Let’s just say I have a Wahlberg hangover.
Last week my friends and I were blown away by the food at Alma Nove in Hingham. And this past weekend I time-travelled back to my teens as we saw NKOTBSB (that’s New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys for you people not in the know) in concert at Fenway Park. Hello, Mark Wahlberg, nice of you to introduce the boy bands. And hellloooooo Donnie.
Those Wahlberg brothers did good.
For Alma Nove, the credit goes to Executive Chef Paul Wahlberg. In all honestly, when we decided to go to Hingham restaurant, I wasn’t expecting much. I thought we were in for a nice Italian meal, and maybe a Wahlberg sighting. But our dinner was filled with mouth-watering, impeccably prepared dishes, each and every one generating oohs and aahs from me and my dining companions.
plus we had a beautiful waterfront view of the sunset over the Hingham shipyard
we were also able to hang out near the fire pit
The menu is simple, broken down into the traditional Italian courses of antipasti (appetizers), insalata (salads), primi (pasta), secondi (main entrees), and contorni (sides). There were so many appealing dishes that my friends and I decided to just order several items to share.
There were four of us, and we chose one appetizer each:
grlled calamari salad with arugula and oven dried tomato
braised pork meatballs with creamy polenta
wild boar confit with strozzapreti, guanciale, and dried plums
and a roasted eggplant caprese with burrata cheese
I could’ve eaten that whole plate of the eggplant caprese and called it a happy night; it was so tasty! The drizzle of the savory pesto sauce really complemented the roasted eggplant, and the burrata was so soft and creamy inside. Now that I have easy access to plump tomatoes and cheese from the farmers markets, I think I will be recreating this dish all summer.
just look at that cheese
Then we ordered three entrees to share (or technically two and a half), plus a side dish:
garlicky spinach
half order of the tagliatelli with beef short rib
full order of the basil linguini with sauteed lobster and kale
this was cooked alla carbonara
and last but not least, the veal chop special
I loaded my plate with a little bit of everything
We were stuffed and satiated, but not too stuffed for…
a not too sweet slice of chocolate cake
and a heavenly banana cream pie with vanilla rum pudding
Banana cream pie. With vanilla rum pudding. Is the perfect ending. To a perfect dinner.
To the Wahlberg brothers:
Paul, you are one talented chef.
Marky, I forgive you for the Funky Bunch (I love you).
And Donnie, call me.
You got the right stuff…
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I love AN!
So good!
Seriously the best concert of my LIFE. I am OBSESSED with Mark Walhberg and I pretty much lost it when he came on stage. I also now have a great appreciation for rain.
I have heard amazing things about Alma Nove and your pictures pretty much prove that it’s praise worthy. I feel like I was the only one not at NKOTBSB this weekend. Pretty sure I missed out.
I have been wanting to visit Alma Nove forever – but the weather is always crappy when I plan to go! It looks fabulous. On another note, don’t you think Donnie has gotten a LOT cuter over the years? I always thought of him as the ugly one but have since changed my mind!
I’ve been dying to go to Alma Nove. Everything looks fantastic.
Do you watch Donnie on Blue Bloods? You bet your ass I do!
NKOTBSB in Pittsburgh in 2 days – YAY!
I LOVED the concert on Saturday. Huge BSB fan. It was fo much fun. Pretty sure that I am going to get sick from being out in the cold… what is going on with the crazy weather?! But so worth being sick.
Great post! We sat by that outside fire and had drinks on my birthday. I can’t wait to eat there!
Omigod I want that burrata dish NOW. And the banana cream pie. That place looks gorgeous!
Amanda – the rain was a blessing from God.
Emily – Donnie has gotten a lot hotter over the years! When he ripped off his shirt (ripped off!) the crowd went wild!
Melissa, I will now!
Nicole, yes, def worth it!
omg awesome video, saturday was the greatest night of my life!
Hmm I’ll have to try the braised meatballs and polenta next time I go.
Looks like a great meal! And I love the Funky Bunch reference….
I have been bugging Jeff for months to go to the Hingham Shipyard. Maybe those meatballs and that veal chop can convince him!
hehehe, i could totally hear them in the afternoon getting ready! but i’m a little distracted by those meatballs
Oh that was the best show I have ever been to!!! Donnie ripping off his shirt? I thought I was going to faint. I’m still all about the BSB though. But NKOTB has gotten HOT! Damn!
So, so, so jealous you go to see NKOTBSB. I’m dying to go again (saw them MANY times in their prime and saw them again in 2008), but the day they’ll be in my town is the night before my friends wedding. I’m seriously considering traveling to go see them.
Wild boar confit sounds interesting, never heard of it before. Wild boar has nice flavour and texture so I am guessing it was super delicious!
Megan it is so nice there! The meatballs are definitely worth the trip.
Shannon during the actual concert, were you able to hear the songs or were the songs drowned out by the throngs of screaming fans? :p And now I want some meatballs again…
Alaina, yes, I went a little crazy during that segment.
I’ve heard so many great things about Alma Nove! All of the food looks so delicious!
Heather, do itttttt! You won’t regret it
Those desserts look SO decadent and delicious:)
I didn’t even know NKOTB was touring!
Whoa that lobster!!! OMG. Who knew the other Wahlberg was so amazing?! I need to check this place out
OMG those are some gooooood looking eats! I’ll take the oven roasted tomatoes, eggplant with pesto, garlicky spinach, and the basil linguini please. thanks.
The food looks so good, but really, I am most jealous that you got to see NKOTBSB!!!!
So fun. The food looks great. Yum!
Whoa Mark AND Donnie. That’s too much Wahlberg to handle