Sagra delle Fragole at FIGO Pasta

FIGO Pasta in Vinings celebrates Strawberry Sagra

How incredible is it that the Italian language has its own word for food festival? The word is sagra, and Figo Pasta is celebrating its Sagra delle Fragole in honor of strawberries through the end of summer with a three-course menu highlighting the sweet and tart fruit.

House-made bread with olive oil, while waiting. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

 The menu begins with Bruschetta alla Fragole, slices of toasted ciabatta with a shmear of goat cheese, topped with a salad of sliced cherry tomatoes and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and basil ($5). The generous portion could easily be shared, but I confess that I gobbled down all three pieces without apology.

Strawberry bruschetta. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Next up: Osso Bucco Ravioli ~ a filling of braised veal shank meat stuffed into Figo’s house-made ravioli. Served with a Parmesan cream sauce and drizzled with a snappy strawberry black pepper glaze ($12). My ravioli-crazy daughter loved this dish, especially the tart and savory combination of sauce and glaze.

Ravioli at Figo Pasta. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

And for dolci, the sweet stuff, pasta dough infused with strawberries and filled with a rich mixture of Nutella, ricotta and mascarpone, then deep-fried to crispy goodness. Eager dessert lovers beware – fresh out of the fryer, you get a mouth full of Nutella lava and possibly a dribble on the chin or table. Small bites from the corners are the way to go here. And yes, the ravioli are delicious. By all means, share this dish ($5).

Strawberry fried ravioli with Nutella filling. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Figo has seven locations throughout Atlanta; I visited the Vinings location. Figo Pasta in Vinings is the best kind of neighborhood restaurant – patrons walk their dogs to the front door of the east Paces Ferry location, tie their animal to the porch rail, pop inside to order, and return to the porch to wait for an employee to bring the food outside.  It’s also toddler and infant friendly as evidenced by the many young families stopping by for pasta on a recent Sunday evening.

The sagra tradition doesn’t end when the strawberry season does (if strawberry season ever truly ends) – Grape Sagra is slated for September. 

Figo Pasta, seven locations throughout Atlanta. www.figopasta.com

The meal was complimentary; my opinions are my own.

Give schnitzel a try at Seven Hens in Decatur

“GBD. That’s Golden Brown Delicious.” That’s how 7 Hens owner Michael Gurevich describes his Decatur restaurant’s signature dish, the chicken schnitzel.

“We take a locally raised product, fresh chicken breasts from Gainesville, Georgia, pound them out, bread them and fry them to GBD, Golden Brown Delicious,” Gurevich says. The chicken gets a taste of international flavor using six profiles such as American, Mexican and French, and finishing touches in the forms of sauces and toppings. The schnitzel is served on a baguette, as a wrap, on a platter or as a salad. 

7 Hens chicken schnitzel wrap. Joseph Szala

 

Schnitzel is Israeli street food, Gurevich says, “But it’s more than that. You’ll find it cooked at home, too.” The entrepreneur came to the U.S. as a student and chose the Emory area to build the first of what could become a fast-casual schnitzel franchise.

A fast-casual chicken schnitzel restaurant, 7 Hens is now open in Decatur. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

 The name 7 Hens is taken from the six variations on the schnitzel flavoring –  American, Mexican, Italian, French, Chinese and Indian, plus the build-your-own option, the Traveler. Finishing touches include olive tapenade aioli, chipotle aioli, barbecue, teriyaki, and Ranch, most of which are house-made. Toppings include greens such as lettuce and spinach, pickles, avocado and mushrooms. Sides feature fries made with Yukon Gold potatoes, chips or salad. Vegetarians are accommodated with schnitzel-fried tofu and those with a fear of frying may ask for their chicken to be grilled. My little one gobbled up the Lil’ Henny meal for children 12 and under. She chose the house-made Ranch dressing to accompany her sliced chicken schnitzel and loved the sauce so much we had to take the extras home.  

7 Hens' Brad Allan pounds out the chicken breast before breading and frying. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

7 Hens is located in North Decatur Plaza at North Decatur and Clairmont Road, the same shopping center as Rainbow Grocery and Mattress Firm. 2140 North Decatur Road Decatur, GA 30033. (404) 633-3000. The restaurant hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. www.7hens.com

The chefs use a mezzaluna to slice the chicken schnitzel. (Ryan Kersting, left, and Brad Allan, right.) Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books.

Thanks for a lovely and fun meal, 7 Hens crew - owner Michael Gurevich, and Chefs Ryan Kersting and Brad Allan!

The American from 7 Hens. Photo by 7 Hens.