“What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than a romantic getaway or private dinner with that special someone? Cupid can be found at hotels and restaurants throughout the U.S. and Canada all year. But for those seeking an exceptional opportunity to cozy up to a sweetheart this February, AAA inspectors have compiled their favorite places for romance.”

We couldn’t agree more! We think romance and a wonderful dining experience go hand in hand, and magical things happen when everything goes right.  AAA wrote specifically about Dahl & Di Luca with this:

 

“If you associate Italian cuisine with romance, Dahl & Di Luca will not disappoint. The dining room teems with flowing drapery, stone pillars and crystal chandlers. Background music and legendary homemade pasta complete the picture to “set the mood.”

So if you’re headed to Sedona, Arizona in the next two weeks, call us for a reservation to have your own wonderful, enchanted dining experience. And if you can’t make it to our lovely part of the world, visit LivingDahl.com for recipes, video demos, CDs, DVDs, Gift packages and Ciclee prints. Lisa is happy to bring a little of the magic in her Sedona restaurants to you.

We invite you to spend an evening of romance, wonderful music and sensational cuisine with us. Relax and give your special love the attention he or she deserves. Meanwhile, we’ll provide beautiful music, world-class cuisine, a Wine Spectator wine list, and extraordinary service for your “Evening of Romance” – Serata Romantica.

Check out what we have in store for our patrons on February 14th – Valentine’s Day

~ Valentino 2012 ~

Specialta Deliziosa

Organic Campari – Tomatoes tossed in our signature Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil with fresh imported Burrata Mozzarella wrapped in Prosciutto, accompanied  with Arugula & grilled Ciabatta

Bruschetta Sempre Amore – A heavenly succulent meritage of sautéed Prawns and Bay Scallops in a delicate Garlic and Champagne Bisque served on grilled Ciabatta

Afrodisiaco d’Amore – A choice of 6 or 12 fresh Blue Point Oysters served with a Mignonette Sauce

Entrate

Valentino Mare Terra – A dynamic duo of surf and turf ~ grilled Filet Mignon with a hint of Truffle finished in a delicate a Gorgonzola and Mushroom Cream Sauce accompanied with a large grilled Prawn and roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Vitello Alla Soprano – A perfect marriage of Scallopini of Veal and Eggplant Parmesan layered Lasagna style with a side Capellini Pomodoro

Canelloni Alla Cupido – Homemade Cannelloni Crêpes stuffed with Canadian Lobster, Prawns and Scallops served in delicate Cioppinio style Lump Crab Bisque

Osso Buco Milanese – Braised Veal Shank served in a citrus scented Marsala Sauce on a bed of roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Call us to book your table of love for your Evening of Romance on February 14th

Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano – (928) 282 – 5219

Cucina Rustica – (928) 284-3010

Prosecco Reception

Pancetta wrapped Organic Medjool Dates stuffed with Gorgonzola

served with NV Soligo Prosecco Frizzante

Antipasto

Family Style  – Bruschetta Ménage a Trio:

Three Roman style grilled Ciabatta Breads:

— one topped with sautéed Prawns and Bay Scallops in a delicate Garlic and Champagne Bisque,

— one topped with Tuscan Cannellini Beans,

— and another with fresh Organic Tomatoes, Basil, Garlic and Olive Oil

served with 2010 Prã Soave Classico

Pasta

Cheese filled Tortelloni in a Wild Mushroom Truffle Cream Sauce

served with 2001 Fontodi Chianti Classico Cru Sorbo

Insalata

Organic Mixed Greens with Baby Chiogga Beets, candied Pecans and Chevre dressed in our signature Dijon Shallot Vinaigrette

Entrate

Grilled Rack of Colorado lamb served on a bed of soft Polenta with Ratatouille

served with 1999 Oddero Barolo

Dolce

Mini Ricotta Cheesecake with Poached Pear

served with 2008 Sardus Pater Moscato Amentos

$125 per person plus tax and gratuity

$225 Couples plus tax and gratuity

A portion of the proceeds go to the benefit of the Homeless & Hungry of the Verde Valley.

For reservations for the Rustic Wine Dinner on February 7th, 2012 contact Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano at 928.282.5219.

Restaurant owner Lisa Dahl has created wonderfully original and imaginative Italian dishes in the 16 years that Dahl & Di Luca has been operating. In 2002, Lisa started a second restaurant in Sedona called Cucina Rustica. Lisa’s recipes have been published in Gourmet, Bon Appetit and Sedona Magazine, as well as numerous blogs and websites. Lisa’s passion and romance for great food dining is at the very core of everything she wants to give to friends, family and customers.

In 2011, Lisa created her own food and romance cooking manifesto called “The Elixir of Life.” In the award-winning volume, Lisa describes her passion for food runs deep.

“We are blessed to have such good food to eat,” she writes in The Elixir of Life’s introduction. I feel fortunate to celebrate the pleasure of food with grace and extreme fortitude. Creating food is my artistic expression and allows me to give back to my fellow man.”

At Dahl & Di Luca, every dish is like being on a glorious food journey. Most patrons start with a delicious appetizer like grilled or marinated Portobello mushrooms, or Warm Seafood Bruschetta, which is made with sautéed prawn and bay scallops in a garlic and champagne bisque served on ciabatta toast points.

In preparing her tantalizing entrees, Lisa says that using a base of good olive oil like Tuscan extra virgin organic olive oil is one of the keys to her success. She uses that oil on most everything. Some of the more popular dinner items at the restaurant include homemade fettuccine with grilled chicken, fresh spinach and mushroom in a delicate alfredo sauce, or if seafood is your preference, the Salmone al Lemoncello is a scrumptious offering of a fresh filet of grilled Scottish salmon, finished in a delightful Neapolitan lemoncello reduction sauce.

For meat lovers, there’s also the amazing Maiale ai Ferri, which consists of two scrumptious 7 oz. White Marble Farms pork chops grilled to perfection with grilled asparagus. Or try the Filetto di Manzo, a grilled 7 oz. Black Angus filet finished in a delicate white truffle and gorgonzola sauce.

There’s really no wrong turn at Dahl & Di Luca. With seafood, pasta or meat dishes, everything tastes sensational. Lisa says it’s all about the freshness of the ingredients, and the artistry in the kitchen. I believe it!

For a meal worth telling about for years to come, try Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano in Sedona, Arizona on your next trip out to the great Southwest.

 

The ingredients are below. Let’s start cooking!

- Cook zucchinis in a chicken stock until they are tender. As that is cooking, sauté the leeks and garlic in extra virgin olive oil until lightly caramelized. Add spinach and cook until just wilted.

- The next step is to puree the fully cooked zucchini in its broth. Then return the puree to the soup pot.

- Scrape the sautéed leeks, garlic and spinach into the pot. Stir in dill (or pesto), chili flakes and lemon juice.

- And voila! A delicious soup that your guests will talk about for days.

For more viscosity in the soup, you can make a roux with butter and flour to thicken up the soup to a perfect bisque-like velvetiness with delicate translucency.

Ingredients for Spinach-Lemon Pesto Soup:

5 medium zucchinis

6 cups chicken stock (plus 2 cups water)

2 leeks, washed and chopped

3-4 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

½ pound spinach leaves

1 tablespoon chopped dill

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Mangia!

I would like to share with you some of the wonderful holiday dolce from both Dahl and DiLuca and Cucina Rustica where we are known for our specialty desserts. We have wonderful pastry chefs in both restaurants.

Our fabulous Italian trifle is called Zuppe Inglese. To assemble a Zuppe Inglese, you first start with a beautiful wine glass. Then, you simply take a few beautiful fresh raspberries or strawberries and put them in the bottom of the glass.

Next, we take some delicious homemade custard and put them over the berries. Then we take some Italian biscotti, which are lady fingers. We break them in half and soak them in Grand Marnier. Then put them on top of the custard, just like so. Next we take some creme anglaise, and we just drizzle on top.

The next step is a homemade chocolate sauce that is drizzled on top – pure heaven. Now, we start again with another layer of the raspberries. Then another dollop of the homemade custard and one more layer of the biscotti’s dipped in the Grand Marnier. Once again, the creme anglaise on top of the biscotti and then a little bit more of the chocolate. And we finalize it with another little cluster of raspberries.

A sprig of mint and a heavenly piece homemade biscotti and Voila! This is the perfect climax to your decadent dining experience at Dahl and DiLuca or Cucina Rustica. Enjoy this decadent dessert with a glass of our Asti D’ Spumanti. It’s the perfect complement with our pastry chef’s heavenly desserts.

And for your catering during the holiday season, think of Dahl and DiLuca Decadent Catering as well as both of our restaurants for your events.

Happy holidays – In food we trust. Salute!