Jenn's 23rd B-day party

My friend Jennifer turned 23 on the 27th. We went to Ca De Sole, the restaurant that I wrote a review on a few months ago. It's a really nice Italian restaurant and the perfect setting for a fun and fabulous time with friends. Besides the Unicorn Premiere, it was the first time I really got to introduce Kevin to some of my friends. We had a blast and the food, as it was before, was excellent.

Here is the review I wrote about the restaurant:

Ca Del Sole - A slice of Italy in the Valley

Depart from the bustling streets of North Hollywood and enter the house of the sun. Ca Del Sole will romance your taste buds with rich Italian cuisine and take you far from the valley into a world of Venetian delight.
Located at 4100 Cahuenga Boulevard just off of Lankershim, this Italian restaurant and bar is a refreshing break from the norm that surprises you from the moment you drive up to the entrance. As the restaurant is located on a street surrounded by car dealerships and hole-in-the-wall shops, one would not normally expect the treasure that awaits, but let it be assured that this is indeed a diamond in the rough.
Experience a taste of Venice in one of Ca Del Sole’s three uniquely designed dining rooms or consider their elegant banquet facilities for your next big event. Before dining, you might arrive early and enjoy cocktail hour in their cozy bar as their exquisite wine list is surly deserving of time and attention. Valet parking is available and reasonably priced.
Enter down the path of twinkling lights and creeping vines that cover the arched walkway into the dimly-lit entry hall where you will be graciously greeted. From George Gallo's landscapes that line the whitewashed brick walls to the warm glow of the double-faced fireplace, the dining experience is both cozy and classic. Guests can sit comfortably in decorative booths with large, linen-covered tables that leave ample room for the Italian fare awaiting them. As you take in the comforting smells of garlic and spices, you will immediately notice how at home you feel within Ca Del Sole’s walls. The restaurant has managed to perfectly blend hospitality with classic elegance in order to create an experience that is nothing short of divine.
Choose from an extensive selection of wine like the '03 Dolcetto D'Alba or the '04 Schulthauser Pinot Bianco as the aromas from the kitchen begin to tantalize your senses. The ristorante's staff is attentive and extremely professional, and Manager Angelo D. Calderan mingles throughout the dining room quietly conveying that he understands the importance of catering to the needs of each guest. Guests feel at home as the staff offers up friendly advice on how to choose from a menu of seemingly endless choices.
Fresh bread and olive spread are served immediately, but you may want to also start with an antipasto of fresh Quail ($10.25) delicately served on a plate of soft polenta, or perhaps you would be interested in trying the Carpaccio ($8.95) - thin slices of raw, naturally grown, beef filet served beautifully on a bed of shaved Parmesan, capers and extra virgin olive oil. Don't leave without trying the homemade Pâte di Anatra ($9.75) served with toasted bread, mache, and quince compote. You will be dreaming of the dish long after you’ve left.
For your main course, the Speciali come highly recommended. The Linguine Vongole ($12.95) is exquisite - Linguine tossed with Manila clams, garlic, parsley, red pepper flakes and olive oil, or for something a bit different try the Wild Boar ($17.75) cooked in red wine, fresh vegetables and herbs and served over soft polenta. Executive Chef Soerke Peters' dishes are savory, succulent and divinely plated with the utmost attention to detail. The herbs are freshly chosen and many of the dishes are made from scratch like the Agnolotti ($13.95) - handmade tortellini filled with braised pork, chicken, veal, and fresh herbs. For dessert, indulge in the Banana Mouse ($6.25) or the rich, warm Chocolate Almond Cake.
From the first slice of Bread and Olive spread or the first sip of sparkling water to the last taste of the Vanilla Crème Sauce that lines many of the dessert dishes, Ca Del Sole will leave you mesmerized by the Italian experience. The menu changes on a regular basis, but the surprises awaiting you on each unique menu are sure to please all of your senses. It will be no surprise if you don't want the evening in this fine Italian Ristorante to end, so sip contently on a warm cup of Cappuccino and let the memories linger as the sun sets on Ca Del Sole.


Ca Del Sole is located at 4100 Cahuenga Blvd in Toluca Lake. For more information visit their website at www.cadelsole.com or call 818 985 4669 to make a reservation.