Bella Vita Bistro

And now to brag a little on Wichita. Went to this Italian restaurant in Boston's North End:

Pretty.  And Wichita's Bella Vita Bistro blew it out. of. the. water.

It all started with a lovely blush wine.
And then the salad....ohhhhhh, the Bella Vita House salad. Look at those beautiful curls of carrots and beets:Look closer...

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I need a real camera.  But it was art.  Edible art. The house basalmic vinaigrette redefines salad dressings.  Lidia, I love you, but we have a contender here...

Linguini Puttanesca...
Don't you love that they serve it with the spoon?  Beautiful, with a bite from the greek olives and basil coulis.  When you go (because you simply must), ask (if you dare) the lovely server/owner about the R-rated  story of this dish and its name. (Those of you who know a little Spanish might recognize the interesting root word in there...)

And then the Chicken Bella Vita...

Prosciutto and mozerella tucked gently inside, a buttery mornay sauce, tenderly toasted breadcrumb shell...just order it, OK?  You will thank me.  And make it a new line item in your budget.

  

The vegetables were different (carmelized onion potatoes and fried eggplant) and perhaps not brilliant, but the chocolate dessert and the charming finish were:

Isn't that the cutest mint you ever saw?

Let's keep this place alive, Wichita:

Bella Vita Bistro (reservations recommended - it is small)

If you're lucky Chef Prud Homme might even sing to you.