carrabbas italian grill - Stuff Parents Need

Thanks to Carrabbas Italian Grill for partnering with me to make today’s post possible. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you taken a look at the Carrabba’s restaurant menu lately? If you are assuming that it will be filled with predictable classic Italian dishes, you might want to take a closer look, friend. My family visited our local Carrabba’s over the weekend and we discovered that Carrabba’s Italian Grill has over 20 fresh new menu items, all part of the New School of Italian. You can find these contemporary dishes at Carrabba’s restaurant locations all over the country starting right now.

Want a peek at some of their offerings? No problem! I took some pictures just for you, my friend! From the selection of appetizers, I want to heartily recommend the Prosciutto Arugula Wood-Fired Pizza. It’s 10-inches, so it’s perfect for a larger group to share.

And speaking of sharing, Carrabba’s also has a new small plates section. This reminds me of an Italian take on tapas, and you are most definitely going to want to get at least 2 things from this grouping to share around the table (most things seem perfect for groups of 4 to share).

We sampled the Grilled Asparagus with Prosciutto (HEAVEN!) and the Mozzerella Rustica. Both were quickly gobbled up by my crew. We also went for the Bruschette Siciliani and the flavors were so yummy and fresh!

Perhaps the hardest part of your visit to Carraba’s Italian Grill will be the decision you have to make about which entree to get. First, I suggest keeping the vibe very “family style” and getting several different entrees so that everyone can try different things. Here’s what we sampled!

The unexpected hero dish of the evening was the Chianti Chicken.

I thought the presentation was lovely, but it really just looked like a simple chicken dish, so I didn’t think it would wow me. But you know what? It was cooked to absolute PERFECTION (so often chicken is over-cooked) and the sauce and the salad with apple slices, grapes and hazelnuts was just ridiculous. I would order this again in a heartbeat, so make sure someone at your table orders this!

Another winner for the seafood fans is the Cioppino. This seafood stew will just take you to another level of life, friends. It’s SO good!

If you like salmon, this Salmon Cetriolini will blow you away. That’s a lemon cream sauce and as my daddy would say, the salmon is “set free” by it. Oh mercy it’s a fabulous take on salmon!

Finally (I know!)we also opted for the Linguine Positano, which has simple, but very fresh flavors in it (and can be ordered vegetarian or with chicken or shrimp). As expected, this dish went over really well with the kids.

And speaking of kids, one thing I noticed was how surprisingly kid-friendly Carrabba’s is. They have a four-page kid’s menu and activity booklet with lots of fun elements (mazes, seek-and-find), crayons, and each child gets a miniature ball of dough to play with, shape, and have baked if s/he so desires. Such a great idea!

Can you believe that after sampling all the dishes above (I didn’t even show you the awesome soups and salads!) that we ordered dessert? Yes, indeed! And complete and total mayhem broke out as soon as the sweets arrived. I snapped a photo at the scene!

Here’s a insider tip for you: do NOT miss out on the Brulee’ Ricotta cheesecake. I usually find cheesecakes to be underwhelming and just too much. This one was light and so very delicious. HUGE winner! :–)

My family had such a fun time together at Carrabba’s. We ate amazing food and we enjoyed the fun environment. I could see us going back there for a delicious meal any night of the week, or even for a fun weekend lunch. They have dishes that will suit most any mood you might have, whether you want to keep it light or totally indulge. And whether you are on a special date or just enjoying some family time, you’ll fit right in at Carrabba’s.

GIVEAWAY!

In celebration of the New School of Italian dishes at Carrabba’s, 1 MILLION DISHES will be given away to guests who register at www.Carrabbasgiveaway.com beginning at 8 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 11.

Additionally, EVERY guest’s bill from now through March 6th will be treated to a 20% discount! WOAH!!!!

So be sure to enter for a free dish from Carrabba’s, and then take your family out for some delicious Italian food at Carrabba’s ASAP!

What’s your pasta personality? You have one, you know. We all do! Carrabba’s has a Pasta Personality Quiz on Facebook that can help you determine yours. Hop on over and take the quiz. Go ahead. I’ll wait!

Ok, what were your results? My pasta personality is spaghetti, which is just SO perfect considering what you’ll find below…

As part of this post, I’d like to share my family’s signature pasta dish. This is one of our very favorites. Tim’s family has been making it for who knows how long (longer than I’ve been on the scene, and I’ve been hanging out with him for over a decade, now!). It’s a pasta dish that has eggs in it. Sounds gross, I know. But stick with me….you’re gonna love it!

Spaghetti Carbonara

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 cup olive oil or butter (we go half and half)
2 eggs lightly beaten
12 oz of turkey bacon, diced and cooked
1/8 cup dried parsley or 1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 lb spaghetti

Cook spaghetti noodles according to package instructions. Meanwhile, heat the oil/butter on medium-high and add the garlic. Saute 3-5 minutes. Mix the oil/butter/garlic mixture with the cooked and drained noodles. Add the eggs in and very quickly mix. The idea is that the eggs will cook onto the noodles . After the eggs have been mixed in, add the turkey bacon, parsley and Parmesan cheese.

And then get ready to die from the joy of this dish. It is so awesome!

If making a pasta dish at home is not on your list of things you wish to accomplish, then just head on over to Carrabba’s, where you’ll find some fantastic limited time special offers, which include seven dishes served with soup or fresh salad. And the price tag is awesome, starting at just $10! Here are a few examples:

Pasto Rambo – Named for the chef who created it, it’s made with shrimp tossed with imported Italian linguine, spinach, mushrooms, and tomatoes sautéed in our basil lemon butter sauce. Lobster is available instead of shrimp for an additional cost.

Parmesan-crusted Chicken – Topped with fresh arugula and grape tomatoes tossed in a hand-prepared lemon vinaigrette, served with choice of side. Substitution of wood-grilled chicken also available. Pairs well with Estancia Pinot Grigio.

Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin – Three pork tenderloin medallions wrapped with prosciutto, wood-grilled and topped with an apple and fig infused port wine sauce, served with the vegetable of the day. Pairs well with Coppola Pinot Noir.

Limoncello Bread Pudding – Back by popular demand! Brioche bread pudding made with fresh Madagascar vanilla beans and a rich custard, served hot out of the oven. Topped with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and drizzled with Carrabba’s homemade Caravella Limoncello liqueur sauce.

While I still hold that my Spaghetti Carbonara will blow you away, I wouldn’t blame you if you put down your cooking utensils and headed for your nearest Carrabba’s. With over 230 locations, there’s probably one close by!

And don’t forget to tell me your pasta personality in the comments! Any other spaghettis out there???

Disclosure:I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Carrabba’s blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

The New School of Italian: Carrabba’s Restaurant Menu Has New Offerings!

Find Your Pasta Personality with Carrabba’s (Fun Facebook Quiz and a Family Recipe!)