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great tastes ~ Patrizia's —take a journey in culinary creativity! by Jen Nonenmacher, Photography by Mark Brodie Take a trip to Italy, minus the airfare, by spending an evening at one of Plymouth's most well renowned restaurants, Patrizia's, located in the Village Landing Marketplace at 170 Water Street. Here you will meet the new generation of European Italian chefs—born, raised and professionally trained in Italy. The first time I visited Patrizia's in Plymouth I instantly fell in love with the restaurant. As soon as I walked through the door I felt as though I had been transported to Europe in the span of a moment and gazed around at the warm, inviting and utterly beautiful setting, entranced. I was wowed—all this before I had even tasted a bite of the food. I suppose in a way I had been transported to a different place—one where time is NOT of the essence, indulgence is encouraged and the art of living, or "l'arte di vivere," is nurtured through fine food, quality service and gorgeous surroundings. Owner and executive chef, Patrizia Galassi, was born and raised in Brescia, Northern Italy and decided to open Patrizia's in 2009 in Plymouth in order to pursue her lifelong passion for the culinary arts. As a young child in Italy, Patrizia learned to cook from her grandmother and began her culinary career when she was only six years old, standing on a stool that her grandfather made for her and rolling out handmade pasta dough. It was love at first sight—or rather, touch—and Patrizia has been cooking up a storm ever since. As I had the pleasure of dining on the mouth-watering crab cakes appetizer and Chilean Sea Bass entrée we chatted and Patrizia's enthusiasm, not only for fine Italian cuisine, but also for life shines through with every word she speaks. Patrizia's creativity and passion are exemplified by the menu, which is ever-changing and, as Patrizia says, "is dictated by Mother Nature and her bounty." At Patrizia's only the finest, freshest, seasonal ingredients are used from local suppliers to create decadent and delicious appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts. The cuisine can best be described as contemporary Italian and keeps in line with all the latest European and Italian culinary trends. The dining experience at Patrizia's really is about engaging all five senses—it's the aromas, sounds, textures, modern presentation and amazingly fresh and different food that all work together in harmony. Patrizia is joined by Claudio Cavalleri also of Italy, the head chef, and Massimo Marsiglioni, who manages the dining room and has extensive professional training in Italy and other parts of Europe as a sommelier. Given his expertise, he's the perfect person to assist you 88 with maximizing your experience with a great food and wine pairing. In addition to making sure every need of the clientele is satisfied, Massimo works with the staff at Patrizia's to attain perfection. The servers are trained to European standards—each and every one of them an expert on the style of cuisine and menu. Here, you will dine as you would dine in a restaurant in Italy and you will enjoy the latest contemporary European trends while being served with "old country" hospitality. Patrizia's adds a modern flare highlighted by breathtaking plating presentations, to traditional Italian cuisine and the quality of the food simply cannot be surpassed. Everything is made in-house and to order at Patrizia's and fresh deliveries to the restaurant are made every morning—she wouldn't have it any other way because she feels her customers deserve only the best. The commitment to quality here is above bar and this really shines through as Patrizia invites her customers to relax, enjoy and experience Italy. Delicious handcrafted cocktails, beer and Italian and Californian wines complement delectable menu items such as the Watermelon Salad, the Crochette di Granchio Maryland Style, handmade pasta courses and signature entrees such as the Grilled Lamb Chops "Scotto Dito," Chilean Sea Bass or the Tuna Tartar. Your biggest problem while you're here is going to be deciding what to feast on—it would be impossible to make a poor choice and everything is just simply delicious. Patrizia's is the perfect occasion destination for any special event or milestone celebration. From cocktail parties, to romantic anniversary dinners, to corporate functions Patrizia's promises a top notch and truly Italian dining experience. There are two outdoor dining areas—one covered and one with panoramic views of Plymouth Bay. Additionally there are two bars, one in the lounge, where live entertainment can be enjoyed during the wintertime, and another in the dining room. In the wintertime, Patrizia even hosts wine and beer tasting dinners, which are a real treat! Patrizia's in Plymouth promises to bring your dining experience to a whole new level. Experience really is the key word and at Patrizia's you are guaranteed to enjoy the sweeping views of historic Plymouth harbor, unmatched hospitality and, of course, the amazing food! The restaurant is conveniently located at 170 Water Street in the Village Landing Marketplace in Plymouth and offers gorgeous scenery, plenty of outdoor seating space, free parking and is fully handicap accessible.