Time passes slowly along the dusty road that leads to the vineyards of Perazetta. Olive trees and yellow Scotch Broom enclose your senses as an old friend's handshake. An invitation leading to a silent Tuscan valley, a hidden estate of river stone, roots, soil and ancient quartz. Here, in the small town of Montenero, mother and daughter, Sara and Rita Bocci are the living, working inspiration for the Sangiovese-based wines that bear their lovely names. Ristorante Fratelli/Bar Dué and Small Vineyards Imports are pleased to welcome the ladies of Perazetta as hosts of an informal and informative family style tasting in Bar Dué. Sara and Rita's first trip to America will no doubt be a memorable one for you as well.

Ristorante Fratelli/Bar Dué is honored to be your link to the timeless, regional food of Italy here in Portland's own Pearl District. Please join our extended family for a night of Tuscan-inspired plates from chef Paul Klitsie paired with the hidden gems of Perazetta.

The evening's pairings will include the following...

• 2007 'Sara' Bianco, a white Super Tuscan paired to a chicken liver mousse crostini
• 2006 'Sara' Rosso Toscano Sangiovese matched to a bruschette with mascarpone, beef and truffle cheese
• 2005 'Rita' Sangiovese married to a chicken saltimbocca
• 2005 'Erio' Super Tusca & 2005 'Rita' Riserva to stand with a calzone of veal, gorgonzola and tomato
• 2005 Syrah - a mere 88 cases were produced; an honor repaid with the pairing of stewed wild boar on a bed of fettucine and huckleberry cream

We will see you and yours on Thursday night, the 15th of January in Bar Dué, located at 1230 NW Hoyt Street in the Pearl District. Chairs at 6:30 with repast at 7:00. Reservations are being accepted at $39 per person. Please call us at 503-241-8800 or make a reservation on our website. Amore in punta di forchetta!

Valentine's Day is one of the most romantic dates on the calendar and over the years Fratelli has been honored with a long list of awards including most romantic. This year Chef Paul Klitsie puts together another magical aphrodisiac menu that stimulates a lustful appetite. Diners will be tempted with enticing aromas from ingredients including saffron, savory, vanilla, and chocolate. Details to come, please check back in January.

Tim's Garden Harvest Dinners, are an annual celebration of seasonal ingredients right from Tim's garden! Whether it's arugula, summer squash, blackberries, figs, mint, basil, or heirloom tomatoes, Tim's garden is at its peak and filled with an incredible organic bounty. Garden Harvest Dinners feature a menu created spontaneously from the day's harvest will take place on Tuesday nights through the month of September.

Remember 1998?

Ten years ago Clinton was the President of the United States (enduring the Lewinsky scandal), Microsoft released the first version of Windows 1998, gasoline was only $1.20 per gallon and it was pleats, pleats, pleats in fashion! In Portland, the Pearl was undergoing major changes and adding to this revitalization, a rustic Italian restaurant Fratelli, opened their doors for business in October of 1998. To celebrate we're bringing back some of our favorites from 1998 - vintage Italian wines from a decade ago.

Come celebrate Fratelli's 10 year anniversary this weekend! Friday & Saturday, October 10-11. For reservations, please call 503-241-8800.

Come celebrate the diversity of Piedmont as we taste the wines of brothers Luciano and Roberto Taliano of the Montaribaldi estate. The event will feature the 2007 Dolcetto d'Alba "Cru Vagnona", 2007 Barbera d'Asti "Consolina", 2006 Langhe Rosso "Tre Stelle" (a blend of Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto), 2005 Barbera d'Alba "Cru du Gir", 2005 Barbaresco "Cru Palazzina", and 2004 Barbaresco "Cru Sori Montaribaldi".

We will be gathering on Monday November 10th in Bar Dué at 6:00 and start the tasting at 6:30, featuring the flight of Montaribaldi wines with a parade of small plates to nibble on. The cost is $45.00 per person with limited space available, so be sure to call ahead for a reservation - (503) 241-8800

Fratelli, Giorgio's and Olea invite diners on a truffle crawl! Pub Crawl? No, truffle crawl!

It's kind of like a pub crawl but instead of the usual bar fare- we are offering up exquisite European truffles and wine. Diners are encouraged to try dishes at each Pearl District restaurant and crawl with friends and strangers to take part in this unique dining event. The big night is November 19th.

Available at Fratelli:

Confit of pork cheeks with corn reduction, parsley oil and truffles.

The truffle dishes will be available in the Fratelli restaurant and Bar Dué as the menu as the house special.

Participating Chefs

• Giorgio's Peter Schuh
• Toro Bravo's John Gorham
• Biwa's Gabriel Rosen
• Fratelli's chef Paul Klitsie
• Fratelli.s sous chef Adrian Hutapea

Menu

• Peter Schuh of Giorgio's will start off the evening with
  • Warm crusted goat cheese with cerignola olives, shaved fennel, blood and cara cara oranges
• John Gorham of Toro Bravo presents his 1st place winning dish at Wild about Game 2008
  • Fresh egg noodles and Elk tenderloin soup with a kidney mousse crostini
• Gabriel Rosen of Biwa will give you a taste of Japan with
  • Baby octopus poached in extra virgin olive oil with Japanese herbs
• Adrian Hutapea of Fratelli gives you a twist on a French classic, sauce Bearnaise with extra virgin olive oil instead of butter and demi-glace
  • Grilled hanger steak with a potato roesti and sauce Foyot
• Paul Klitsie and Angie Campisi, Fratelli's pastry chef, finish the evening with
  • Extra virgin olive oil pound cake with sous-vide poached pear

Dinner starts at 6:30.

The price is $55, excluding gratuity and diners can add $25 for a wine arrangement.

Reservations are recommended. For reservations call 503-241-8800.

Buon Natale,
With Christmas Eve we would like to highlight a special Italian dessert called PANETONE!

Angie Campisi, Ristorante Fratelli's own pastry chef will present a special creation of this traditional Italian Christmas cake. Of course we will carry our regular dinner menu with some last minute changes just to accentuate that according to the calendar we now are in the winter season! (Something we all noticed for about a week now!!)

Cenone di Capodanno!

As is now the tradition at Fratelli we would like to give you the opportunity to choose from the daily menu on New Years Eve! To boost the choice of items a little we bring back some of our favorite dishes of the last 11 months, 30 days and 17 hours!

Those dishes are:

• Warm cooked ham with honey, clove and blood orange sauce
• Seared sea scallops with spinach carbonara
• House made ravioli stuffed with roasted sweet potatoes, onions and mascarpone served in truffle cream
• Cattail Creek leg of lamb grilled, with caramelized balsamic vinegar onions and aillade

DJ Adrian

Wondering why Ristorante Fratelli has some great music in the kitchen during prep hours, read the following!

At 9:30pm Chef Paul will let his sous chef Adrian Hutapea leave the kitchen so he can prepare his second passion-music (cooking is his first)! From 10.00 o 'clock on Adrian will be spinning some great down tempo music in Bar Due' till closing time! The last Portland club that enjoyed and highlighted his talents was the Pala Lounge on NW 3rd.