Karen and I have known each other for a number of years. She is originally from Peru and she is very honest and sentimental about her life in there as a single Mom and her life now. She and her husband Simone from Puglia in Italy, met eight years ago. In many ways their newly opened restaurant on Hidalgo, named “Simone” is a testament to their love. As we sampled a number of restaurant dishes recently, she asked if she could join us and their love story was shared.

Simone insisted that a Peruvian Ceviche be included on the menu to honour Karen’s Peruvian heritage. Ceviche from Peru is made with lemon and lime, purple onion, red peppers and ginger! The marinated fish is accompanied by sweet potatoes and plantain. I didn’t get to taste Simone’s recipe but I know it will be delicious as it was made with love. Simone very sweetly included Ravioli on their menu as it was the first dish he cooked for his new sweetheart 8 years ago. More about that ravioli later. There are live plants throughout the restaurant to signify Karen’s deep respect for the healing powers of the earth and everything that is born of it. Curtains hang throughout the restaurant, recreating a vignette of a lover pulling back the drapes to peek out the window to see if their beloved has come. The lovers are Karen and Simone of course, but she also indicates that it is them peering out to see if guests are arriving. Macrame light shades adorn the room. They are hand made by local artisans to signify the artistic beauty that can be created by hand.

The restaurant has almost an elegant feel even though the kitchen is open for guests to witness the making of their fresh pasta. So it is on the one hand a Nona’s rustic kitchen but on the other, the best room in an Italian home to entertain honoured guests.

Once dinner service commenced, bountiful bowls were brought to the table and our treats were gently ladled out by Miguel, an island waiter with many years experience at Zoetry and Rolandi. Tuna tartare was mixed with avocado and a citrusy sauce. We thought it might be from fresh oranges. We loved the rich, briny taste.

The beetroot and goat cheese salad was divine also possessing little wedges of fresh orange. The tasty jewels that were the beets were firm and sweet and unlike any I have tasted back home. The walnuts did a lovely job of adding complexity to the taste. Both were “moan worthy”.  Next came Italian burrata: the ripe cheese had been burst open and then perched upon sliced cherry tomatoes and gazpacho. Also, delish.

I ran into a little bit of trouble capturing the burrata, the handmade tagliolini with lobster and serrano chilies and then again with frutti de mare (calamari and mussels). The beautiful bowls were brought to our table, but I was so engaged with Karen that our waiter served them out without my getting a picture. Unfazed, I went over to another table and asked if I could capture her pasta!

The piece de resistance of the evening were the round ravioli that honoured Karen. The romantic story above had me intrigued. The handmade pasta was stuffed with spinach and ricotta (I am guessing) and then adorned with a lemon and brown butter sauce. Victoria tasted a hint of anchovy too. They were so delicate, but also so delectable that I could have licked the plate clean. I know that would have been outlandish, but it is true!

Karen thanked us repeatedly for visiting so that we could taste their wonderful food. She mentioned that she was honoured. I would tip that right on its head. We were so grateful to be invited, the honour was all ours! I wish Karen and Simone at Simone, Original Fusion Kitchen on Hidalgo much success.

Kath’s quote: “Cooking is at once child’s play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.” -Craig Claiborne

Love never fails.

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