Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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Prezza uses about 100 pounds of seafood— like this crispy shrimp appetizer—per week. fired up THE NORTH END'S PREZZA REOPENS TO WELL-DESERVED FANFARE. BY JANICE O'LEARY J PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANDY RYAN (CATURANO, SHRIMP); ROBIN MARCHANT/GETTY IMAGES (WAHLBERG) ;PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW DELISLE (SALMON); CHRIS HIMMEL (SOLE) SLUG TEEKAY udging from the see-and-be-seen Chef/owner crowd at Prezza, Boston is thrilled Anthony Caturano to have this North End favorite back in rotation. The Italian eatery closed in July after a fire did about $350,000 worth of damage. Six months later it reopened with a rebuilt kitchen, refreshed seating, and a happening array of guests. On a winter night just after reopening, the bar was packed with Celtics fans watching the game, including PR spinmaster George Regan. Eric Papachristos and Sean Griffing of Trade restaurant dined in one of the cozy booths, as did sassy Twilight boutique owner Alison Barnard. Opening night saw Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger dining on chef/owner Anthony Caturano's handmade pastas and Italian specialties like wood-grilled squid and octopus with braised white beans, and a heavenly Burrata with basil pesto and roasted cherry tomatoes. We had several favorites on the pasta menu, including the ravioli stuffed with ricotta and a whole egg yolk that Donnie runs deliciously when you punch through the pouch. Wahlberg The Bolognese with tagliatelle has a touch of rich, earthy porcini cream in the sauce, and the pasta dough includes a dash of nutmeg for a sweet nuttiness. Try the white chocolate bread pudding for dessert, if you have a smidge of room. It's easy to eat like an athlete here, and the service is friendly and attentive. While Mayor Menino is a fan, Prezza often draws the crowd of national celebrities filming in the city, such as Donnie Wahlberg, Goldie Hawn, Casey Affleck, and funnyman Seth MacFarlane. Caturano has been called the Ernest Hemingway of Boston chefs for his passion for big- and small-game hunting. But it could just as easily be for the masterpiece he sets upon each plate. 24 Fleet St., 617-227-1577; prezza.com Custom Home Building Renovations & Additions Historic Renovations Landscaping & Site Work Energy Conservation & Renewable Energy Small Jobs & Maintenance General Best Kitchen Classic Contractor Remodeling Contractor Transitional Contractor Best Builder 26 New Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 • 617-8 76-8286 www.shconstruction.com • www.facebook.com/shconstruction Proud sponsors of NPR and The Boston Society of Architects. 070-073_BC_SC_LocalFlavorTrends_Spring13.indd 73 2/12/13 2:18 PM