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Girasole Italian Cuisine - The Plains, VA

Girasole

Authentic Regional Italian Cusine

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La Valentina Abruzzo Wine Dinner

Sunday, September 10th at 6:30pm
Hosted by Andrea di Properzio, owner of La Valentina
4 courses, $160 per person excluding tax and gratuity
Reservations required. Call to reserve, 540-253-5501. A credit card is required with your reservation.

“We are convinced that a fine wine is born from the sum of countless tiny details, so our objective must not only be to consistently produce fine wines, but also to make sure that they are and will always remain authentic.”

Fattoria La Valentina was founded by Sabatino, Roberto, and Andrea di Properzio in 1990 in Spoltore, a village nestled amongst the Pescara hills on the central coast of the Adriatic in the region of Abruzzo. The winery’s objective and passion became the quest for quality, a revolutionary venture in a region known for producing bulk wine, and the desire to promote the traditional varietals of Abruzzo, primarily Montepulciano, but also Trebbiano and Pecorino. The local micro-climate and the land itself, the nearby forests, mountains, and the Adriatic Sea, to which the vines are bound and so well-adapted, give La Valentina’s wines their originality and distinctive character.

Moved by the convictions that real improvement comes only from respecting natural equilibriums, the brothers implement their philosophy by not permitting the unrestrained use of technology and chemicals. La Valentina intervenes as little as possible in the natural processes, adhering to the principle that high-quality D.O.C. wine “has the mark of the vine on its grapes”.

On Sunday, September 10th at 6:30pm, we invite you to help us celebrate the revolutionary wines of La Valentina accompanied by rustic dishes of Abruzzo. Each of the four courses have been thoughtfully created by Chef Lou to compliment the wines of La Valentina and to present the dishes of the lesser known region of Abruzzo. Andrea di Properzio, owner of La Valentina, will be presenting his family’s wines at the dinner. Please call to reserve, 540-253-5501.

*Profile taken from www.lavelantina.it, visit their website for more

Antipasto di Benvenuto
Welcome appetizer
Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC 2022
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Scapece alla Vastese
Mussels lightly fried tempura style with saffron
Pecorino ‘Colline Pescaresi’ IGT 2022
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Timballo Teramano
Layers of scrippelle, paper thin crepes, with a rich ragù and mozzarella, baked
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva ‘Spelt’ DOC 2018
~
Brasato di Maiale
Local pork braised with peas and cippolini onions, served with it’s braising juices
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Terre dei Vestini Riserva ‘Bellovedere’ DOC 2019
~
Formaggio
Cheese plate
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva ‘Binomio’ DOC 2019

*Menu and pairings subject to change based on availability

Collage of photos: Worker holding grapes in vineyard, Di Properzio borthers, Workers in vineyards during harvest, Ageing barrels in wine cellar, Roast pork shoulder with peas and onions

girasoleva

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Oct 28

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Our annual white truffle dinner is closer than you think! A decadent evening celebrating the 'diamonds of the kitchen', the white Alba truffle, and the captivating wines of @gdvajra_barolo of Barolo. Have you reserved your table yet for our Annual White Truffle Dinner on Sunday, November 8th?

Click the link in our bio to discover more about the famed white Alba truffle, our host and dear friend of over 20 years Giuseppe Vaira, his family's magnificent wines, and about why this is the event we look forward to most year after year. Call to reserve, 540-253-5501.
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Oct 20

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A belated happy anniversary to these two! 

Lou and Lydia met at the @theculinaryinstituteofamerica in Hyde Park, NY, which they both attended, and married shortly after graduating. They then pursued careers as professional chefs in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and eventually Washington DC where Lydia moved to front of house management and Lou remained in the kitchen. Their first restaurant, Panino, located in Manassas, opened its doors in 1991, with Girasole to follow in 2004. Which by the way also celebrates its 22nd anniversary later this month!
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Oct 1

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Just one of the inspired dishes that will be served Sunday, October 11 at our @venica.venica Friuli Wine Dinner! Hosted by visionary winemaker and fourth generation of Venica & Venica, @giampaolovenica. Call to reserve, 540-253-5501. Find out more at the link in our bio. 
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📸 Polpette di Coda alla Vaccinara: braised oxtail lightly fried, served with a salsa verde. A dish prepared by Chef Lou not to reflect the traditional food of the region but rather to complement and celebrate Friulian winemaking at its finest. Paired with Venica & Venica's Malvasia 'Petris', a grape grown by the Greeks that can be dated back in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia to the 13th century Venetian Republic. Venica's Malvasia is a wine of strong mineral character and long aromatic persistence, and a wonderful introduction of the whites of Venica and the terroir of Collio. Now being served by the glass leading up to the dinner.
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Sep 27

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On Sunday, October 11th, join us for an extraordinary evening with visionary Friulian winemaker and fourth generation of Venica & Venica, Giampaolo Venica. Each course has been thoughtfully created by Chef Lou to compliment and celebrate Friulian winemaking at its finest, and to transport you to the hills of Collio in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, where Venica & Venica is nestled between the city of Udine and Slovenia. Giampaolo will be our host for this intimate gathering, as he shares his family’s story through each glass, one of biodynamic principles and minimal intervention, allowing the unique terroir of Collio to shine with vibrant honesty and purity, and resulting in some of Italy’s most unforgettable wines!
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Sunday, October 11th at 6:30pm
Venica & Venica Friulian wine dinner, hosted by @giampaolovenica of @venica.venica. Call to reserve, 540-253-5501. Discover more at the link in our bio.
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Sep 2

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As big, juicy heirloom tomato season is winding down, the cherry tomatoes are still abundant in Chef Lou's garden in very back of our parking area! 

📸Tomatoes from our garden tossed with a shallot vinaigrette, with Cetara anchovy and local micro greens. Simple, beautiful, and most importantly, delicious. On our featured specials tonight. We can't wait to see you.
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Aug 26

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Inspired dishes prepared by Chef Lou to be enjoyed amidst Lydia's gorgeous garden on the most beautiful day!

Black sea bass pan sautéed with chanterelle mushrooms, on our featured specials tonight.
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Aug 12

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All of these things are great on their own, but become quite exceptional when paired together! And somehow, they get even better when enjoyed on our patio! We open at 4:30, we hope to see you. 
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📸 Heirloom tomatoes from Chef Lou's garden, with an olive caponata

📸 Lydia's favorite Summer rosés, currently offered by the glass. @gdvajra_barolo 'Rosabella' from Piedmont, Italy, @dalmasovini Tai Rosso from Veneto, Italy, and @rsvnapa Vin Gris of Pinot Noir from Los Carneros, California
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Aug 6

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Sun dried Calabrian figs, Sicilian brandied orange, and Pecorino Fiore Sardo, an ancient Sardinian sheep’s milk cheese lightly smoked with the bark of the cork tree. Intense, rich and complex, with a slight sharpness, and available on our featured specials tonight💫
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Jul 30

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Chef Lou's bread, constantly changing, constantly evolving. A recipe developed over 30 years ago at his and Lydia's first restaurant, Panino in Manassas, with some recipe tinkering and adjustments along the way, and more recently some experimentation with locally milled flours. A labor of love for Chef Lou, and a visit to Girasole would not be complete without a warm basket of his freshly made bread on the table.
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Jul 16

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BIG things have arrived at Girasole! #bisteccafiorentina 

An approximately 2 lb grass fed porterhouse steak from @longstonefarm pan seared with herbs, salt, and pepper until medium rare, finished with La Lupinella extra virgin olive oil, on our featured specials tonight!
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Jul 2

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Cool thoughts and cool dishes on these blazing hot days leading us into the holiday weekend! 

We will be CLOSED Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5, but you can join us this evening or tomorrow, Friday, July 3 for dinner in our beautifully air conditioned dining room!
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📸 Radicchio tossed with a passion fruit vinaigrette, hazelnuts

📸 Fennel sliced thinly with melon tossed with a citrus vinaigrette, roasted pistachios, and basil

📸 Squash blossoms from our garden stuffed with ricotta and sun-dried tomato, lightly fried tempura
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Jun 10

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Just a few of the regionally inspired dishes that will be served this Friday, June 12 at our Veneto and Le Marche Wine Dinner! Hosted by the wonderful @diletta_tonello, owner and winemaker at @tonellowines in the Veneto, and Riccardo Baldi, owner and winemaker at @lastaffaofficial in Le Marche. Call to reserve, 540-253-5501. Find out more under at the link in our bio. 
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📸 Olive all'Ascolane, olives stuffed with meat and lightly fried. A dish found in only two places in the world, in the city of Ascoli Piceno in Le Marche where it originated, and at Girasole in The Plains, VA😂 Due to Lydia's family's origins in Le Marche, we cherish this dish and take great pride in sharing a bit of our family history with you. 

📸 Bruschetta with seared Cotechino, a pork sausage from Modena, with salsa verde, drizzled with aged balsamic

📸 Diver scallops pan seared served with a pistachio and parsley salad, beurre blanc
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Girasole Italian Cuisine - The Plains, VA

(540) 253-5501
4244 Loudoun Avenue
The Plains, VA 20198
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Hours

Monday & Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday – Sunday: 4:30pm with the last seating at 8:30pm

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