Life without Alba is a life I don't want to live

 

(photo taken from Alba website)

On my birthday Raph took me to my absolute most favorite restaurant in all of Colorado. This gem is located in Boulder in the McGuckin/Sunflower Market area. It faces Folsom, so it isn't too hard to find, but it is definitely tucked away.


We've eaten at this restaurant 3 times now, and have had a phenomenal experience each time. This was our first time eating there when it wasn't freezing out, so we got to site in the courtyard which was lovely with a gas fireplace and a fountain. We were seated right next to the fountain. This place has amazing ambiance inside and out and always feels very intimate. The perfect place for a special occasion or a romantic date night.


(photo taken from Alba website)

(photo taken by Heather LaPuma)

The menu that was available while we were there is what I would consider a fall transition menu. You can always tell a good restaurant because they will change their menu based on the seasons and what is available. I can say that I had one of the best meals of my life this evening. 

We started our meal with a tuna bruschetta which was a tasty way to get the meal started. 

Then came out our pasta dishes. I ordered the evening's special which was agnolotti (hand made pasta pillows) filled with Haystack Chevre, house-made ricotta, and herbs from the Alba herb garden, it was then topped with a roasted pork that was marinated in a balsamic sauce and then a sprinkling of more of the goat cheese and herbs. One of the best pasta's I've ever had.

(photo taken by Heather LaPuma)

And then Raph had the Ravioli di Melanzana - Eggplant and fresh mozzarella stuffed pasta, roasted tomatoes, chive and tomato sauce. This was a very light dish that was flavorful and fresh. 

 (photo taken by Heather LaPuma)

Then we had our main course. Which was Wild Boar Milanese - Parmigiano crusted wild boar loin chop, mixed greens, caramelized onion, heirloom grape tomatoes, and a lemon vinaigrette. This was delicious and we shared it. 

(photo taken by Heather LaPuma)

I only had time to catch one of these babies because we were really excited about eating it. We also had some delicious Brussels sprouts which were cooked in butter with pancetta (Italian salt-cured bacon). It was my husband's first time trying Brussels sprouts and he liked them, which I knew he would because he was getting them made in the proper way at a good restaurant.

The Wine
We'd already had a lot of wine this day, so we settled on just glasses of wine this day.

I had a glass of Produttori Langhe Nebbiolo, read my entry on the Roero to learn more about wines made from the Nebbiolo grape, my current favorite. I'm really in to wines from the Piemonte region of Italy right now and so that is what I wanted for my birthday.

Raph had a glass of Damilano Barbera d’Asti which is also from the Piemonte.

For dessert our lovely waiter offered us a selection for my birthday. I ordered the Creme Brulee trio. The three flavors were vanilla, hazelnut, and amaretto and they were absolutely lovely. He even stuck the candle to the side of the plate so that I could break the tops of the brulee on my own. They each had a different topping as well. One had peaches, another blackberries, and the other one shaved hazelnuts. I'm not sure which was on which, but I can assure you they were all good.

(photo taken by Heather LaPuma)

Its so hard to get a picture of an uneaten dessert around me... I have to remember to photograph before I dig in. Not always easy. 

I really hope that you give Alba a try. It has been one of my favorite restaurants for years and I hope to continue enjoying it for years to come. They offer a monthly wine dinner which offers a 4 course meal with a wine pairing for each item, usually around $60 dollars a head, which isn't too bad considering you will be fed and watered well. You can view their next wine dinner on their website as well as the current menu selections.

Check out Alba on their website at www.albaboulder.com. 

Name: Alba Restaurant and Wine Bar

Destination: 2480 Canyon Blvd Boulder, CO 80302

Cost: $$$

Ambiance: Romantic/Intimate

Suggested Attire: Business Casual (for Boulder)

Best Part: Fantastic Northern Italian food, as good as what you find in Italy. 

Could Do Better: Can you move down the street so I don't have to drive so far?