Mention a catch up once to my cousin Krystina and she is likely to make an event out of it. Yep she even made this picture..

Queen Amanda

The Occasion:  “Queen Amanda’s pending overseas holiday”
The Company: The cousins. 
The Venue: Supermaxi. 

Alora, Supermaxi. No not a large chain supermarket, or sanitary item. 
If you want to organise a catch up with our family, just wave food under our infamous “Menegazzo noses” and we will come-a-running. Supermaxi  is in fact a cosy little spot in North Fitzroy, clean, modern and chic but with a warm familiarity, like every good Italian. The fare by Rita Macali of Ladro fame is of course authentic Italian, specialising in some darn good Pizza.

In true Italian style, I was greeted with kisses and hugs and a bowl of “Lupini”. Little salty, soaked yellow beans that you slip and suck out of their skins.  At this stage, I was far too excitable to even think of taking pictures, I apologise, I’m still getting used to the blogging thing.

 As usual, Krys leaped for the wine menu upon arrival and ordered something appropriately Italian, red and delicious. You can read more about the wine at www.ladonnadelvino.com  

Loz, bless her heart suggested ordering a bunch of starters. Yes please!
Worth the wait was lightly battered cauliflower scattered with a little sweet and sour onion, truly satisfied my weird winter cravings for fried vegetables.  The other starter worth a mention are the olives. I’m a huge fan of crumbed olives (who isn’t?) and these were some of the best I’ve eaten. Ever.  Stuffed with Fontina, they are every bit the oozy, salty, creamy and crunchy mouthfuls that I’d dreamed they’d be.  Again, I’m too excitable to take pictures, oops! *palm to forehead*.

All but Paul succumbed to the pizza menu and we struggled in silence trying to choose our flavour. Hard decisions, no one likes food envy. By this stage I had finally pulled out the camera.

"Speciale"

Nika was smart and ordered the special, described to us as Italian greens predominantly chicory with homemade pork and fennel sausage. The greens were a lovely bitter and cleansing contrast to the rich cheese and sausage. LOVE.

la Strada Nova

I, on the other hand ordered the most indulgent pizza on the menu. La Strada Nova. Gorgonzola, mozzarella and really good pancetta with basil on a “bianca” base – just the way I like it. Cheesy, meaty goodness. But a little too rich for me on this occasion.   

La Napoletana

True food envy set in when a piece of “La Napoletana” landed on my plate. Krys ordered well. Rich tomato, anchovies, capers, fior di latte and dehydrated olives – my favourite kind. This deceptively plain-looking pizza, was incredibly intense in flavour, however well-balanced, you tasted every ingredient on the pizza.

Prosciutto Pizza

Loz went with her favourite, the Prosciutto Pizza. A tomato and mozzarella base scattered with fresh rocket and adorned with thin slices of fresh prosciutto. Delicious, refreshing, but not the best I’ve eaten.

Fetina - Steak with Fontina and Italian Greens

Paul, who chose the only non-pizza option chose well. “Fetina” which was a very thin steak topped with a sliver of Fontina and a pile of glistening greens.  The chunky smashed orange mash that it rested on caused much debate around the table and had everyone reaching into Paul’s bowl to identify the mystery mash. Too firm for pumpkin, not floury enough for sweet potato, we decided it was carrot and delicious carrot at that. Great dish.

Lemon Verbena Semifreddo

Despite the fact that this was a casual Wednesday night get together and we were full to our eye balls, we couldn’t leave without at least looking at the dessert menu and then we HAD to try the Lemon Verbena Semifreddo….seemed like a refreshing end to a meal.
The Semifreddo was a little more freddo than semi (if that makes sense?) so we nibbled on that amazing nougat while we waited for the ice cream to soften a bit. The Lemon Verbena was subtle but the decorative sweet spice ice on top added flavour.  

 We stumbled on out of Supermaxi taste buds satisfied and having learnt a few new truths about each other. hehehe. Would I go back? If I ever decided to move to North Fitzroy, I’d be a regular.