I had arrived early at our meeting point at La Risata, and none of my friends were in sight. We had planned to eat Korean that night at a restaurant in Ampang, near La Risata. I called Paprika to find out where she was. “Ummmm, there’s been a change of plans…..we’re eating at La Risata instead,” she said. Okayyyyy. The restaurant was already bustling with patrons despite it being a weekday night in a relatively quiet part of Ampang. Boo turned up first, then Paprika and Hunky.
“I’m in labour,” Paprika said, in a slow and even tone.
What??” I exclaimed, having seen one too many ER scenes on television. “Shouldn’t we rush you to a hospital??”
“It’s okay,” she replied, “we will finish dinner first, then go to the hospital.”
Okayyyyy.
And so we ate and laughed and ate some more.
Little baby Biskit was born the next day.
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Best of all, I’m a Junior Godmother! (Thank you, Paprika!)
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We remember events….people….stories….smells….tastes. Restaurants are just vehicles for memories to take place. It was by no means my first visit to La Risata since the refurbishment and menu change this year. In fact, I was at La Risata a couple of month earlier on the invitation of its proprietor and my friend, Lissa. For a halal restaurant, this one trumps many other Italian restaurants which are not similarly restricted by the choice of ingredients. The owners are constantly involved in the running of the restaurant and in the menu selection, and their perseverance and passion is reflected in the output. I generally dislike eating pizza, but at La Risata, I devour the pizza. My favourite is the thin crusted Pizza D’Anatra, lightly covered with smoked duck, anchovies, caramelised onions, rocket and mozarella. The buttery aroma drives me crazy. Another favourite at La Risata is the gnocchi. Gnocchi is typically served in a sauce-based dish, but at La Risata, there is a special gnocchi dish called Gnocchi Ai Gamberi where the little potato dumplings are sauteed with prawns and herb butter. The texture is both bouncy and slighty crusty. Lissa tempted me once with a dish that was off the menu – crab ravioli. I’ll never forgive her for introducing that dish to me because I am haunted by memories of that experience – the crab meat had been cooked and extracted earlier, then sealed in the ravioli and cooked in a buttery sauce scented with sage. It’s a labour intensive dish – one that can’t be whipped up in an instant, and Lissa refuses to use any of the canned stuff in her ravioli, so I shall have to just live with the memory until it fades away in ten, maybe twenty years.
Sigh.
Gnocchi Ai Gamberi
I can’t remember what this is called, but it tasted like French toast. Comfort food.
Brodetto Di Cozze – NZ Blue Mussels with garlic and white wine soup
Insalata Bresaola E Rucola – Air-dried beef, rocket salad, chick pea with a lemon olive oil dressing & parmesan shavings
My favourite pizza
Filetto Di Merluzzo con Vongole E Fagioli – Pan-fried fillet of cod with cannellini beans & clams in a tomato & white wine broth
The stuff that haunts my dreams
Penne Con Gamberi E Pesto – Tube pasta with prawn & basil pesto sauce. My experience with this dish has been inconsistent. My first time was a reasonably thick pesto sauce which clung to the pasta, my second was a watery dish that appeared to be hurriedly prepared.
Sicilian Bombe – Meringue covered liquored sponge filled with lemon cream flambéed with brandy – cold on the inside & hot on the outside. A dessert reminiscent of my distant childhood where Bomb Alaskas were the vogue.
The rustic interior of the newly renovated restaurant
There is nothing avant-garde about the food at La Risata. The food is traditional and familiar, and that’s not a bad thing when one wants to just chill out with friends over wine and good, well-prepared food. Judging from the many patrons whom Lissa recognises from years back, La Risata houses many memories, not just mine.
La Risata (Ampang)
16 Pesiaran Ampang
55000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-4252 6269
La Risata (Damansara)
128 Jalan Kasah
Medan Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2095 9572
Okies now must help the baby to learn to love Italian food! Start feeding him gnocchi when he turns two. Then by the time he’s three, he should be able to tell the difference between tagliolini and linguine 😀
Have never been to the ampang outlet… But yeah, amazing how yummy it is considering the non Babi-ness 🙂
(the pizzas r so delish! Luv how the crust is thin n crispy n not starchy)
larvely post and a huge, massive CONGRATS to Paps and hubby on the new BUB;) YAY!
Sean: Baby will end up like you! I suppose you will insist that that’s a good thing. 😛 (btw, baby’s a “she”)
J: I like the Ampang outlet. I still can’t get over how busy it is. I guess Ampang-ites appreciate their pizzas!
cumidanciki: I’m sure they will be happy to see your message. 🙂
Damansara outlet will be my choice should I go to La Risata!! Speaking of which, Leo junior will arrive next Tuesday.. 3 days after Christmas!!
*so for now, no Christmas party whatsoever… gotta let Jenn rest well for the big day!*
thule: Oh wow…..I’m so excited for you and Jenn! Keep us updated on lil baby. Yeah, Christmas parties can wait. 🙂
This is why u cannot, CANNOT stop sharing stories with us. Thou shall eat and tell us more. I love it when you weave the tales of your life into these salivating pictures of yours.
So when you gonna talk about me? LOL
Alilfatmonkey: Too kind! Eh, haven’t I talked about you before? My readers will cry, man, when they hear of your generosity of spirit as you accompany me, late at night, at PappaRich, when I’m all alone with no friend for company after a hard day’s work. Waitaminute, that also sounds like Kenny Mah’s udon story. (but that’s half fiction lah)
Hmmm…Airlines give free flights for babies born on board plans. Maybe paps can try her luck with La Risata. *ROFL*
I have yet to find gnocchi that I like but the looks of this one is enough to tempt me! Also, the first picture of the meringue is amazing!
unka: Hehe….Paps will be kissing your feet at your brilliant suggestion.
iamthewitch: Yeah, the gnocchi is pretty good here. I like the bomb alaska/sicilian bombe because of its theatrical presentation….huge flames, etc. Very nice.
I wanted to lick the screen… your shots just popped out 🙂 of mine!
HappY ChristmAs dear LL! Hugs…
Hiya Jules! Lick away! Just as well you’re far away in Abooderby. Merry Christmas back atcha! Hugs!
Aiyo I can still remember your tweets about Paprika being in labour already and still dining witchuall dat nite. So men-kancheong-kan! 😀
When I read the first part of your post, it made me laugh bcos something similar happened to me. Doctor said I was ready to deliver baby and told me to standby at the hospital, but I told him I wanted to go and have a final meal first before confinement. Hehe!
Merry Christmas!
Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderfully delicious new year ahead!
Is there a difference between the Damansara branch and Ampang branch?
First time I see gnocchi cooked like carrot cake-style! 😀
Oooooo this is another favorite haunt of mine. When I’m craving Italian, all I think of is La Risata & the salmon ravioli + the pizzas (will ask for the crab ravioli next time). Now I want to makan here pulak instead of Uncle Aru’s. Better stop reading your posts now till all my food cravings are fully satiated!! Lol
I like your pictures. So nice. I’m saving this location for my next food hunt. Thanks
The lamb shank is the BEST I have eaten anywhere in the world, amazing and ALWAYS good.
Keep up the good work