Il Pittore Restaurant Hosts Dinner for La Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate

Chef Chris Painter of Il Pittore in Philadelphia, PA
Chef Chris Painter of Il Pittore in Philadelphia, PA

By A.D. AMOROSI

Philadelphia chef Chris Painter takes his partnership with restaurateur Stephen Starr to the next level when their Rittenhouse area eatery, Il Pittore, celebrates “La Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate” with a whole pig five-course dinner on Tuesday, January 28.

Having spent time in Italy, Painter appreciates the value of both the holy feast and the food its meant to serve. “The event celebrates the life of Saint Anthony the Abbot, the patron saint of the Swine Herdsmen,” says Painter. “Traditionally Italian families harvest their pigs in January, curing the meat, making sausages and salumis. That’s what provided the inspiration for the timing of the dinner at Il Pittore.”

For the Il Pittore meal, Painter partnered with wine consultant Federico Dall’Olmo from The Artisan's Cellar for the pairings. They selected Country Time Farm in Hamburg, PA, which raised the pig specifically for the Saint Anthony the Abbot dinner.

Painter has enjoyed using whole animals for a long time, and thrives on the ritual of the practice. “That’s how I learned to cook twenty years ago,” says Painter. “We have been using whole pig, lamb, goat and other animals since day one at il Pittore, and will continue to do so.”

Il Pittore's five-course La Festa di Sant’Antonio menu:

Testina
Diced Apple Confit, Fresh Black Truffle 
Tenuta Sant’Anna Extra Dry Prosecco, N.V., DOC

Francobolli
Salsiccia and Clam Filled Pasta with Porc Belly 
La Monacesca, Verdicchio di Matelica, 2010, DOC

Orecchiette
Spiced Hand Cut Porc Ragù 
Cantina Frentana ‘Rubesto’, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Riserva, 2009, DOC

Roasted Porc Loin
 Guanciale and Fresh Black Truffle Tortino 
Cascina Roccalini, Barbaresco, 2009, DOCG

Hazelnut Torta, Lemon Gelato 
Ezio Cerruti ‘Sol’, Moscato Passito, 2006, DOCG)

The dinner is $130 per person (tax and gratuity additional); there will be one seating.  For more info and reservations contact Il Pittore, 2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia. 215.391.4900, IlPittore.com

Photo courtesy  of The Door PR

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Posted on Tuesday, January 28, 2014