I Found Heaven in Pinellas Park!

Monday afternoon was spent with Micheline Rozon at DeSesto Italiano Ristorante located at 7199 - 66th Street N in Pinellas Park. Micheline and her husband Sesto have owned the Italian Restaurant for 3 1/2 years. Tucked away in a small complex just south of Park Boulevard, DeSestos is another place that I have driven by numerous times and did not even realize it was there.

Micheline and Sesto are originally from Montreal. They moved to Florida in 1997 and immediately got involved in the Florida Pasta Company. All of the products from Florida Pasta are produced in small batches and distibuted to hotels and restaurants throughout Florida. A full line of fresh pasta is available for purchase at the restaurant. Ravioli is sold in 12 piece packages and some of the mouthwatering flavors available were pumpkin ravioli; gorgonzola, spinach and pine nuts; feta cheese and black olive; crab and lobster; goat cheese, pine nuts and spinach; and butternut squash and walnuts. There were also packages of gnocchi and tortellini available as well as a variety of meats and cheeses. If you want dessert, pick up a box of Italian cookies, biscotti or pizzelles. Whole cakes are also available for purchase.

The restaurant is very casual for lunch. Dinner is much classier. Friday and Saturday nights there is a mandolin player. This sounds like a great idea for a date night! The restaurant is very cozy and inviting. When I first arrived, there were only a few people dining, but by the time my food was served, there were quite a few people eating. For lunch, you can always get a soup and salad for $5.50 or a half sandwich with soup or salad for $6.00 as well as daily lunch specials. As I was looking over the menu, I was very intrigued with one of the appetizers "Olive Ascolane." They are large green olives stuffed with meat and parmesan cheese then breaded and fried. I started writing down the description of these and got a little sentimental in thinking how much Bob (my deceased fiance') would have loved these. Just then, Micheline appeared at the table with some of them for me to taste. A tear came to my eye as I knew that Bob was having lunch with me. (sappy but true.) These tasty morsels are definitely a labor of love. Each olive is handstuffed. They were delicious.

Bread was served with two different types of pesto in the dipping oil. The first is a sundried tomato pesto and the other is a basil pesto which is called Sesto's Pesto.

Sesto and his mother lived in Italy for 7 years, so the recipes are authentic. Some of the dinners on the menu are his mother's creations. She still runs a restaurant in Montreal.

I left my lunch choice decision to Micheline. She selected the "Linguine Mamma Angela" which has a wine cream sauce, capers, mushrooms, ham, Italian sausage and pancetta ($9.50) and "Penne Alla Sesto." This dish is penne served in a cream sauce with sundried tomatoes, onions and mushrooms ($9.50). Both dishes were quite delicious, but the Alla Sesto was phenomenal. I will not eat boxed pasta ever again!! I cannot believe the difference in the taste. And the best part is that you can stop in and pick up fresh pasta and take it home to make for dinner. Love it!!!

There is a children's menu available with prices ranging from $3.50 for a Ceasar salad to $5.25 for lasagna bolognese meat sauce or cheese tortellini. There are several other things on the menu too.

DaSesto's also caters. There are full lunch and dinner catering menus. They will deliver lunch to you Monday through Friday from 11am-3pm. Call to see if you are in their delivery area. 727-209-2695. For catering events email Sesto@dasesto.com

Micheline talked me into dessert and I am so glad that I caved to the pressure! The tiramisu was so light and delicious. It was heavenly.

I am already looking forward to my next visit to DaSesto's Italiano! I cannot believe this gem is located so close to me right in Pinellas Park. This will definitely be added to my "favorite places" list! Stop in if you are in the area, or just make it a destination restaurant. It is worth the trip!