Big developments at Corso!

April 15th, 2010

Been a while since I’ve posted anything, and I’ll try and post more often, but I have some news I thought I’d put up here first:
April 30th will be our last lunch service at Corso. Due to unpopular demand, we’re just going to have to give it up.

We don’t know why lunch never went anywhere, but Wendy and I can probably attest to our general inexperience with lunch: neither one of us worked much in the way of lunch in our careers and maybe we just couldn’t compete with the hardened pros in the Berkeley area.

In similar news, we’re also going to refine our menu to better fit the concept and strengthen what we do do so well. So, when we can find buyers for our ovens, we will no longer offer pizza. Corso came outfitted with two very good Bakers Pride ovens, the top of the line Y600, but Wendy wanted to offer the food of her youth, the food of Florence, and pizza just isn’t done there. But we thought pizza is so popular we’d give it a try. But the pizza created a lot of space and production problems in the kitchen and finally we just decided that they didn’t add enough to our cuisine to justify the problems, so we’re getting out of the pizza business. I know a lot of you will be VERY unhappy with our choice: we want to apologize for setting you up just to pull the rug out from underneath. But we feel that this change will allow us offer even better food than we currently do.

Well that’s all: Rodrigo’s still going nuts in the kitchen with great new dishes, still cutting up whole pigs and lamb for chops and salumi. I’ve got a lot of new wines, just came across some more ‘04 Brunello at great prices.

If you don’t know already, Charlie, my illustrious GM is now going to help me run both the places so Terumi is taking over Corso, you should see her and Rodrigo there a lot now that dinner will be our only service.

Wendy and I thank you for all your support the last two years and hope all is well for you and your loved ones.

Cheers!

Announcements, Corso

Easter Brunch!

March 17th, 2010

Happy Spring Everyone,

Corso will be serving brunch on Easter Sunday, April 4th. We will offer a special, 3-course prix fixe menu, for $25 per person.

Please call the restaurant for reservations (510-704-8004), as we plan to book the entire room.

We will leave the seven seats at the bar available for walk-ins, with those seats (and only those seats) able to order a la carte.   Hope to see you then!

The planned menu (subject to minor changes) is below:

PRIMI

Zuppa puréed artichoke and potato, lemon oil, parmesan

Panzotti fresh pasta stuffed with ricotta and rock shrimp, shellfish broth, fresh herbs

Lattuga Romana romaine lettuces, anchovy-lemon vinaigrette, croutons

Mozzarella fresh house-pulled mozzarella, asparagus, hazelnuts, truffle oil

SECONDI

Uova in camicia cream poached egg, parmesan, pancetta, roast tomato, grilled bread

Frittelle dolce mascarpone pancakes, fresh fruit sauce, honey syrup, whipped mascarpone

Salsiccia di anatra house-made duck sausage, scrambled egg, arugula pesto

Pollo Hoffman Farms chicken breast, radicchio, white beans, arugula, lemon preserve

Agnello roast lamb roulade, stuffed with spinach/pinenuts/currants, spring onions, potatoes

DOLCE

Budino alla cioccolato flourless chocolate cake, caramel and chocolate sauce, whipped cream

Panna cotta vanilla bean panna cotta with seasonal fruit compote

Semifreddo frozen custard, espresso, candied almonds

Announcements, Corso, Food, Special Events

Rivoli’s Economic Recovery Menu!

November 30th, 2009

Wendy’s offering a special low priced menu for the next three weeks, with a three course prix fixe for only $22. Yes that’s right, only $22! And to assuage your Holiday doldrums, we’ll throw in a Merrymaker cocktail for only $5!

Wendy and I hope we’ll see you soon at Rivoli!

Rsc

Corso, Food

Chef Rodrigo teaches too!

October 1st, 2009

Come see our Chef Rodrigo teach how to cook pasta at 12noon at the Spice of LIfe Festival this Sunday the 4th!

Corso, Special Events

Corso at Spice of Life!

October 1st, 2009

Corso will man a booth and protect and serve with pork belly sandwiches! Come see Chef Rodrigo da Silva offer his two best bites on the go, pork belly and roasted lamb sandwiches this Sunday the 4th at the Spice of Life Festival on Shattuck between Rose and Francisco!

Corso