Uvarara Vineria & Ristoro brings the charm of Italy to Queens. The restaurant regularly hosts wine tastings paired with five courses of soul-satisfying Italian food, each expertly paired with the perfect wine by Sommelier Richard Pirrera. However, what makes Uvarara’s food truly magnificent and the atmosphere so lovely is the fact that it’s all in the family.
Mama Rosa’s food is just as good as grandma’s and when she cooks she pours her entire being into each dish. “The people, they cry when they come and try my food,” said Mama Rosa in her lilting Italian-accented English, “they remember the food of their grandmother or mother.”
“I put a lot of love inside,” Mama Rosa said. “I work with passion from my heart.”
The menu for this particular wine tasting was inspired by the movie Eat, Pray, Love, which drew in a large crowd. Many regulars were seated at the long dining table; communal eating at Uvarara’s events forces patrons to get to know their fellow diners, allowing everyone to meet someone new.
“It’s like a family here,” said Victoria Araque, a regular customer at Uvarara. “They always welcome you with open arms.”
Mama Rosa’s food gets the whole table talking. Each dish filled the belly, heart and soul with flavors of Italy. From the grilled vegetables to the simply prepared pasta, the food was intoxicating.
“It’s not elaborate, it’s honest, it’s real,” Mama Rosa explained. “It’s just passion, it’s my culture.”
The pasta made the tongue tingle with delight although it was a simple fresh tomato sauce with a light seasoning. The pizza was perfect, the crust crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, fresh tomatoes, with cheese dripping off the side.
Adding to the wonder of it all were the wines. All the wines at Uvarara are from 20 different regions of Italy and Pirrera definitely knows how to pair the perfect wine to each course. Pirrera explained that heavy dishes are paired with “full body wines,” and delicate dishes are paired with “light or medium body wines,” and when broaching those in-between dishes he usually pairs the plate with a rose.
Eating at Uvarara is an experiment in pure please. “Everyone leaves with a smile on their face,” said Angela Iadicicco.
Uvarara is located at 79-28 Metropolitan Avenue in Middle Village. The next wine tasting event, Flavors of Tuscany, will take place on October 9. For more information on Uvarara’s upcoming events please visit their website at www.uvararany.com or call (718) 894-0052.
via queens ledger
