Antipasto

Before the meal

Contorno

side

Secondo

second

Crostino

toast

Dolce

sweet

Gelato

Italian ice cream

Sorbetto

sorbet

Crudo

raw, like Italian sashimi

Formaggio

cheese

Fritto

fried

Misto

mixed

Pomodoro

tomato

Gnocchi

potato dumplings

Bolognese

meat sauce

Palla

scoop

When a word ends in –i, what does that indicate? Give an example.

It is plural. For example, panini is plural. It means sandwiches.

How is –ch pronounced in Italian? Give an example and the phonetic spelling.

"K" Bruschetta = bru-sket-ta

How is –ci pronounced in Italian? Give an example and the phonetic spelling.

"ch" Carciofi = car-cho-fi; ciocolatta = ch-co-lat-ta

How are the olives served?

Served with citrus zest, parmesan, and herbs

How are the arancini prepared?

Crispy baby risotto (mixed with mozzarella) balls put in tomato sauce

Describe the burrata caprese.

Burrata cheese – firm on the outside, creamy on in the inside - with grape tomatoes & basil

How is the carpaccio prepared?

Sliced raw beef with black truffle puree, garnished with arugula and parmigiano

Describe the seared yellow fin tuna.

Seared yellow fin tuna served with tuscan beans tossed in olive oil, herbs, and lemon juice

Describe the fritto misto.

Describe Polpettine.

Describe Arancini.

Describe the Polenta Fries.

Polenta mixed with Fontina cheese and a bit of milk, then sliced into thick French fries. Served with spicy aioli.

Describe the crostini Gemma offers.

How are the Chef's Choice plate, the formaggi, and the carni served?

On a wooden board with grapes and grilled tuscan bread.

Approximately how many slices of meat are in one serving of carne?

8 slices

Approximately how much cheese in one serving of formaggio?

1.5–2 oz.

Describe the arugula salad.

Baby arugula with grape tomatoes & parmigiano w/a lemon wedge

Describe the beet salad. What is mizuna?

Beets with goat cheese & aged balsamic. Mizuna are baby greens that are milder than arugula

Describe the Tagliata salad. What does Tagliata mean?

Describe the raw artichoke salad.

Thinly sliced raw artichokes w/radicchio & parmigiano w/a white truffle puree

Describe the Margherita pizza.

Tomato, basil & fresh mozzarella

What is on the Funghi pizza?

Roasted mushrooms, tomato sauce & fresh mozzarella

Describe the Four Seasons pizza.

How is the Focaccia Robiola pizza made?

Focaccia bread cut open and filled with robiola cheese then drizzled with white truffle oil

Describe the Contadina pizza.

Made with two organic eggs, mushrooms, fontina cheese, and topped with truffle oil

How is the steak prepared and served?

Grilled 12 oz, grass-fed Strip steak served with sautéed spinach

Describe the chicken dish served at Gemma.

Roasted Amish organic chicken cooked with a brick on top. Served with roasted potatoes, cipollini & bitter greens.

Describe the salmon dish. What kind of salmon is used?

Grilled organic salmon with sautéed green beans

How is the branzino prepared and served?

Roasted on a cedar plank with green beans

Describe the Melanzane.

Roasted eggplant, zucchini, and onion with ricotta, parmigiano & tomato sauce 

Describe the Capesante.

Seared local dayboat scallops w/corn, tomatoes & asparagus

How is the orecciette served?

Orecciette pasta w/broccoli rabe, garlic & parmesan

Describe the Spaghetti Pomodoro.

Spaghetti with rich tomato sauce & basil

Describe the Strozzapreti.

A flat pasta roughly rolled into a circular shape, served with a spicy sausage tomato sauce

Describe the Pappardelle w/Oxtail Ragu.

Fresh wide-noodle pasta with a red wine reduction oxtail ragu

Which sides are offered at Gemma and how are they prepared?

• Peperonata, roasted red & yellow peppers w/pine nuts & raisins
• Red bliss potatoes, roasted w/rosemary
• Spinach, sautéed  w/garlic & olive oil
• Tuscan white beans, sautéed w/olive oil, butter & garlic

Describe the two chicken dishes served at Gemma for lunch.

• Roasted Amish organic chicken served with sautéed spinach
• Grilled chicken w/organic greens

What is the difference between panini and tramezzini?

Panini are hot, pressed sandwiches. Tramezzini are cold sandwiches on white bread w/no crusts

Describe the crostata di mela.

Rustic apple tart served w/a scoop of olive oil gelato

Describe the torta di cioccolata.

Warm chocolate cake served w/vanilly gelato

Describe the tiramisu.

Lady fingers w/mascarpone & espresso

What is the affogato?

Vanilla gelato drowned in espresso

Describe the calzone di nutella

Calzone filled with nutella & ricotta

Which prosecco do we currently pour by the glass at Gemma? Describe it.

Prosecco Valdobbiadene, Gorio (Producer), NV – Crisp, sparkling, slight green apple

Name a sweet sparkling wine you could suggest to start or finish a meal.

Birbet – sparkling and fruity aperitif or digestif

Name and describe three white wines by the glass that Gemma offers.

Chardonnay "San Pietro", Alto Adige

Region - Alto Adige [Un-oaked, crisp for a Chardonnay but the roundest/most full of our whites by the glass, after Flanghina. Stone fruit on the finish.]

Falanghina, Terra Solaris 2007, Campania

Region - Campania [Medium bodied, a bit smoky, full, pear notes]

Gavi "Picollo", Picollo Ernesto 2007, Piedmonte

Region - Piemonte [Stone fruit, round, earthy, dry, 100% Cortese grape]

Name and describe three red wines by the glass Gemma offers.

Name and describe three classic Italian cocktails we serve at Gemma.

Aperol Spritz - Aperol, Prosecco, Club Soda

Negroni - Campari, Sweet Vermouth, Gin

Bellini - Prosecco, White Peach Puree

Name three Italian beers we serve.

1. Peroni
2. Moretti
3. Tappeto Volante

What types of tea are available?

1. Earl Grey Creme
2. English Breakfast
3. Green Tea Forest
4. Blood Orange
5. Hangover Helper
6. White Peony
7. Chamomile
8. Mint

Explain how tea is served at Gemma.

Two heaping teaspoons of loose leaf tea go into the teapot. A teacup and saucer, sugar caddy, strainer and strainer receptacle are brought to the table on a tray. Milk is served with English Breakfast & Earl Grey Creme. Honey is available upon request. The tea is NOT poured by the server. It is left at the table to step.

What is CREMA, as it relates to espresso?

The brown foam at the top of a well-made espresso (comes mostly from Robusta beans)

What is cappuccino and how is it served? In what kind of cup?

A shot of espresso with frothed milk in a Masini cup with a sugar caddy

What is a cafe latte and how is it served? In what kind of cup?

A shot of espresso with 1/3 steamed milk, and 1/3 frothed milk in a Masini cup with a sugar caddy

How is a single espresso served? In what kind of cup?

In a small Masini cup with a sugar caddy

How is a double espresso served? In what kind of cup?

In a larger Masini cup with a sugar caddy

How is regular coffee served?

Poured into a coffee cup at the table served with a sugar caddy

Branzino, or chicken w/no salt

Which dishes would you recommend to a guest with a wheat allergy?

All secondi. All salads.

Which dishes would you recommend for a vegetarian?

Which dishes would your recommend to a vegan?

Spaghetti pomodoro, spaghetti w/garlic & olive oil. Salads without without the cheese

Which dishes would you recommend to a guest on a low fat diet?

Chicken or salmon

Which newspapers are available for guests at breakfast?

New York Times

NY Post

If a guest would like a different newspaper, what should you do?

Tell a manager and we'll go buy the requested newspaper

What is on the table for breakfast service?

Fork, spoon, knife, napkin coffee cup, sugar caddy

When should you clear unused coffee cups?

When should a server check on his/her table?

Which pastries are in the continental pastry basket? How many of each?

The pastry basket has one of each of the following:

• Croissant
• Chocolate croissant
• Scone (type varies)
• Blueberry muffin
• Cinnamon roll (either with or w/out pecans)

What is Nutella?

An Italian milk chocolate-hazelnut spread

What types of toast are offered at Gemma?

Tuscan - white - whole wheat - rye - 7-grain

Describe the Eggs a la Gemma.

Poached eggs on brioche with prosciutto cotto, hollandaise & asparagus

What are the soldiers that come with the soft boiled eggs? How many eggs come with this dish?

Soldiers are strips of toast that are meant to be dipped in the eggs. Two soft boiled eggs come with this dish

What is a frittata?

An Italian egg dish similar to an omelet. Instead of the ingredients being folded into the eggs, they are mixed in, first partially cooked on a stovetop, then finished under the grill.

What is brioche?

A soft, French style of bread with a high egg and butter content. It is used in the French toast and Eggs a la Gemma

What type of sausage do we offer?

Chicken-apple & Pork

What type of orange juice and grapefruit juice do we serve at Gemma?

Freshly squeezed

What is baby mizuna?

It is a small green, similar to arugula

Roasted Amish organic chicken served w/sautéed spinach

Grilled chicken w/organic greens

Describe the salmon dish. What kind of salmon is used?

Grilled organic salmon w/white asparagus

Which breakfast/brunch sides are offered at Gemma and how are they prepared?

• Bacon - fried
• Chicken sausage - grilled
• Pork sausage - grilled
• Potatoes - roasted