"Taste & Learn" Wine Event Coming Up At Ferraro's On 1/25/14

Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar reintroduces its popular “Taste & Learn” series on Saturday, Jan. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m. Additional Taste and Learn events are planned for the coming months and a full schedule will be released shortly.

Guests at the Jan. 25 Taste & Learn event will taste four wines from Sardinia and Sicily specially selected by the presenting sommelier. Each wine will be accompanied by a small-bite pairing prepared by Executive Chef Mimmo Ferraro. The sommelier will discuss the origin, contents and wine-making process of each vintage, while Chef Mimmo will provide details about each of the food pairings he prepared to complement them.

The menu follows:

Pala Vermentino di Sardegna paired with seared scallop with light pesto topped with pine nuts

Pala Cannonau di Sardegna paired with sausage and cannellini bean ragu with grilled crostini

Kuntari Nero D’Avolo paired with ravioli filled with lamb, pine nuts and raisins served with mushroom sauce

Passopisciaro Rosso Sicilia paired with Southern Italian rice ball and meat sauce

Under the direction of owner Gino Ferraro, Ferraro’s wine collection today rivals that found anywhere in the world. The wine list features 18 wines by the glass, several half-bottle and large-format selections, as well as an additional tasting list including more than one dozen rare labels available in one, three and five-ounce pours. Ferraro’s wine selection places special emphasis on presenting a broad and deep range of Italian wines such as Barolo from Bartolo Mascarello, Bruno Giacosa and Giacomo Conterno; Barbaresco from Marchese dei Gresy and Produttori del Barbaresco; Brunello from Biondi Santi; Amarone from Bertani and Montepulciano d’Abruzzo from Emidio Pepe. Ferraro’s has been recognized with Wine Spectator’s “Best of Award of Excellence” and the Wine Enthusiast award.

Chef Mimmo brings a sincere appreciation for the beauty and simplicity of authentic Italian cuisine and the evocative potential of the freshest herbs and ingredients. Under Mimmo, Ferraro’s menu continues to offer the time-honored, traditional dishes so beloved by his family and the restaurant’s patrons. His influence on the menu may be seen in the addition of new dishes, such as Pappardelle Mimmo (long, wide pasta with scallops, lobster, asparagus, butter, sage and truffle oil). Mimmo is happy to accommodate special dietary requests and can create vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes for diners requesting them. He also introduced the “Chef Mimmo Experience,” which is offered to parties interested in having him prepare a five-course menu of his specially chosen dishes. For this option, he personally appears tableside to discuss the guests’ preferences, which are then reflected in each course. Says Mimmo, “I’m happiest when our guests decide to have faith and indulge—and just let us take care of them.”

Space for this intimate event is limited and tickets (tax and tip included) are $50 per person. To make reservations, call (702) 364-5300.

Open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Ferraro’s is located at 4480 Paradise Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89169 (across the street from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino). For reservations, call (702) 364-5300. For more information, find on Facebook or via Twitter.