The first time I ate at Primizie Osteria, I wasn't thinking about sustainable food. I just wanted to have lunch with a friend at a place that had parking, good food and wasn't too expensive. Primizie had just opened and seemed to fit the bill.
If I knew any Italian, I would have known that even their name hints at their commitment to local, fresh food. According to their website, the translation for "primizie" is the first fruits and vegetables harvested in the season. In addition to using local ingredients whenever possible, Primizie also offers a local menu that changes daily. I appreciate that they list the purveyors and farms next to each dish so that you know where the food comes from rather than having to guess.
I have had lunch at Primizie a number of times and recently decided to visit for brunch. I'm never quite sure what to expect from a brunch menu, but I was wowed. I had a very difficult time picking, but finally decided on the Brown Butter Gnocchi Hash and Eggs as I am a total sucker for an egg on top of most things. My friend Paige ordered the Peach Blueberry Crepes and we decided to split a "fruit salad."
First of all, this is no fruit salad. It was a huge plate of fruit drizzled with honey and sprinkled with mint and we could barely finish it. The women at the table next to us were actually envious and ordered their own even though they were almost done. While not all the fruit was local (note the grapes), I was told that the peaches and melons were from local farms.
The gnocchi and the crepes were equally delightful. I do not like sweet things for breakfast, but Paige insisted that I try her crepes, and I was glad I listened to her. They did not add much, if any, extra sugar to the fruit sauce for the crepes so you tasted the sweetness and tartness from the fruit and it was not the sugar bomb I was expecting.
As for the gnocchi hash, if you follow me on twitter you already
know that I wanted to lick my plate - seriously wanted to lick my plate. I managed to restrain myself but just barely. My favorite part of this dish was that the eggs were perfectly cooked; when I cut into them the yolk ran everywhere. It was beautiful.
I left brunch that day pledging to come to Primizie more often. I was reminded of that pledge this week at a preview reception for La Dolce Vita, a fundraiser benefiting the Austin Museum of Art. Primizie is one of the featured restaurants at the event and provided the food for the reception. The food was delicious and Primizie demonstrated once again that they are not only a good restaurant, but they are a good steward of our community (they also support the Sustainable Food Center and participated in their annual Farm to Plate dinner.)
There is something magical happening on the East 11th corridor. Located just a few blocks east of I-35, Primizie has become the cornerstone restaurant for that revitalized development. And, it has good company. On less than a mile stretch you can dig into delicious locally-sourced food to meet most palates and budgets. Whether you are looking for bistro fare at Blue Dahlia, a pizza topped with local ingredients from East Side Pies or a delicious Italian meal from Primizie Osteria, head to East 11th if you are interested in dining out sustainably.
See you on East 11th and definitely at Primizie. Please avert your eyes if I'm licking my bowl.
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