This past Friday, Stratis Morfogen and Unik Ernest hosted a private tasting for friends, family, and press at Cucina Ciano on the Upper East Side. The restaurant features Northern and Southern Italian dishes prepared by Executive Chef Tin Huynh. Its decor, which was designed by Morfogen's wife Filipa Fino, is rustic, with natural woods and exposed brick, and also very inviting with intimate lighting and pillows abounding on the restaurant's two banquettes. There's even a private dining room downstairs for an even more intimate evening, which includes a flat screen TV for diners' viewing pleasure.

In addition, the restaurant's menus feature quite a variety of flavors. Highlights from the food menu include: Imported Burrata Cheese With "Panzella" Arugula Salad And Balsamic Vinaigrette, "Mancini" Spaghetti Arrabiata Sauce, Tre Formaggi Raviolo; Stracchino, Burrata And Parmigiano With Rosemary Brown Butter And Aged Balsamic Vinegar, and Strozzapreti With Duck "Bolognese" Pregano And Pecorino Di Noce. Signature drinks from the cocktail menu are the Spiced Pear, which contains Leblon Cachaca, pear nectar, simple syrup and lemon juice, and the Ginger Snap, which contains Leblon Cachaca, DeKuyper Ginger Liqueur, basil leaves, and apple juice.

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Source: http://www.examiner.com