PAST EVENTS

Coppo Winemaker Dinner at Riva Cucina
We had a magical evening with winemaker Massimiliano Coppo, who traveled from from Italy to discuss his Piemontese wines. It was one of our favorite nights yet at Riva Cucina!

Antipasti

CARPACCIO DI TONNO
Seared Hawaiian ahi tuna thinly sliced with organic heirloom tomato, watercress, extra virgin olive oil, fresh lemon basil
2006 Gavi "La Rocca" DOCG

ANTIPASTO DI GAMBERONI
Sautéed jumbo prawns with grilled organic yellow and white corn, zucchini and squash, lemon prawn butter
2006 Chardonnay “Le Costebianche” DOC

Primo Piatto
PAPPARDELLE DI CECI E PEPE
Garbanzo bean and black pepper pasta sautéed with lamb ragu', mixed mushrooms, Parmigiano
2005 Barbera d’Asti “Camp du Rouss” DOC

Secondo Piatto
TAGLIATA DI MANZO
Grilled Niman Ranch NY steak sliced and served with roasted bell peppers and robiola stagionato coulis, roasted potato
2004 Barbera d’Asti “Pomorosso” DOC

Dolce
MACEDONIA AL MASCARPONE
Whipped mascarpone and cream with Brachetto d' Aqui marinated nectarines and berries, chocolate shavings
2006 Bracchetto d’Acqui DOC

Event Price: $75 for five course meal and Coppo wine pairings. Tax and gratuity are not included.

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Azur Winemaker Dinner - A Toast to Summer at Riva Cucina!
2008 Summer Solstice // Friday, June 20th at 7pm

We celebrated the arrival of summer by pairing 2007 Azur Sauvignon Blanc and Rose', the perfect summer wines, with a four course menu featuring the season's freshest and local ingredients. Winemaker Julien Fayard and chef Massimiliano Boldrini were on hand to discuss the wines and menu.

Menu

ANTIPASTO
Gamberoni all'Arrabbiata
Grilled jumbo prawns over cannellini beans, crispy pancetta and tomato peperoncino puree' with rosemary-infused olive oil

PRIMO PIATTO
Ravioli di Melanzane e Burrata
Roasted eggplant and Parmigiano ravioli, fresh tomato, basil, cream filled fresh mozzarella

SECONDO PIATTO
Filetto alle Cigliege
Roasted Niman Ranch pork tenderloin stuffed with cherries, butter and sage, roasted potato, sautéed bell peppers, balsamic reduction

DOLCE
Sorbetto e Panna Cotta
Azur Rosé and raspberry sorbet paired with traditional Italian "cooked creme"

Wines

2007 AZUR ROSE': This first vintage of rosé is delicately layered with flavors of grapefruit, honeydew, and tropical fruit. Balanced with a crisp, refreshing minerality and dry finish, this wine is a versatile accompaniment to any summer fare. 200 cases produced.

2007 AZUR SAUVIGNON BLANC: This first vintage has a tantalizing nose of Muscat and jasmine. A mosaic of melon and lychee fruit fills the palate, with a crisp and refreshing acidity. 50 cases produced.

San Valentino 2008

Antipasti

ANTIPASTO DI OSTRICHE $16
Trio of oysters: raw Hama-Hama oyster, raw Miyagi oyster, raw Kumamoto oyster with mignonette and spicy tomato sauce

INSALATA DI FARRO $10
Organic Italian barley, mizuna lettuce, shaved fennel, and blood orange segments, shaved Parmigiano, lemon condimento

INSALATA CON BRUCIATINI $9.50
Organic baby mixed greens, crispy pancetta, gorgonzola dolce crostini, organic balsamico vinaigrette

ARANCINI DI RISO $12
Saffron and Parmigiano risotto bites, breaded and lightly fried, sage and tomato sauce

CARPACCIO DI SALMONE $14
Smoked Washington salmon, organic mizuna lettuce, red onion, citrus vinaigrette, crostini

VELLUTATA ALL’ARAGOSTA $10
Maine lobster bisque with Dungeness crab and croutons

Pasta

TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE $14
Fresh pasta with traditional pork, beef, and tomato ragú, Parmigiano

TORTELLONI AGLI ASPARAGI $16
Asparagus ravioli with crispy Parma prosciutto, asparagus-cream sauce

PAPPARDELLE AL CACAO $16
Cocoa pasta with Bellwether Farms crescenza, toasted walnut, butter and sage

CANNELLONI AL GRANCHIO $19
Baked pasta with crab, leeks, seafood béchamel, tarragon

TAGLIOLINI ALLO SCOGLIO $26
Squid ink pasta with littleneck clams, squid, Maine lobster tail, white wine and tomato

Piatti di Mare

GRIGLIATA DI PESCE $29
Grilled ahi tuna, jumbo prawns, sea scallops, fennel gratin, sautéed potato

SPIGOLA AL PANE $29
Grilled whole Massachusetts black bass, lightly breaded with herbs, garlic and lemon, mashed garbanzo beans, braised organic County Line chicory

Piatti di Terra

ANATRA ALL’ARANCIA $26
Roasted duck breast with herbs and blood orange demiglace, sautéed broccoli rabe, mashed potato

FILETTO AL PROSCIUTTO $29
Grilled fillet mignon wrapped in Parma prosciutto, sautéed wild mushrooms, sautéed potato

Contorni

CAVOLETTI IN PADELLA $5.50
Brussels sprouts sautéed with garlic infused oil, Parmigiano

PURE DI PATATE $5
Mashed potato with butter and organic milk

Dolci

TORTA AL CIOCCOLATO $5.75
Italian chocolate fondant cake

TORTA DELLA NONNA $5.75
Traditional Italian cake with lemon patisserie cream, pine nuts, almonds

PANNA COTTA $6
"Cooked creme" served with choice of chocolate shavings or seasonal fruit

FORMAGGI MISTI $9
Cypress Grove truffle goat cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano with assorted Napa grown fruit preserves and fruit mustard

2007/2008 New Year's Eve Celebration

Antipasti

ANTIPASTO DI OSTRICHE
Trio of oysters: raw Hama-Hama oyster with mignonette, raw Miyagi oyster with spicy tomato sauce, baked Kumamoto oyster with shallot-tarragon butter

TORTINO DI GRANCHIO AURORA
Florida stone crab claw atop avocado, broccoli and blood orange tower, crab demiglace aurora

Insalata

MISTICANZA CON MELE
Fuji apple, peppercress lettuce, pomegranate, citrus vinaigrette

Pasta

TRIS DI PASTA

Cappellacci alla Ferrarese
Butternut squash ravioli, brown butter, sage and Parmigiano

Pappardelle alle Castagne
Chestnut pasta with porcini and crimini mushrooms, red onion, butter, pecorino Toscano cheese

Pasticcio Tradizionale
Pasta sautéed with veal ragu', bechamel and white truffle oil, wrapped in sweet pastry dough

Intermezzo

SORBETTO AL LIMONE
Whipped meyer lemon and prosecco sorbet

Piatti Forti

PESCATRICE ALLA GRIGLIA
Grilled monk fish fillet with lime and herbs over mashed fennel and potato, roasted organic red cipollini, extra virgin olive oil

COTECHINO ALL'EMILIANA
Traditional New Year’s Eve simmered fresh sausage with lentil, mashed chestnut and potato, pumpkin mustard

Dolci

PANDORO ALLO ZABAIONE
Traditional New Year’s Eve sweet bread with marsala cream and chocolate

Riva Cucina Opening Party - Friday, April 27, 2007

Our opening party was better than we could have even imagined. Thanks to all our friends and neighbors who made the evening so wonderful! With a surprising 500 guests, we passed 2700 tastings!

We were fortunate enough to have Amy Sherman as a guest and as our first reviewer! Click here to read more about our opening according to Amy. West Berkeley's favorite blogger, Ron Penndorf, was also a guest and mentioned the party on his blog, Scrambled Eggs and Lox. Thanks Amy and Ron!