Simply Fresh
CAN YOU think of anything better than relaxing in the sunshine by the sea with a plateful of fresh, tasty seafood and a glass of chilled wine - I can't!
Combining my two favourite pastimes - eating and watching the waves roll in, is killing two birds, or in this case, two fish, with one stone!
My daughter and I visited Café del Pescatore on a sunny autumn day and were greeted by owner Nick Fiore, who made us feel at home with his warm Italian charm.
We chose the popular Nick's Tasting Plate referred to by Nick as "the tantalizing plate" - he was spot on. Presented with a large, colourful platter of delights I tried the Cajun Calamari and was in fish heaven!
The gorgeous soft flesh was juicy and the hint of Cajun spice was a perfect match. My daughter fell for the tangy Chermoula Cuttlefish which was spicy with plenty of chilli. The chewy Grilled Italian sausage was very tasty and when we combined it with the cuttlefish, the two flavours burst on our palates. When we added the Secret Stone Sauvignon Blanc to the mix, the taste was sensational. The cold, dry white wine brought out the chilli to perfection.
The Garlic Prawns were juicy and not swamped by the garlic and the four types of oysters were equally pleasing. I preferred the cold Mango flavoured oyster, and my daughter loved the warm Diablo, we also enjoyed the Natural and the Kilpatrick.
While eating our mains, chef Tim Dixon came out to chat with us. He described Del Pescatore as traditional Italian and European explaining he liked to keep the food as close to original as possible without complicating the flavours, drawing the best out of the main ingredient.
He also described what they served to children and my mouth was watering. Instead of nuggets, they like to serve fillets of whiting, home cut chips, salad and vegetables.
Next we tucked into an enormous Bucket of Summer Prawns. Half a kilo of Exmouth king prawns, "cooked on the boat", served with a tangy seafood sauce and lemon wedges. They were fresh and full of flavour and gone before you could say "del pescatore" meaning "from the fisherman"
The Fish Wings really finished us off. A beautiful display, of large premium fish fins that looked like they would take flight! Paired with a grand Italian salad and Secret Stone wine it was the perfect accompaniment as recommended by Nick.
I must admit I was hooked from the first taste of calamari and my daughter was so impressed, she plans to return to try cocktails like the Sea Breeze and Surf's Up with, you guessed it, more yummy fish.
Café Del Pescatore is the place to go in Scarborough any time of year. The mood is relaxed and the food is top quality and fresh. There are also vegetarian and meat dishes and something for every age group. It is open daily for lunch and dinner.
