Trufa has long been a favorite brunch spot of mine, with its flavorful breakfast burritos, burgers and tasty omelettes. Since opening in Harlem in April 2011, Trufa has prided itself in making everything from scratch daily, with fresh, quality ingredients. This past weekend I had the pleasure of trying out an item on their lunch/dinner menu, the Gnocchi with Wild Mushroom & Beef Ragu ($15). The gnocchi is made in-house daily and is light and tender: exactly how gnocchi should be. Over the years, I’ve had the misfortune of eating gnocchi that is either gummy or heavy (or sometimes both!). You can have no fear of that while dining at Trufa.
Trufa’s owner, Eduardo, has toyed with the recipe over the years, tweaking it and changing it until it was just right. The gnocchi dish is close to Eduardo’s heart, as it’s the first dish he learned how to make. Both time and effort make this gnocchi so special: the beef is first pan-seared, then roasted in the oven with red wine and seasoning for 5 hours, resulting in melt-in-the-mouth meat. The addition of truffle oil adds a nice lift to an already tasty dish, and the fresh basil completes the dish nicely.
Eduardo immigrated to the States from Ecuador and began working in the restaurant business in New York City. After many years of experience working as a chef, Eduardo believed he could do better on his own and was encouraged by a friend to open his own restaurant. Today the restaurant is still family owned and run.
So, if you find yourself in West Harlem and you’re in need of a serious feed, head to Trufa. The food is always fresh, and the sangria is tasty & strong (just the way I like it!).
Trufa: 3431 Broadway, New York, NY 10031
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