And a surprisingly great Italian menu
The Blarney Castle Inn is on the road to Sunset Beach. It was built in 1988 by Irishman Joseph Patrick Evans, who fell in love with our beautiful town. He was inspired to build his own castle overlooking the Sea of Cortez by his hometown of Carrickmacross, Ireland. In 1995 he expanded his getaway into a beautiful and quaint boutique hotel.
Up there, and with great city views, sits La Luna Italiana, the creation of Chef Fabrizio Goffi of The Italian Job restaurant fame. I met Fabrizio at his first restaurant in Los Barriles about 12 years ago and followed him when he opened the Italian Job in downtown Cabo, half a block north of McDonald’s.
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It became so popular that years later, Fabrizio moved to a new, fancier and bigger location at the entrance to Medano Beach. His new La Luna Italiana (do we have to translate that for you?), although different, also serves a fabulous menu. And like I said before, a surprising one. I was there with a friend from Argentina, and we thoroughly enjoyed and shared it all, starting with the Carpaccio di Selvaggina made of thin slices of raw deer, lime, extra virgin olive oil, black peppers, parmesan cheese and arugula, followed by a Carpaccio di Gamberi – raw shrimp with olive oil, black pepper, orange, lime, capers, very thin habanero slices and a touch of paprika.
For the main course, we chose the Ravioli di Wagyu with potato, saffron and black truffle slices and parmesan sauce, the latter prepared at your table with a show: your server brings a wheeled table and places it close to yours with the whole wheel of Parmigiano. Then here comes Fabrizio who, with a torch, melts the cheese and serves it over your ravioli and slices a truffle over it right in front of your eyes. Surprising and impressive! This was followed by Gnocchi di Patate – potato gnocchi served with duck ragu and thin slices of fresh truffles. Yummy!
All the above was served with a cold bottle of Taittinger Brut. For dessert, Tiramisu in Coppa, Semifieddo de Papaia with habanero sauce and tartara di limoncello con meringa. Also yummy!
The prices are affordable and better than those in downtown Cabo. The service is proficient and quiet, the music unobtrusive and the ambiance very relaxed. The view of the city’s twinkling lights makes for a very romantic setting.
La Luna Italiana is located on the road to Sunset Beach. Turn towards the mountain when you see the stone building on top of your left. Reservations are recommended. When you park your vehicle you will find a golf cart waiting for you to take you to the top. Phone: + 52 624-220-5688, lunaitaliana.com or in Facebook/lunaitalianarestaurant. Open from 5:00 to 10:00 pm. Bon Appetit!
And if you’ve never been to The Italian Job, it is a must! Another cozy place with true Italian food. Trust me, I have been a follower of Chef Fabrizio Goffi for some 12 years now and I just keep coming back over and over.
Fabrizio has now partnered with Edith Jimenez, of The Office, Las 3 Sirenas and Edith’s restaurant’s fame and moved to the street that takes you to Medano beach past the ME Cabo resort, in a larger, beautiful location. With Valet Parking!
I was there for my birthday last year and Fabrizio walked us into the restaurant’s cava, where a table for 12 was set up. I thought it was too much, but he insisted and sat down with us. He ordered a sample of dishes to share, in good Italian tradition.
We enjoyed a few (not) glasses of sparkling wine, white wine and red wine to accompany our dinner which started with a Bruschetta with extra virgin olive oil, tomato and spices, followed by a Tartar di Pesce, Insalata di Mare, pasta with clams, shrimp and lobster from the North Atlantic and a Rib Eye.
These were followed by 5 desserts, the best Tiramisu for the birthday boy, Caramel flan, Chocolate volcano, Semiffredo (2 pieces of white and dark chocolate), and homemade limoncello and mangocello.
I was so satisfied that I forgot to order an Espresso, but I will be back, for sure. Enjoy!
