tomato sauce in consistency, served with savory marshmallow treats minus the marshmallow for dunking. I loved the flavor of the stew and the added fun crispiness of the rice cakes crumbled in.

The mussels were plentiful and had a bit of a kick! But we were getting stuffed here… not to mention they had started us off with a French baguette and some butter. We only had room for a quarter or so of our entrée. The salmon was tender with crispy edges, the sauce creamy and garlicky, mushrooms tender, and the potatoes buttery in nature.

A wonderful meal indeed!

Elephant Walk ~ 900 Beacon Street, Boston ~ (617) 247-1500 ~ www.elephantwalk.com