Sweet  Dreams are Made of This …

          Greetings my penny pinching Gastronauts, did you miss me? Well I missed you. So tell me , Mon Ami , do you feel like a bear emerging from  hibernation just  Jonesing to feel that warm sun on your face. I bet you do. Well my friends , it is time to party. How would you like to be sitting ala fresco at your favorite trattoria  in  sunny Piedmont sampling some freshly made Stracciatella ( homemade Italian Cheese) . Well you can , Tue Amiche, just ring up  the designated driver of your choice or what the hell, call an Uber ( because parking is a bringdown there)   and Andiamo your butt  over to the  fabulous  new Dolce Fantasia (521 Cookman Ave) in Asbury Park.  Now I can hear you thinking, ”Italian” , it is so boring, you can almost taste the aluminum can from the tomato sauce . Well my friends this ain’t that. This spot  will remind you of why you used to love Italian in the first place.  You can taste the authenticity here , with their  use of simple seasonal ingredients to create bold natural flavors.  This is  food that tells a story , pleasing at once both the heart and the palate.   BTW,  the menu  is  truly something to behold with a plethora (great SAT word) of classic Northern Italian  dishes  all prepared with loving care, artistry and panache by  Executive Chef John Djombalic and  his lovely wife Bruna. Born in Croatia , Chef John moved to nearby Italy at an early age, working first as  a baker at a village shop owned by Bruna's family. After attending culinary school in Europe, he ventured to NY gaining experience working alongside celebrity chefs at the popular restaurant Bice. There, his desire grew, to create a  sweet vision of his own , opening  two  outposts in Staten Island and fortunately for us, his newest, in eclectic (weird old) Asbury Park . So as fascinating as you  might find this to be, it's time to get to the food. Perhaps  start off with the decadent “Fiche E Prosciutto '', served With Golden Dried Figs , Imported Burrata , Truffles and Honey or maybe  The Fiori Di Zucca Zucchini & Mozzarella Bufala ( Flower Blossoms baked in rich Mascarpone Sauce). Oh Shucks, I had that yesterday . Anyway , I hope you are feeling decisive because the menu offers a choice of 16 homemade pasta dishes including the ethereal Spaghettoni Alla Chitarra  Bolognese ( homemade spaghetti with veal and beef  ragu sauce ) or  their signature dish, Pappardelle Classiche with Four Cheeses. For something lighter try the  Pinsa Romana, pizza's older cousin, made with  thin  hand pressed dough , oven baked until super crispy.    If you are feeling something from the sea try the wonderful Branzino Al Forno or those  that did not watch “My  Octopus Teacher '' (Ha) , The  Baked Polpo. For those of you who are naughty ( or with an A1C under 6)  , there is  a cornucopia ( another good SAT word) of homemade pastries  and desserts  here, including The Opera Cake, a lovely  French confection  with layers of Almond Sponge cake soaked in coffee syrup  and  Grand Marnier. So now,   let's take a look at the scoreboard:  Welcoming friendly vibe, Check, Excellent wait staff, Check, Creative authentic cuisine , Check. If I were you and I kinda am, I would dig out that bottle of Chianti  Classico you've been hiding from your non worthy friends and head on over to this neighborhood gem for a sweet fantasy of your own.  After all, you earned it or you didn’t . So  until the next time my friends , be well and as always,  live a life that makes your neighbors jealous. Harry , Over and Out,