Meatless Meal Satisfies Carnivore

Walking down the steps into the delightful Pisticci eatery, I discovered what International House denizens have known for nearly a year--Max Soha is not the only option for Italian food north of 120th Street. The full bar greeted me with rows upon rows of reds, begging and pleading to quench the thirst that had been plaguing me all afternoon. Alas, wine was not in the cards for me this night, as my nascent sobriety demanded a less intoxicating beverage, and I made do with a light and airy italian soda. The food, however, was far more substantial, and two hours after sitting down to eat, standing up for the walk home was almost beyond my keen.

I began with what was certainly the highlight of my meal. The Amorini ($7.95), a luscious conglomeration of sautéed eggplant, zucchini, spinach, and other sumptuous vegetables covered in buffalo mozzarella, then baked until the cheese lay across the flora like snow across the Italian Alps. The eggplant, often substituted for meat in Italian cooking, tasted rich and was spiced delicately, which contrasted splendidly with characteristically mushy zucchini and the sautéed spinach. Although liberally applied, I do believe the dish might have benefited from a touch more of the wonderful mozzarella.

For my entrée, I decided upon another vegetarian dish (how I made it through the meal with no flesh still haunts me, even as I write this article), the Homemade Fettuccine with Wild Mushrooms, Herbs, and Truffle Oil ($12.45). For some reason, the pasta reminded me of my habitual post-school day Ramen Noodles, but the omnipresent pieces of mushroom continuously dragged me back from my childhood and into a more gastronomically sophisticated collegiate epoch. The addition of a generous amount of grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground pepper (each table has its own pepper grinder) topped off a mélange of tastes that almost made up for the lack of meat.

To finish my repast, I requested that most Italian of pastries, the Sicilian Cannoli ($7.95). The three offerings of sweet dairy encapsulated in pastry shells lay atop a drizzling of chocolate sauce, surrounded with sliced fruit like Caesar by his Senators. Slivers of pear, apple, and plum offset the tartness of the semi-sweet chocolate sauce. Although delicious, the cannoli fillings could have been a touch sweeter.

Upper-end Italian restaurants have been converging upon the Columbia area like socialists on Campus Walk, but make sure you venture to Pisticci to sample the fare before you decide to stick to Hamilton Deli sandwiches and Pinnacle pizza--you might be glad you did.