Hello my friends and fellow food bloggers! It's been a few weeks since I have been on here. The reason why? The Military has sent Husband Man to a high tech school all the way on the other side of the United States. He's been gone since the beginning of August :( Since he is gone, the kids and I recently took a three week vacation to Eastern North Carolina, where I grew up. My parents rarely get to see my children since we live so far away from them, so this three week visit/stay was one that was valued and precious.
That's Pookie and I in the above picture, which was taken at one of my parent's favorite places to eat, Little Italy Pizzeria. During our 3 week stay, we ate at all sorts of places, however, this restaurant really made a huge impression, so I wanted to share our experience with all of you :)
The menu speaks for itself............
That evening, we didn't have the pleasure of meeting the owners, so I did not have a chance to ask about the history of the restaurant. However, according to my father, the owners came from Italy so the dishes that were being served that evening were made in pure Italian form.
The restaurant was decorated very intricately and I could not help but notice the nicely placed water fountains around the windows and in the center. They were a nice touch in making us feel relaxed and at home....
Things were so relaxed, in fact, that The Dude slept in his stroller throughout the whole entire meal.....
Once everyone's orders were placed, we couldn't wait to feast on the upcoming meal.....
My parents and Pookie......
As a pre-dinner treat, they gave us a loaf of bread and butter. I had heard they usually give Bruschetta instead of regular bread, but we were not complaining. It was so soft and warm, it felt like it just came right out of the oven.....
I ordered a side salad to go with my meal. My mother informed me that their ranch dressing is homemade. And boy was she ever right. That dressing surely was not from a bottle! The tanginess and rich flavor was enough to make me beg for seconds...lol.
I ordered their Beef Filled Tortellini in Alfredo Sauce and was so pleased with the outcome! The sauce was very thick, rich, and creamy. They placed little bits of ham, tomatoes, and mushroom inside and I could not get enough of it....
I was so impressed with my meal that I decided to take pictures of all the other meals that were ordered...
My father ordered their Spaghetti. It was seasoned perfectly that he did not feel the need to add Parmesan Cheese or other spices to it. I think the meatballs did the trick on that....lol.....
My mother ordered their Philly Steak and Cheese sub. The steak was sliced paper thin and was so tender. I seriously could have ate the whole sandwich...lol.
Lastly, we ordered a pizza for Pookie and The Dude to share. I just had to try a piece of this pizza and believe me when I say, it was heavenly! I'm not sure what kind of cheese they used but the combination of that and the spices, really made my taste buds water. Yes...it was that good!
Pookie enjoyed it and ate three pieces. She can put down an entire pizza if you let her....lol....
Of course, no dinner is complete without ordering dessert. I had to order one of their homemade cannolis :) They had the option of chocolate or vanilla, so I chose the vanilla. I had to get a little take home box for it though because I was to full to eat it.....
I ate it after everyone went to bed that night, and it was worth every penny. I have tasted other cannolis in my day, but this was better then any other I have tried. The cherries on both sides were a fabulous idea :)
Alas, we all left the restaurant that evening with our wallets lighter and our stomach's fuller. So if you are ever in South Eastern North Carolina, stop by Little Italy Pizzeria and spend the evening dining on some great food :)
The kids and I are back home now....patiently waiting for Husband Man's return. So lookout for more yummy recipes soon :)
