Starting this month and running through July, Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante at Disney Springs will be showcasing one of their pasta dishes each month in what is being called “Pasta Palooza.” To kick off this event, we were invited to a special dinner that included Executive Chef Charlie Restivo sharing the secret of Lasagna Verde.
This amazing dish alone is worth a visit, but add in the rest of the meal and you had better make sure you have a Minnie Van ready to take you back to your resort hotel because the food coma will kick in by the time you make it out the door.
Starting off with a perfect Salumi E Formaggi board really gets your palate ready for everything to come — but don’t let it fool you because it alone could be one of the best meals you could have.
Salumi E Formaggi – 24-month Aged Prosciutto di Parma, Salametto Piccante, Mortadella with Pistachio, Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano Reggiano, Caciocavallo, Olives
For fans of seafood, I cannot recommend the Gamberoni E Pancetta enough. With its jumbo shrimp and rich mix of artichoke and zucchini, this dish will be something you will be talking about till your next visit.
Gamberoni E Pancetta – U6 Colossal Gulf Shrimp, Artichoke, Zucchini, Lemon, Capers, Sauvignon Blanc
Of course, the star of the meal was the Lasagna Verde. As Chef showed us above, this is a unique take on a classic dish and I love how it was described to us as “not your grandmothers lasagna.” It really was the perfect way to kick off the “Pasta Palooza” and gave me a chance to try my new favorite dish.
Lasagna Verde – Spinach Pasta, Meat Ragù, Béchamel, Tomato, Fior di Latte Mozzarella
Now, it wouldn’t be a visit to Maria & Enzo’s without a house made cannoli and, as full as we all were, it would be impolite to turn down dessert.
Cannoli – Sheep’s Milk Ricotta, Chocolate Chips, Candied Orange
“The signature pasta dishes that we serve at Maria & Enzo’s are so delicious and unique because of the authenticity of ingredients that we use. We go the extra mile to source our pasta from The Gentile Pasta Factory, founded in 1876, in Gragnano, Italy because it’s made using 100% Italian semolina wheat and a low-temperature natural air-drying method that pasta-makers pioneered in the sixteenth century.” – Kyle Collins, Marketing Director of Patina Restaurant Group
While “Pasta Palooza” will only be for a few months, all the items are staples to the menu, so don’t worry — they will be there for your next visit. Maria & Enzo’s offers one of the most flavorful menus in all of Disney Springs and should be a “must visit” on any vacation. For menu information or to make reservations click HERE.