When I am in Australia I dream about this dish. I have it every time I go to Il Fortino, my favourite restaurant in Forte dei Marmi, on the coast not far from Bagni di Lucca.
We went today and it wasn’t on the menu…..I was devastated. Fortunately I asked why, and the lovely waitress assured me that it was available. Just take a look at my branzino ravioli with scampi sauce. You may have seen it before, but it is worth another look.
The ravioli are filled with a delicate branzino (fish) mousse and the sauce has zucchini, tomato, a touch of garlic, little pieces of scampi, pine nuts and I don’t know what else.
My friend had food envy. Her tagliolini was good, but not as good as my ravioli.
Il Fortino is in the centre of Forte dei Marmi and is named after the little fort in the square in front of the restaurant.
It was a gorgeous autumn day in Forte dei Marmi.
Perhaps I can go back just once more before I leave.
Click here, here, and here to see more about Il Fortino and Forte dei Marmi.
Wow! The food looks wonderful Debra.
Pam Prtoctor
By: Anonymous on October 13, 2012
at 7:04 pm
I just love that ravioli. You should go to Forte dei Marmi, if only to eat that.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 13, 2012
at 7:18 pm
Debra: I missed that dish while in Tuscany but the presentation was fantastic and made my mouth water!
By: Niles Johanson (San Diego, CA) on October 13, 2012
at 7:47 pm
You will have to come back.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 13, 2012
at 8:42 pm
We went to Il Fortino last May; however, I cannot remember what we ate. Obviously, it wasn’t as memorable as your “branzino ravioli”, so I am putting them on my list for next time. Rafael barbecues branzino all griglia at home and it is great. A lovely fish (sea bass).
By: mulino dominillo on October 13, 2012
at 7:48 pm
You really must try the ravioli when you go back.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 13, 2012
at 8:44 pm
Good God, that looks incredible, Deb. Glad you got it. Hope you can do in one more time before you leave.
Hugs,
Kathy
By: Kathryn McCullough on October 13, 2012
at 8:05 pm
The ravioli is too delicious for words, one more time would be good.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 13, 2012
at 8:46 pm
Oh but those poor little scampi look so Tortured!! ha ha ha .. and Tasty! So glad that they made it for you anyway.. c
By: cecilia on October 13, 2012
at 8:19 pm
I try not to think about the poor scampi, they taste so good.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 13, 2012
at 8:47 pm
Reblogged this on ilovelucca and commented:
Gorgeous…
By: ilovelucca on October 13, 2012
at 9:27 pm
Speaking of food envy, I SO have that right now! Your pictures are amazing! YUM!
By: thecookingchook on October 13, 2012
at 10:03 pm
There is much good food in Italy, but this really is my favourite dish.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 6:00 am
Hey good lookin’
Now I’m really missing BDL !!
By: Richard the terrible on October 13, 2012
at 10:47 pm
There is a lot to miss about BdL.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 6:00 am
That looks heavenly Debra!! I can see just how plump those ravioli are… no wonder your friend had food envy! The “dancing” scampi was a nice touch as well.
By: James on October 14, 2012
at 3:47 am
The ravioli are gorgeously plump and so full of flavor.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 6:01 am
Style and substance ;-)!
By: Janine on October 14, 2012
at 4:08 am
So Italian!
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 6:01 am
Oh Deb, that wonderful place you have shown me several times over the years when I have been visiting you in Bagni di Lucca. Loved the pictures and can well remember eating the delicious fish at that very same restaurant.
By: dianne Cant on October 14, 2012
at 4:25 am
We go to Il Fortino often….with good reason.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 6:01 am
Edible art!
By: Jennifer Avventura on October 14, 2012
at 8:24 am
Quite right.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 3:26 pm
How delicious that looks! I had lunch today with some friends at the Surf Club at Southbank and chose scallops with pea purée – I envisioned plump roe-on scallops but instead they were the ordinary, flat, roe-less variety and really quite flavourless. The pea purée’s sweetness completely masked any flavour the seafood might have had. Life’s too short to eat indifferent food isn’t it (well, given that we are fortunate enough to have a choice anyway).
By: Jan on October 14, 2012
at 11:32 am
We are very lucky to have good food readily available……but yes, it is a bit irritating when restaurants get it wrong.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 3:28 pm
Both dishes look gorgeous. Having looked at the images I am hungry – just as well it’s lunch time here.
By: Just Add Attitude on October 14, 2012
at 1:16 pm
I hope what you had was delicious.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 14, 2012
at 3:28 pm
I need an airline ticket right now!!!!!!!!
By: corneliaweberphotography on October 14, 2012
at 5:31 pm
Come on over.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 15, 2012
at 3:06 am
Thats a restaurant we’ll be looking up next time we’re over; I know you’ve mentioned it before so it must be very good.
By: christopher oconnor on October 14, 2012
at 6:22 pm
I go there often….because it is excellent.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 15, 2012
at 11:51 am
The food looks delicious. I clicked to enlarged it so I could really feel like it was on my dinner table!
By: petit4chocolatier on October 14, 2012
at 7:57 pm
I wish you could have tasted it.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 15, 2012
at 11:52 am
I imagine you will tell us that even though the pics are good, the taste is even better than it looks.
By: aFrankAngle on October 15, 2012
at 12:50 am
It tastes absolutely wonderful, which is why I order it every time.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 15, 2012
at 3:37 am
Debra…it does look good! This is also one of my favourite dishes which we often have a Fratelli Paradisio is Potts Point Sydney. The scampi there is their best kept secret.
By: Sue Austin on October 15, 2012
at 2:09 am
Do they do the same ravioli? I will have to visit.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 15, 2012
at 3:37 am
Easy to see why it’s your favourite, Deb! 🙂
By: Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial on October 16, 2012
at 5:29 am
I know I should try something else, but I like it too much.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 17, 2012
at 5:54 am
The scampi look a bit too lively to me, Debra, like they might be pets and have names.
By: Richard Tulloch on October 16, 2012
at 7:47 am
I suppose I could have named them and taken them home, but I am heartless and I ate them.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 17, 2012
at 5:54 am
What a fabulous looking restaurant. I must remember this one!
By: jenny@atasteoftravel on October 16, 2012
at 9:18 am
You won’t be disappointed.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 17, 2012
at 5:55 am
Drooling over here this looks delicious.. no need to ask how it tasted as you have it every time it must be good, I am like that when i find something I love I always re order drive myself nuts but I am happy Carla x
By: Carla Coulson on October 17, 2012
at 7:29 am
I know it is a bit boring to order the same thing, but I love it and it is not as though I go every day.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 17, 2012
at 5:36 pm
Oh man. I hate that I am allergic to shellfish. Poo.
By: Damommachef on October 21, 2012
at 12:12 am
What a shame! They have other delicious things too.
By: Debra Kolkka on October 21, 2012
at 5:16 am
[…] more on the town click here, here, here and […]
By: Sunday in Forte dei Marmi | Bagni di Lucca and Beyond on September 20, 2013
at 1:00 am