Abella: Italian Food At It’s Finest
By Courtney Smith Contributing Writer
Italian food is one of those cuisines that you can never get enough of, so Executive Chef and General Manager of Abella Italian Kitchen Ryan Tull shares some of his most decadent menu options with us.
The Antipasto Platter is a great way to begin your Italian feast. It comes with seasonal selections of artisanal cheeses, local charcuterie, fresh fruit, dried fruit, mixed olives, crostini, a seasonal dipping sauce, and various pickled peppers. Chef Tull suggests pairing this with a red wine from their extensive wine list, particularly the Rocca Delle Macie Red Blend from Tuscany. This medium-bold, smooth and dry blend has notes of red fruit, black fruit, brown sugar, citrus and earth notes. You have to try this amazing Italian food.
If you are searching for the perfect entrée look no further. One of Wilsonville’s favorites is the Kurobuta Pork Shank. This pork shank comes from Snake River Farms located in Idaho, and is the best of the best when it comes to the texture and taste of pork. The Kurobuta Pork Shank is simmered in Italian red wine, herbs, chicken stock, mirepoix, and garlic until it falls off the bone, then served over seasonal wild mushroom risotto and finished with imported Italian Parmigiano-Reggiano. Chef Tull suggests that this be paired with the Cecche Barbera d’Alba wine. The wine is bolder, smooth, and dry with wonderful notes of chocolate, red fruit, dark fruit and violet, and a beautiful spice to finish.
Inspired by traditional Italian recipes, Pasta Pomodoro with Grilled Chicken Breast is not only beautifully plated but also a dish that will make your taste buds dance with delight. With the combination of fresh and slow cooked tomatoes, aged Pecorino Romano, chopped garlic and basil, this dish brings out a fresh bold taste. The chicken breast is marinated with extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, and fresh chopped oregano giving it massive flavor. Chef Tull recommends the house favorite when it comes to wines, called the J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay, which is a bold, semi-dry and soft Chardonnay, flavored with bold oak, butter, pear and nutty notes. It has a wonderful citrus and floral finish to make every sip delectable.
End your meal on a sweet note by enjoying the mouthwatering and freshly made Marionberry Cheesecake. This cheesecake has a gelatin glaze, inspired from the traditional Italian cheesecakes created with mascarpone and cream cheese. It is light and fluffy in texture with traditional graham cracker crust, fresh mint, and a marionberry reduction that will leave you wanting more. Chef Tull suggests that you pair this with a Kings Ridge Riesling, a luscious dessert wine that comes from right here in the Willamette Valley. This light, dry and acidic Riesling has wonderful notes of pear, minerals, citrus, dragon fruit and vanilla leaving you with a beautiful smooth finish.
These are just a few out of the many fabulous dishes you can enjoy at Abella Italian Kitchen. They know that there are many different dietary needs so they make sure to include options that can be enjoyed by all, including those who are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian. Chef Tull suggests calling ahead if you have specific needs so he can make sure your experience is the very best. You can also call ahead and get a complete wine pairing prepared with your meals as well.
Abella Italian Kitchen also provides an amazing catering program that is specifically designed to accommodate all customer needs. From small, budget friendly pick-up to large, high-end catering, they have multiple options available. Abella hosts onsite and offsite catering; onsite for up to 150 and offsite for up to 300. They offer catered lunches to go with delivery service and high end to casual catering for weddings, birthdays, meetings, and company parties.
The kitchen crew at Abella always does their best to make each experience a memorable one. They have a veteran crew that has been serving the Wilsonville area for more than 10 years, and they work hard to make sure that the original authentic Italian recipes and classic Italian flavors always exceed your expectations.
