ASK Italian - numero due

This is my second review of ASK Italian.

But my view is; if you don’t ASK Italian, you don’t get, er Italian.

My dining partner and I sauntered into the modern surroundings of the Welwyn Garden City branch of the popular chain of ristaurante Italianos.

Asked what name to book our table under I used the nom de guerre ‘Tim Bryce’, for anonymity is the way of the freeloader.

Anyway, on to the food.

We began with a generous bowl of olives and Italian bread – the perfect appetisers.

They were rapidly followed by my starter (my partner in dine eschewed the entrees, saving space for the mains).

I chose Prosciutto e Rucola – a superb salad, replete with fresh, sliced mushrooms, prosciutto ham, wedge of lemon and crisp rocket.

Onwards and outwards (waistline-wise), I went for a gorgeous calzone next, and my companion chose the largest lasagne I’ve ever clapped eyes on!

Needless to say it wasn’t finished – I defy anyone to polish off the tasty looking beast.

Dessert was next up, and the butterscotch cheesecake caught my eye immediately. Beautifully presented by the always attentive and courteous staff, it was a treat.

My smaller-appetited companion opted simply for a dark and rich hot chocolate.

Eager to make my meal complete I also ordered a livening double espresso to round off the feast.

And, after we bade our hosts farewell and headed out into the cold night air,  

I resolved to recommend ASK Italian all over again. 

• Do you have something I can freeload? Email me: shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk

Finlandia grapefruit vodka

Anyone who knows me, which may well be a fairly limited list of close confidantes considering my cloak of anonymity, will know that I’m partial to a drop of booze from time to time.

And so it is my gleeful duty to report that those nice people at Finlandia despatched a 35cl bottle of smooth grapefruit vodka to Freeloader House.

I stored the liquor in the freezer and decided to try it both neat over ice as those crazy Finns would neck it, plus I was told it went well with cranberry juice so tried it that way too.

1. Neat: Strong, smooth and satisfying… a real winter warmer.
2. With cranberry juice: Multi-layered, complex and refreshing.

Having tried grapefruit vodka both ways I have to say I preferred it neat.

I was transported to one of those ice bars, and in my mind’s eye could see polar bears wandering on a giant glacier mint and igloos on an ice flat, although maybe that was the vodka

talking!

• For more information go to: http://www.finlandia.com/flavour.aspx?id=81
• Do you have something I can freeload? Email me: shamelessfreeloader@hotmail.co.uk