When It All Works Out Anyhow

Thursday afternoon, I had a late afternoon appointment with the audiologist to pick up my new hearing aids.  Young Ham, the audiologist, is a perfectionist and insisted on fussing with them.  We got out of there a little after 5 p.m.

We were over in Torrance, on the wrong side of the street to go to Elephant Bar or Red Lobster  for a drink and a leisurely menu scan.   

"Remember that Italian restaurant at the end of the little strip mall at Anza and Torrance?  We ate there for an anniversary years ago ..."  "Yes!" he replied and away we went.  Aliotta's is located at 4485 Torrance for postal reasons, but it faces Anza.  Map it at aliottas.com.

We walked in and were seated.  The waiter, an older man, stooped and bent but with a radiant grin saluted us.  I had been dreaming of an icy cold dirty gin martini, but alas!  Beer and wine only which was no hardship as they had three brands of prosecco.

I had wanted to test my new ears against crowded restaurant conditions - we were the only customers in the place. 

Undaunted, we ordered.  We shared a Caesar salad ($9) which was "good enough" but not particularly distinguished in any way.  Richie said, "The lettuce is sure cold."

He ate all of his Chicken Cacciatori ($20) with chicken breast, onions, olives, red peppers, mushrooms, basil and tomato sauce.  My main was the appetizer Carpaccio di Carne or thin-sliced beef tenderloin raw with a dressing of lemon juice, capers and shaved Parmesan lavished with extra virgin olive oil ($15) 

The dish I remembered so fondly from the previous visit - probably 12 or 13 years ago - is still on the menu.  Don Mike's Shrimp - big shrimp wrapped in prosciutto with a Sambucca Romano Cream Sauce ($20.)   Thinking about this dish ... we'll have to go back.  Soon ...