Exploring The Pasta-bilities
il Modo Embraces Classic Italian Dishes With A Modern Twist.
With a name that means “the way” in Italian, il Modo celebrates everything Italian with its modern interpretations of classic dishes and traditional cooking techniques.
“We want il Modo to be a restaurant and gathering place for locals and hotel guests that serves up great Italian, family-style meals that embrace sharing,” says Nick Wymore, il Modo’s director of food and beverage.
The restaurant, which opened in June, is located within the Kimpton Harper Hotel in Fort Worth and features a luxurious dining room and pasta room for guests to watch il Modo’s chefs make its pastas.
“House-made pastas are at the heart of what we do,” Nick says. “While dining, our guests have a chance to peek into our glass-walled pasta room, where our chefs create fresh pasta daily.”
After taking a seat in the dining or pasta room, guests can start off the night with a specialty Italian-inspired cocktail. The Queen of Salerno features amaretto and triple sec with lemon juice, angostura bitters and soda water, while the La Famiglia is made with Aperol, sweet vermouth and grapefruit juice.
For wine lovers, il Modo has an extensive wine list that includes both flat and sparkling wines. Like the sparkling Bisol Brut Prosecco DOC or the red San Polo Brunello di Montalcino, many of the wines it offers hail from Italy.
After a few libations, diners can awaken their taste buds by indulging in several delectable appetizers. Meatballs made with dry-aged beef, spicy pomodoro, basil and Parmesan make for the perfect shareable, while adventurous guests can try the crispy calamari, which comes with Peppadew peppers, spicy pomodoro sauce and preserved lemon aioli.
“When building out the menu, we focused on local, seasonal ingredients to put our own modern spin on classic Italian dishes,” Nick says.
With all its pasta handmade, it would be a mistake not to order some of this Italian staple. Those with hefty appetites can get the spaghetti, which comes with ricotta, Sungold tomatoes, basil and Parmesan, while the orecchiette serves up all the flavors with cacio e pepe, DOP pecorino and toasted peppercorns.
For pasta with a seafood spin, delight in the risotto, which is made with Acquerello rice, rock shrimp, mascarpone and crispy shallots while the bucatini comes prepared with the traditional Italian ingredients amatriciana and guanciale, along with basil and Parmesan.
But il Modo proves that Italian food is not just pasta. Its roasted half-Amish chicken is prepared with potato leek puree, roasted garlic and preserved lemon jus while the Ora King salmon features heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers and garlic fry bread.
The seafood selections also extend to il Modo’s raw bar menu. Along with steak tartare — served with Calabrian chili, capers, egg yolk, house pickles and grilled sourdough — guests can order poached shrimp or a half-pound king crab, both of which come with dijonaise, cocktail sauce and horseradish.
For families who dine at il Modo, the branzino comes whole and stuffed with herbs, spinach, Calabrian chilis and lemon, while the ribeye is 22 ounces and features roasted garlic and bone marrow butter.
Diners will continue to feel satiated during dessert, with il Modo’s tiramisu delivering a delicious bite with mascarpone zabaione, espresso-soaked ladyfingers and Madagascar vanilla bean whipped cream. Meanwhile the chocolate pie, made with mousse, Oreo crust and toasted hazelnuts, is sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.
Whatever you indulge in, il Modo ensures guests taste the flavors of Italy in every meal.
“At il Modo, the dinner table represents family,” Nick says. “I want guests to feel that no matter what type of occasion, whether it’s a date night, a family or business celebration, or you’re just walking by, you always feel welcome and taken care of.”