Food Club & Special Offers
For more information about the i Ricchi Food Club please click here.
- Food Club: January 11-17, 2022
La Festa di Sant’Antonio – Coming Together
Cercina is not a little town or even a village – it is merely a cluster of simple country houses and farms, two trattorias, a tiny grocery store and an 11th century Romanesque church. The main event every year that draws hordes of Florentines to make the trek to this idyllic countryside enclave is La Festa di Sant’Antonio d’Abate, the Feast of Saint Anthony, protector of farm animals.
Every other year, the parade starts at Trattoria i Ricchi, led by a marching band and locals on horseback to the church square where the animals are blessed. La Festa di Sant’Antonio brings everyone together for three days of card games, communal lunches and the local favorite, Il Tiro della Forma / Throwing the Form. Our menu this week, is a tribute to those memories starting off with Fettunta coi Fagioli. (That, together with a glass of Chianti, is one of the finer things in life!)
- Valentine’s Lovers Dinner
Cenone di San Valentino
Valentine Lover’s Dinner
February 12, 13 & 14, 2022
Celebrate love with our special Valentine’s Day offering available on February 12, 13, and 14.Menu
Misticanza Medicea
Italian greens, watercress, fresh mint, faro, marinated currants & pecorinoZuppa Maritage
Wedding soup with mini meatballs, escarole & acini di pepe pastinaPolenta Tartufata con Funghi Farciti
Black truffle polenta timbale with wild mushrooms in balsamic reduction
**Risotto d’Aragosta e Prosecco
Imported vialone nano risotto with lobster & sparkling prosecco
Mezzalune di Salmone alla Crema di Gamberetti
“Half moon” salmon stuffed ravioli with shrimp parmesan creamGemellini alla Fiesolana
Twisted pasta curls with homemade sausage, mushrooms & tomatoes
**Pollo Saltimbocca
Chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto & fresh sage, potatoes mascé & haricot verteSogliola alla Mugnaia
Fillet of Atlantic flounder, lemon butter, white polenta, parmesan carrotsFiletto di Manzo alla Salsa di Mirtilli
Pan seared beef tenderloin with blueberry salsa, forbidden rice & asparagus
**Semifreddo alle Fragole
“Semi-frozen” meringue tart, strawberry mousse, vanilla gelatoMeringata Amaro Dolce
Baked chocolate meringue bombs with chocolate mousse & raspberry coulisGelato al “Bacio” Corretto
Chocolate hazelnut gelato, Nocino walnut liquor, chocolate crumble, pizzelleIncludes flute of Italian sparkling
$110
(a la carte also available) - DC Restaurant Week: January 18-23
It’s Time to Come to the Table!
Eating together helps build understanding and strengthens the bond between us.
It can foster an exchange of ideas, break down prejudices and connect us on a most
basic human level. This is something Italians have recognized for centuries.
At the table sharing, reaching, pouring wine and eating food thoughtfully
prepared, links us to who we are and develops empathy for others.
Oh, how we’ve missed breaking bread together!MENU
CALAMARI
Fried fresh baby squid with pomarola dipping sauceANTIPASTO SALAD
Italian greens, aged pecorino, fennel salame, artichoke hearts, olives,
cherry tomatoes, crispy faro & red wine vinaigrettePICI AL’AGLIONE
House-made thick spaghetti, garlic tomato sauce with whipped ricotta garnishRISOTTO AI FUNGHI
Imported Vialone Nano rice with assorted wild mushroomsRIBOLLITA
Winter vegetable soup layered with Tuscan bread & parmesan
**MAFALDINE SCAMPI
Homemade pasta ribbons with shrimp, crustacean stock, and toasted breadcrumbsSALSICCIE
Braised sweet & hot Tuscan fennel sausages with roasted grapes & creamy polentaPOLLO FRITTO
Tuscan deep fried chicken with crispy fried potatoes
MERLUZZO AL GREMOLATA DI ZUCCHINI E PINOLI
Pan seared cod topped with zucchini, pine nut gremolata served over cannellini beansEGGPLANT PARMESAN
Baked summer eggplant layered with fresh mozzarella, tomato & parmesan
**CANNOLI
Hand dipped chocolate pistachio rimmed cannoli filled with ricotta creamPANNA COTTA
Molded fresh cream with honey, toasted almonds & summer berriesTIRAMISU
Espresso infused ladyfingers, whipped mascarpone cream & chocolateBOMBOLONI
Tuscan mini cream filled donuts with peach coulis
SORBETTO D’ARANCIA ROSSA E PANNA MOTATA
Sicilian blood orange sorbet with whipped cream and lemon crisps$55
Dine outside in our heated tent or inside with our fully vaccinated & masked staff.
Curb-side pickup also available.
- Food Club: January 4-9, 2022
La Befana: Italy’s Own Christmas Story
The story of La Befana has been an Italian classic since the thirteenth century. It is a story of a lonely old woman and her endless search for the Christ Child. For Italians, La Festa della Epifania, The Epiphany, is as significant a holiday as Christmas Day, especially for Italian children. The legend continues that on the night of January 5th, Old Befana flies on her broomstick and goes down chimneys to deliver candy (dolcetti) or lumps of coal (carbone) to deserving children.
January 6th is a national holiday and marks the end of the traditional Christmas season. The traditional foods of L’Epifania represent, in some instances, regional specialties, but are, by-in-large the same as the preceding Christmas holidays. Our menu is a whimsical culinary nod to Italy’s most beloved witch.
- New Year’s Eve Dinner (To-Go)
Welcome to our 32nd New Year’s Eve celebration!
The feast of Saint Sylvester is traditionally celebrated on New Year’s Eve night
when Italians believe they should eat lentils as a symbol of wealth and pork as a symbol of life’s fullness.With the new mask mandates and an uptick of COVID cases, i Ricchi will be offering
a special New Year’s Eve feast TO GO for those who prefer to celebrate AT HOME.
Pick-up on December 31, 2021 available between 4-7pm.Menu
Carpaccio di Salmone al’Anice
Thinly sliced anise cured salmon, tarragon aioli,
haricot verte, fingerling potatoes & Castelveltrano olives
*
Tortellini alla Panna
Nonna Irma’s homemade veal, pork & chicken
filled tortellini with parmesan cream
*
Mare e Monti sulle Lenticchie
Tuscan “Surf & Turf” – beef tenderloin with green peppercorns and jumbo shrimp
on a bed of New Year’s lentils
*
Profiterole Bianche
White chocolate puffs filled with pastry cream, dusted with toasted coconut & pomegranate seeds$99
*includes party hats & noise makers* - New Year’s Eve Dinner (Dine-In)
Welcome to our 32nd New Year’s Eve celebration!
The feast of Saint Sylvester is traditionally celebrated on New Year’s Eve night
when Italians believe they should eat lentils as a symbol of wealth and pork as a symbol of life’s fullness.$110
*Includes NYE party hats, noise makers & sparkling toastAntipasto
Toscano
24 mo. aged prosciutto, finocchiona fennel salame, parmigiano, mushroom crostini,
homemade giardiniera
-or-
Carpaccio di Salmone al’Anice
Homemade anise cured salmon, tarragon aioli garnished with green bean, potato, olive salad
-or-
Insalata Caterina de Medici
Italian lettuces, fresh mint, toasted pine nuts, pecorino, marinated currantsPrimo Piatto
Zuppa di Lenticchie
New Year’s “good luck” lentil soup,
Parmesan thyme croutons
-or-
Tortellini al Sughetta di Vitella
Nonna Irma’s homemade three meat tortellini with savory veal reduction & parmesan
-or-
Risotto ai Funghi e Champagne
Imported vialone nano rice,
wild mushrooms & champagneSecondo Piatto
Gamberoni alla Napolitana
Four pan seared jumbo shrimp broiled with fior di latte mozzarella, tomato, basil & white polenta
–or–
Filetto al Pepe Verde
Beef tenderloin, green peppercorn red wine
reduction atop a toasted Tuscan crouton with roasted parmesan cauliflower
–or–
Pollo Saltimbocca
Chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto & fresh sage, served with potatoes mascé & lemon thyme shaved Brussels sproutsDolce
Crostata di Panettone
Panettone pudding tart with bitter orange,
chocolate and Chantilly cream
–or–
Gelato con Frutta Spezziata
Homemade vanilla gelato, spiced apples,
pears, cherries & chopped pistachio
–or–
Profiterole Bianche
White chocolate puffs filled with pastry cream, dusted with toasted coconut and pomegranate seedsReservations: (202) 835-0459. Seatings available 5-10pm.
- Food Club: December 14-19
Christmas in Naples: Food and the Art of the Presepio
The Italian religious custom of displaying the nativity scene of Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in a manger is something to behold. You would be hard pressed to find a home without one at this time of year, especially in Naples.
This week I take you on a journey to Naples during this special time of year to experience both its unique Christmas sites as well as its unique food.
Food in Naples is rooted in a long history of outside influences of foreign invaders and poverty. Historical Neapolitan cuisine had been divided into two different categories: one for the rich and nobles, and another for the poor people. Let’s experience both!
- Feast of the Seven Fishes
Back by popular demand, the FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES, an Italian American Christmas Eve extravaganza, has become an annual tradition at Ristorante i Ricchi and this year, through the Food Club, you can enjoy the food festivities at home too.
Take time out of your holiday schedule and let us do the cooking for you.Enjoy SEVEN courses of delicious Italian fish specialties.
MAKE IT YOUR NEW FAMILY TRADITION!
Pick-up windows available between 4-7pm$125/person (exclusive tax and tip)Menu
Crostini di Trota Affumicata
Smoked river trout pate crostini*
Ricchi e Poveri
Pan seared prawns, cannellini beans*
Capesante ai Funghi e Gnocchi di Ricotta
Sea scallops, wild mushrooms, ricotta gnocchi & parsley butter*
Risotto d’Aragosta
Lobster risotto*
Taglierini Freschi alle Vongole
Fresh hand-cut pasta, manila clams, squash & Calabrian chilis*
Cacciucco alla Livornese
Tuscan fish stew – assortment of 7 fishes, tomato broth & garlic croutons*
Crostata di Panettone
Panettone pudding tart - Food Club: December 7-12
Christmas Season Begins!
Ask any Italian when they usually open their gifts and you can probably tell where they are from. Italians celebrate lots of great unique Christmas traditions. Customs vary from city to city, from exactly what dishes are served to when to open presents. It is a great time to be a kid in Italy!
December 13th marks the “Festa di Santa Lucia” – St. Lucy’s Day. Historically, it was to her (and not Santa) that children wrote letters requesting gifts and sweets which she delivered with the help of her donkey on the eve of her feast day.
This week we feature a typical menu from Sicily, Santa Lucia’s birthplace. An “omaggio” to this colorful and beloved Saint kicks off the Christmas season in Italy.
- Food Club: November 30 – December 5
Slow Food: Saving our Food Heritage
“Fast,” “Convenient,” “Save time,” all have become the mantras of modern life. “Time is money,” has become the foundation of how we live our lives today, both here in the US and Italy. Many of the time-honored traditions of Italian regional cuisine are being lost and replaced by more time efficient and less expensive methods.
The “Slow Food” Movement was created to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract the rise of fast life, and combat people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat. It goes without saying that Italy has a rich food culture and is an extraordinary expression of local traditions.
We like to think that what we have done here at the Food Club is based on the “Slow Food” tradition. This week’s menu is an example of regional dishes from North, Central and Southern Italy.
- Food Club: November 16-21
LAKE COMO – Glitterati, Gourmands & George
Why did it take me so long to get to Lake Como? It is undeniably breathtaking with gorgeous landscapes and towering snowcapped mountains. It is an ideal spot with beauty, style and great food, frequently peppered with a movie star here and there. Join us this week for a feast worthy of a movie star!
