MC Spiedo

           MC Spiedo is a fairly new Italian restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel in Boston's seaport. It was opened by Chefs Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier of Arrows and MC Perkins Cove in Maine, and named for the spit-roasting or rotisserie cooking, which was popular during the Italian Renaissance. The decorum also fits the theme quite well, with pillars and red curtains around the tables. 

          The fiance and I went in for dinner the other night, and were especially impressed by the huge selection of meats, cheeses, and charcuterie. There were a few options for different boards and samplers, but we decided to create our own and selected: chicken liver mousse, proscuitto, duck ham, speck, pecorino stagionato, and parmesan. It came out with several accompaniments including grilled bread, pickled cherries, apple walnut compote, pickled onions, and honey. I enjoyed all of it, but my favorites were the chicken liver mousse which had a great creamy texture, the duck ham, and combining the honey and cherries with the two cheeses. 

          I ordered the braised rabbit pappardelle with butternut squash and swiss chard for my main course, and it was delicious. The rabbit was extremely tender, and the squash and chard were subtle and didn't overpower the delicate flavor of the rabbit.

           The grand tortellini and meat torta was very impressive, and one of the restaurant's specialties. It's a huge pie filled with meatballs, sauce, and cheese tortellini. At least one person at the table should order this dish so everyone gets to see and try it!

          Overall we both enjoyed the meal, and I would definitely go back.