No compensation was received for this post. I dined as a guest of Brio Tuscan Grille which facilitated the writing of this post.
She warned me to stay away from the bread…and at all costs the breadsticks. Little did she know that bread, particularly the sourdough variety is my weakness. I was only going to eat half of it anyway, right? I had been wanting to dine at BRIO Tuscan Grille at Irvine Spectrum for weeks since I first walked by on my way to a work meeting. Since we’re right at the tail end of National Pasta Month, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to try out the current prix fixe menu featuring 3 chef-inspired pastas.
BRIO Tuscan Grille, located at The Irvine Spectrum, specializes in authentic, northern Italian cuisine, akin to what you might find at a classic Tuscan steakhouse. If you know anything about the region, simplicity is definitive of Tuscan cuisine. And while vegetables, legumes, bread and cheese are integral to Tuscan dishes, you’ll also see beef and pork as hero dishes. Some of the menu items inspired by this lush, historic region include oven-roasted steaks, fresh fish, made-to-order pastas, and bruschetta. BRIO Tuscan Grille also aspires to offer seasonally-inspired dishes featuring fresh Fall ingredients.
In honor of National Pasta Month, BRIO Tuscan Grille is serving up a 3-course prix fixe menu which includes your choice of salad, pasta and dessert. BRIO’s own chefs from across the country dreamed up these dishes which include a Chicken, Sweet Potato & Brown Butter Campanelle, a Sausage Napoli, and a Piccante Chicken Spaghettini.
The three-course menu is offered during lunch or dinner, but I recommend opting to dine in the evening since the portions are abundant. Each of the salads featured are fresh and light and sufficient in size to be eaten alone with some of that bread I hinted at above. Which is why I caution you to pace yourself if you opt for The Art of Pasta Prix Fixe Menu. You might end up with leftovers, which is never a bad thing.
Each of the main dishes could have been made vegetarian, however seeing “brown butter” made my decision easy. The dish features Barilla campanelle, crimini mushrooms, spinach, thyme, Parmesan, a champagne brown butter sauce and then finished with toasted bread crumbs. If you opt for the dish as is, you’ll also enjoy the pancetta that’s incorporated into the dish along with chicken. The dish is simple but boasts a savory blend of complex flavors. I absolutely loved the “crunch” from the toasted bread crumbs (that same satisfaction I get when I enjoy a gourmet mac and cheese dish).
Remember that sage advice about pacing yourself when it comes to BRIO’s sourdough bread and breadsticks? That is because you absolutely don’t want to miss out on the Chef’s Seasonal Dolchino, which at present is a Butterscotch Bread Pudding paired with a Vanilla Gelato. I’m the girl who always avoids the bread pudding and this dish was absolutely divine. It’s also seasonal so be sure to order it while you dine at BRIO before it’s gone!
There are just a few days left to enjoy BRIO Tuscan Grille’s Art of Pasta Prix Fixe Menu, but I imagine that anything from this Tuscan-inspired restaurant would satisfy your palate. Here is an overview of the other dishes featured this month in honor of National Pasta Month:
The Art of Pasta
Salad
- BRIO Chopped Salad: Chopped greens, tomatoes, black olives, red onion, cucumber, Feta, and red wine vinaigrette
- Caesar Salad: with brioche croutons
- Bistecca Insalata: Lettuce wedge, Gorgonzola, bacon, tomatoes, and creamy Parmesan dressing
Pasta
- Chicken, Sweet Potato & Brown Butter Campanelle: Barilla® campanelle, crimini mushrooms, spinach, pancetta, thyme, Parmesan, champagne brown butter sauce, and toasted bread crumbs
- Sausage Napoli: Barilla spaghettini, sausage, crimini mushrooms, spinach, garlic, creamy charred tomato sauce, Parmesan, toasted bread crumbs
- Piccante Chicken Spaghettini: Barilla spaghettini, grilled chicken, red peppers, asparagus, bacon, Boursin, fiery Picante sauce, crispy onion straws, Feta, and cilantro
Dessert
- Caramel Mascarpone Cheesecake: Anglaise sauce, vanilla whipped cream
- Crème Brûlée: with vanilla bean and caramelized sugar
- Chef’s Seasonal Dolchino: Guests can ask their server for the seasonal selection
For BRIO Tuscan Grille’s complete menu or to find a location near you, visit BrioItalian.com.
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