We live a blessed life. When I am not at home in our perfectly located house of 35 years, living at the lake or on Isla Mujeres, we are often planning other sojourns. Right now we are considering Italy again (if airline prices come down). Isla and Italy are pretty much tied with me for a favourite place to visit. I would say “live” but I would miss my immediate and extended family too greatly.

So when we are on Isla and we get the opportunity to enjoy a piece of Italy, we jump at the chance. I can’t say I have sample every Italian food restaurant on the island and that is because I stopped when I thought that I had experienced the best. We have dined at Sardinia Smile on a number of occasions. Some of my all time favourite meals were eaten there.

What makes our visits particularly authentic is that Sylvia and her staff mostly speak Italian, so in the same way that I have trouble expressing myself in Italy, so too the task is troublesome on Isla. But somehow we always manage. It adds to the charm.

It was late afternoon when we arrived and Sylvia had just opened the restaurant. We had foolishly double booked ourselves. She encouraged us to sit inside because of a potential rain storm. We always sit outside which is also the case in Italy, so I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed. But only for a few moments, because sure enough, rain started falling in enormous drops and it came on as if a dike had been broken. Fortunately it didn’t last long but I was happy for the suggestion that Sylvia made of the dry table inside.

We started with Sylvia’s suggestion of Aperol Spritzes. A refreshing cocktail that we had first tasted in Sienna, Italy. It was just what the doctor ordered and we settled in without a care of being double booked or the inclement weather.

Why doesn’t every restaurant in the world serve an amuse bouche? My dining experiences are always elevated by this gesture! You take a readily available product like tomatoes in Mexico and pair it with toasts made from what is likely excess bread and voila! You have “amused a guests’ mouth” and it cost very little to do so!

We decided to share a soup as one of our appetizers. When D settled upon tomato soup I secretly thought that his choice was a bit pedestrian. Oh my gosh! I didn’t share my thoughts with him because the creamed soup with extra cream garnish was the best creamed soup I had ever tasted; anywhere! I was actually sad when the bowl was empty and whenever I get a soup hankering, I think of this sublime bowl every time.

Offer me anything in garlic and wine and I can just about guarantee that I will love it. especially when what is floating in the glorious duo are tender and oh so fresh seafood; black mussels in this case. A generous squeeze of lime brought out a spritely essence. We dipped the fresh bread into the broth to ensure we did not miss out on a drop of the nectar.

When I love a taste, I LOVE A TASTE! It may have been surprising that I ordered almost a duplicate dish for my entre, but it was really the ultimate complement to the Chef!

In the mean time, D chose a hearty seafood risotto. He too was enamored by the mussels and there were clams as well as enormous shrimp. The rice was perfectly soft and bursting with flavours that had been locked in by a slow heat and constant ladles of broth.

At this juncture, I excused my self to the ladies room saying” I am too full for dessert UNLESS we get offered Sylvia’s panna cotta”. Guess what was sitting on our table upon my return? I can’t resist the sweetened cream and the mini servings are the perfect size!

Sardinia Smile has been a mainstay on the south end of Hidalgo for years. They are closed Wednesdays but open every other day from 3:30-11 pm. Do yourself a favour and same a bundle on air fare to Italy!

Kath’s quote: “Art, passion and family traditions for three generations.“-Sylvia owner of Sardinia Smile.

Love never fails.

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