Chinese New Year Italian Style

Roasted beet salad at Fiore Famiglia in Vancouver

For Chinese New Year we decided to ring in the Year of the Dragon by eating Italian food! 

With three of us we thought it would be easier to eat Western food than Chinese, and besides the Chinese restaurants would be so busy.

Lovely plating of roasted butternut squash salad

We went to a neighbourhood restaurant that we haven't been to, called Fiore Famiglia on Trafalgar Street and 16th Avenue. 

It was previously Sweet Obsession serving savoury food as well as its signature desserts. But then the restaurant closed down and just served desserts next door.

I had no problems booking a table and when we arrived, Fiore Famiglia was already bustling inside. The restaurant had a bar area in another room, while the dining room is just as I had remembered it, and the kitchen to the right of the entrance. 

We were soon seated and the waitress asked if we'd like water or hot water. Someone knows their clientele.

For Lunar New Year the restaurant even created a special menu featuring dishes like Calabrian chilli dan dan noodles with eggplant, pine nuts and balsamic vinegar, braised Taiwanese beef ravioli, and shredded hoisin duck pizza with fermented black bean sauce, tomato sauce, mozzarella, scallions and crispy garlic.

Enjoyed the springy crust of this pizza!

As it was our first time here, we opted to stick with the regular menu.

The roasted beet salad tempted me, and I enjoyed the pickled yellow and red beets mixed with arugula, whipped ricotta, and chopped pistachios for a crunchy texture. 

Another salad featured roasted butternut squash, combined with mixed greens, pickled apple slices, and goat cheese, with some squash cream. 

Meanwhile the generous portion of artichoke dip was a bit on the bland side, which we could spread on floppy bread slices that were soaked in butter. It would have been better if they were toasted.

As we waited for our mains we were impressed to see a constant stream of people coming in. A couple was turned away because the restaurant was booked full for the evening, others were ushered into the bar area to wait for their tables.

A hearty portion of bolognese pasta

The waitress had recommended some dishes so I tried the Rossa pizza with a topping of homemade Italian sausage, artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper, mozzarella and gremolata. 

I really liked the crust -- springy and yet it held up the topping, and you could taste the bits of salt. Even reheating the pizza the next day, the crust kept its moisture.

Caesarecce bolognese was very hearty, with veal, beef and pork ragu, grana padano, and gremolata, while the linguine al pesto had artichoke hearts as well -- there's a theme here -- and sundried tomatoes and grana padano.

Although we were full, we couldn't resist trying dessert!

The olive oil cake featured four small slices of the moist cake with dollops of meringue, while the classic Italian pudding with housemade caramel was a sweet finish. I liked the lemon meringue because it had a crunchy texture on the bottom from the short bread crumble, then a thick layer of lemon curd, and then topped with torched meringue. 

Great to know Fiore Famiglia is a great place to eat and we'll be back again. Ciao!

Deliciously tart lemon meringue dessert

Fiore Famiglia

2603 West 16th Avenue

Vancouver, BC

604 558 2603