Adventure To An Island Of French And Italian Cuisine
Corsica wine bar brings diners on a relaxing getaway with small servings packing a big punch of French and Italian flavor
Photos courtesy of Kevin Austin
Hello, my fellow foodies, and welcome back. One of my bucket list trips is to go to the island of Corsica, a mountainous, beautiful island in the Mediterranean. Corsica has a mix of French and Italian influences, and the food on the island is supposed to be spectacular. Until that trip comes to fruition, I heard about a new restaurant in Denver from the team behind Barcelona Wine Bar called, you guessed it, Corsica Wine Bar.
Corsica Wine Bar opened a month go in the trendy RINO district of Denver in an old warehouse. The culinary director and James Beard Award Winner, Patrick Connolly, is bringing a mix of Ligurian comfort food and the Provencal traditions of Southern France to Denver. The concept of the restaurant is based on small plates, or tapas as we might know it. I was so excited to go there to eat food from two different regions, I could hardly wait, so let’s eat!
Upon arriving at Corsica Wine Bar, the mural outside drew my attention. It was an homage to everything RINO. So artsy and fun! The building used to be a warehouse that had stood empty for a sometime, and the transformation is simply breathtaking. When you enter Corsica Wine Bar, you can tell how much love and hard work went into this renovation. It’s rustic, with a modern twist. There is an extensive bar, a dining room, and even a private room for groups in the restaurant. I sat down with some friends at a booth in the bar to enjoy a night of exploration into the food of this beautiful island.
We started with a few dishes from the Apero, or aperitif. The French and Italians believe that a great way to unwind after a long day is to have a cocktail and some snacks before dinner. We ordered the Chicken Liver Mousse and the Whipped Ricotta topped with barberries and honey, along with a glass of French Rose. The Whipped Ricotta Toast was out of this world and is not to be missed when you order your Apero. The plates are small and enough for four people to each have a bite or two before dinner.
Next up was the small plates. We decided on the Beetroot Tartare (a great veggie option), the Rigatoni Bolognese, Gemelli “Cacio Y Pepe”, Grilled Branzino, and the Pork Milanese. This might seem like a lot of food for a table of four, but was perfect as the plates are small, and great for sharing. It would be hard for me to pick a favorite from our selection, but if I had to choose, I would pick the Grilled Branzino. The dish was perfectly cooked and topped with fregola sardo, pistachio pesto, and roasted turnips. It was a stunning and delicious dish that deserves to be called out.
The Cacio Y Pepe was topped with hazelnuts. It was creamy, nutty and had a bit of spice to it from the pepper. Absolute perfection and came in a close second to the Branzino. There are many options on the menu to try. I love the small plate idea so you can let your taste buds go on a culinary adventure without getting overly full. The wine list is extensive, with most options from France or Italy, and cocktails are inventive and delish!
I am not a huge dessert person, but I had been eyeing the Almond Cake since we arrived. The cake was topped with citrus, rosemary, and has a crème fraiche frosting. It is hard for me to describe just how delicious this cake was, so I would tell you to make sure to save room for it. It’s large enough to share, but I kind of didn’t want to because it was just that good.
Corsica Wine Bar is open from 2pm until 1am daily and serves up a late-night menu that looked delicious. It was quite crowded when we were there, so I suggest making reservations. I hope I get to travel to Corsica someday, but after eating at Corsica Wine Bar Denver, I truly felt like I got a taste of what that beautiful Mediterranean island has to offer for a foodie like me. Until next time my fellow foodies, eat well, drink well, and be well.
