Sapore Italiano - 2005.11.29 -- ***

This is a late writeup, so the details are fuzzy. Let's focus on the big picture then aite? The most vivid memory of this meal after 2 months? The polenta. For a mere $6.95 we savored a fantastic dish of baked polenta. Now I'm normally not a fan of this corny goopy creation, usually gritty and not terribly flavorful. Oh but not Sapore's polenta. Golden, smooth, angelic soft, melt-in-your-mouth, precision baked with bits of mushrooms and sublimely infused with the flavors of three cheeses. A polenta to end all polentas (so far).

Another appetizer we ordered was a Bresaola cured beef carpaccio, with a dash of EVOO. Good, but nothing to write home about. L'Osteria del Forno's air-dried beef is still top.

Entrees consisted of a crab meat tagliolini, special of the day, but not that special in flavor. A "maiale" medallion (pork) rolled with prosciutto or pancetta, a little dry but good sauce. A veal scaloppine was pretty classic; and a bowl of Zuppa di Pesce which made me crave Poggio again. Not that there was anything wrong with this Zuppa, but Poggio's was too unforgettable. All in all, a fair roundup of italian fare that made a decent farewell to Andrew's california trip.

$110 for four, all incl.