Please give a sincere applaud to my server, Umberto, from Mexico City-an honor. Corte Madera is pumping iron on a Sunday night, young and old are begging for tables. It's 7:00pm and the VP of marketing is dining here tonight. They are doing a special tasting from Trentino~Alto Adige. Nineteen years old, 180 seats plus patio. You are swept off your feet.
The Northern California calm is transformed into Italian exhilaration. This is an experience that is Italian-electric. Chefs dancing, waiters smiling; doing everything like a classic Italian rock song right smack in the Mall in Carte Madera, one exit from Mill Valley where I am staying. Nice and busy puts it in a nutshell, and the freshest food and wine selection-Ba Ba Bazoo!
There's my bottle of 1995 Brunello Di Montalcino. Lets dine. The atmosphere is Christmas Festive here. Trentino~Alto Adige is the region they are celebrating tonight. Bread is baked on premises. Open breakfast, lunch and dinner. You will find a way to smile a lot. Every body is happy here, a sign of a good establishment. High cuisine, organic ingredients as much as possible. There is a heart here at the Il Fornaio Corte Madra and they will give you what you want with delightful surprise. I am doing a vegetarian tasting that is building up to Royal Quality.
Minestrone alive with flavor that has several tones and dimensions. I added chille flakes, pepper enhances the flavors. They educate customers on ingredients. If you need to be reminded to appreciate "life" come to Il Fornaio. There will be many things to remind you "Life is Beautiful". Butternut squash ravioli, little hats, brown butter, with a touch of parmesan created by Edmundo Sardi, the first chef, executive chef now Maurizio Mazzon.
Twenty-two now, Il Fornaio: meaning The Baker, first started as Bakeries in Italy in the 1970's. They wanted to maintain regional recipes, so began Il Fornaio. The scope of flavor and presentation satisfies all my criticism's. You got to be in the now here. Take a minute, look around the woods, the gold lettering describing different Italian dishes: Risotto, Griglia, you will know this is a shrine to fine Italian cuisine. Bravo, if they had a hotel I would move in for a month. Since I gave them only 11 minutes notice, they gave me Norma's table, the Grand Duchess of Il Fornaio. Lets cherish Norma, in her 80's.
Knock your socks off desert. Ask for Christopher Allard for royal treatment. Fine cuisine creates "peace" 'cause even if one collaborates with different cultures you harmonize.
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30-11:00; Sat, Sun 9:00-10:30; Sunday Brunch 11:00.
And as you travel seeking the delights of Il Fornaio check out their website www.ilfornaio.com for locations and openings - Reston, VA coming soon.
By A. Curatolo~Celebrate
223 Corte Madera Town Center
Corte Madera, CA 94925
Phone: 415.927.4400
Email: cortemadera@ilfo.com
