Christmas with Walter Ledda

Chef Walter Ledda’s Winter Wonderland Menu

Chef Walter Ledda and his hip downtown eatery Spettacolore are fast becoming Portland institutions.
Although Ledda and his staff are taking Christmas Day and New Year’s Day off, he has planned a Winter
Wonderland menu that will warm the hearts, souls and tummies of all Portland residents lucky enough
to partake in this limited time only menu. Utilizing flavors that bring on warm fuzzy feelings and
continuing his practice of locally sourced menu items, Ledda is excited to debut this menu to his
Spettacolore patrons on January 3, 2011.

One thing that avid Spettacolore fans will notice that is different from the usual menu is the Winter
Wonderland Menu’s focus on heartier fare. Gone are the pumpkin risotto and lemon dill salmon. Chef
Ledda feels those lighter feeling meals are better suited to summer and autumn. His Winter Wonderland
Menu features soups and stews and flavorful meat based dishes that in his own words “will keep you
warm all through a long winter’s night.”

The main feature of the menu will be an innovative take on beef bourguignon. With hearty gravy and
root vegetables and sweet and red potatoes, this dish will warm cold winter hearts for a good 24 hours
or more. Butternut squash soup and hearty stews compliment the entrees that are heavier pasta dishes
and comfort food such as Chef Ledda’s take on meatloaf. This is not your mother’s dry, crumbly
meatloaf. With a combination of lean ground sirloin and filet mignon, Ledda’s tender, flavorful meatloaf
contains garlic, caramelized onions and a hint of red pepper. Served with garlic mashed red potatoes in a
savory gravy and a spinach salad featuring feta cheese, candied pecans and dried cranberries in a
raspberry vinaigrette – this meal will hit the spot on a cold, rainy, winter’s night.

Chef Ledda plans to feature a special stew on rainy days, and to change it up with each rainy day. He
told us his working single mother was famous for her delectable crock pot creations and he’s taken a cue
from the meals of his childhood. Chicken tortilla stew, vegetarian stews, and pork, pot roast and beef
stews will be featured this winter. Side dishes will be heavy on potatoes and gravy and other veggies
that, in Ledda’s grandmother’s words “will stick to your ribs.”
While Spettacolore’s traditional dessert menu features light pastries and sorbets, the Winter
Wonderland menu takes a more calorie laden and flavor packed stance. From flourless chocolate cake
with homemade peppermint ice cream to fruit tarts that make the most of winter berries, your sweet
tooth will be delighted.

As mentioned, Spettacolore will debut the Winter Wonderland menu officially on January 3, 2011. If you
were lucky enough to secure a reservation for Chef Ledda’s sold out Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
dinners, you will get to choose from both Spettacolore’s traditional menu and the Winter Wonderland
menu for entrees only. All desserts will be from the Winter Wonderland Menu. Chef Walter Ledda and
the entire staff at Spettacolore wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.