By Chanda Temple
When I recently walked into North Italia at the Summit in Birmingham to try their summer menu, I asked the visiting chef what I could expect.
The first word out of his mouth was: Love.
“You’re gonna taste all of the love that we put in our food,” said Chris Curtiss, North Italia’s corporate chef and director of Culinary Research and Development. “Everything is made from scratch. All of our pastas are made by hand. We’ve sourced the best ingredients.”
He did not lie.
The Lumache Alla Norcina didn’t just show up, it took a seat, made a scene and shut the table down. The cream? So rich. That fennel sausage? Loud in the best way. Combined with black truffle, herb breadcrumbs and shaved asparagus, it was luxury in every bite. (I even heard the server call this dish “scrape-the-bowl good!” )
The Braised Short Rib Marsala appeared like a general on a mission. It was fully in charge. Coming in as back up was its army of beech mushrooms, snap peas, heirloom carrots and black truffle risotto. Together, this was a full-on takeover with flavor in command.
And the Tiramisu? Its espresso-soaked ladyfingers, mascarpone mousse and chocolate pearls made it the showstopper for the evening. Thick, cold and creamy, I felt like saluting. Then, I asked for an encore.
Dish after dish, it was evident that North Italia did not come to play this summer. They came to slay. (Their summer menu will be available until late October.)
“It’s our take on modern Italian cuisine, and we tried to base all of our dishes on a certain region of Italy but through a twist that will appeal to a lot of people,” Curtiss said.
So, settle in and get ready because North Italia is reporting for duty with love in every layer.
They kicked off dinner with cocktails as a way to highlight the restaurant’s Summer Sips campaign, which features 16 beverages that will be available now through Sept. 1.
The campaign includes 13 new, regionally exclusive drinks created by North Italia bartenders across the country, plus three national cocktails ($15) and one zero-proof beverage ($11) available nationwide. During happy hour on Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 6 p.m., the cocktails are priced at $12 each and $8 for the mocktail.
This campaign offers a unique look at how mixologists across different regions interpret the season’s vibe and local palate through inventive, music-inspired drinks that can only be found in their local North Italia. For example, the Birmingham location has the Eternal Sunshine, which is made with Old Forester Rye, passion fruit, Ramazzotti Rosato, Strega and ginger. It was inspired by Ariana Grande’s song, “Eternal Sunshine.”
During my visit, they also had the Pink Pony Spritz, which is made with Florente elderflower, Starlino Rose, raspberry, Cleto Chiarli Brut Rose and edible glitter.
The Pink Pony Spritz (Photo by Chanda Temple
The Braised Short Rib Marsala was a favorite for the table and our North Italia server. “Make sure you get some of those heirloom carrots,” our server said. “That’s the best part.” (Photo by Chanda Temple)
The Seasonal Vegetable Salad features grilled asparagus, avocado, sweet corn, broccolini, heirloom tomatoes, fregola, a creamy goat cheese, pistachio, and avocado vinaigrette. You can add a protein to it, if you’d like. But this salad is so good, it doesn’t need it. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
North Italia’s version of arancini comes with a pesto aioli, which is made with garlic oil, lemon juice and lemon zest. The homemade pesto is also featured in the Trottole Chicken Pesto, which has a blend of sweet basil, shaved garlic, toasted pine nuts and crispy capers. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
The Chicken Scarpariello features crispy skin over two, fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs and two legs. There’s also sweet Italian sausage, piquillo pepper, fingerling potatoes and grilled ciabatta in a chicken jus in this dish. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
The sausage in this Lumache Alla Norcina stole the show. It will have your making reservations for your next visit. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
The Tiramisu is like that forehead kiss on date night: your heart will skip a beat. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
For those looking for a non-alcoholic after-dinner drink at North Italia, the Jumpstart is a consideration. The glass is dressed in a drizzle of chocolate syrup, and the contents include two ounces of espresso, with an addition of mocha, simple syrup and Half and Half cream. It is topped with foam. (Photo by Chanda Temple)
A friend ended the evening with an espresso martini. It was her first time trying one, which was made with Nikkia vodka, Licor 43, espresso and cream. It was topped with three espresso beans. “This is your first espresso martini? Oh my gosh, your life is about to change,” the North Italia server said after delivering the dark brown drink to the table. “Espresso martinis are God’s gift to the earth.” (Photo by Chanda Temple)
After my visit, the whole meal was God’s gift to those in search of good plates with a good grove.
Savor This! If you are interested in a visit, reservations are encouraged. They are open for lunch, Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Brunch is available Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go here for their times for dinner and Happy Hour.
Chanda Temple is an award-winning writer living in Birmingham, Ala. She blogs at http://www.chandatemplewrites.com. If you have a food story idea, email her at chandatemple@gmail.com. Follow her on Instagram at @chandatemple.
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