La Strega Awards

La Strega Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: This locals’ hotspot in Summerlin features executive chef Gina Marinelli’s farm-to-table Italian cuisine. Décor reflects the feminine side of Italian design, with a hand-painted wall mural evoking the Amalfi Coast, globe chandeliers, hardwood floor, and tables enriched with fresh flowers. There’s an open kitchen, too.

Likes: The menu price points, most of which are under $20, are quite a bargain for the caliber of the cuisine. Pizzas ($14-$18) are notable for their size and quality ingredients, like the Spicy Pig with soppressata (Italian dry salami), smoked mozzarella, Calabrian chilis and chives.
Dislikes: La Strega is only open for dinner, but brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. offers dishes such as poached egg insalata with frisée, asparagus and chives; and french toast with infused syrup, blueberries and powdered sugar.

Food & Drinks: La Strega in Italian means “the witch,” and Marinelli’s cuisine is a bewitching mix of Northern and Southern Italian fare. Good beginnings from the antipasti section of the menu include farroto, a take on risotto with farro, goat cheese and corn; and braised pork with Marinelli polenta, so named as it is chef Gina’s native Italian grandmother’s recipe. The pasta dishes are truly standouts, such as the linguini vongole dressed with Manila clams, preserved lemon and chives; and the spaghetti pomodoro with blistered tomatoes and basil. Some menu items show a fusion of cuisines – Japanese hamachi with chili gremolata; the Greek-like Adriatic insalata with feta, olives and arugula; and Nigerian prawns with summer squash and couscous. Among the dessert options is bomba: an Italian-style donut with chocolate and strawberry cream, Harry’s Berries, lemon sugar and crisped mint. The wine selection includes nearly 100 choices mainly from Italy, France, Napa and Sonoma, a few dozen of which are offered by the glass.