RESIDENTS JOUrNAL

A family affair
Jennifer Mason samples the hearty Italian fare at Enoteca Turi in Putney
will have a eld day with this one. Fortunately for my sister and I (who remain, alas, comparatively ignorant of the wine-pairing process) each of the dishes on the menu is number coded to a suitable wine Giuseppe has personally selected to match perfectly. My sister (who, sensibly, is not attempting the January Dryathlon) follows the suggestion of a fruity 2011 Brazan Collio Goriziano i Clivi (number 70) to accompany her sea bass with braised fennel and artichoke, and declares it an excellent foil to her meal. Although no wine waits for me, Im still pleased with my selection of the Orecchiette pasta with cauliower, garlic, olives and chilli, topped with toasted breadcrumbs. Again, as with our starter, its the texture of this dish, as much as the avour, that captures Its the texture of my attention. this dish, as much as the The smooth, light pasta contrasts flavour, that captures with the crunchy my attention breadcrumbs just as the avours of garlic, olives and chilli work together for a delectable truly Mediterranean mouthful. As our plates are cleared away, were both feeling deliciously full, so decide to share a dessert too. Unfortunately, as soon as our chosen sweet treat arrives (chocolate caprese cake with Chantilly cream) we immediately realise the error of our ways. A keen battle of the spoons ensues, sibling rivalry turned up to the max as we both vie for mouthful after mouthful. Alas, it falls to me as the elder sister to relinquish the nal bite (but I stole the last of the moreish Chantilly cream, so there). Replete, we sit back to discuss our repast. The general consensus is that our starter and dessert have rather stolen the show. We both agree that a little tart raspberry coulis or the like would have cut through the sweetness of the dessert nicely (though the lack of it certainly wouldnt have prevented us from ordering a repeat of the cake). Declining coffee, were both immensely glad of the short walk to Putney station, a futile attempt to burn off some of the calories weve thoroughly enjoyed consuming. With a two-course or three-course set menu for just under and just over 30 respectively, or la carte for a little more, Enoteca Turi is by no means at the steep end of the dining out spectrum, but the food quality and presentation belies its reasonable prices. Whether its for an occasion, or a week night dinner with family, theres something a little special about this place. n

stones throw from the incredibly busy Putney Bridge is the quiet haven that is Enoteca Turi. This family-owned restaurant is run by husband and wife team Giuseppe and Pamela Turi and draws on the familys Puglia roots with a varied and rich menu. This is not your average high street Italian pizzeria-with-a-smattering-of-pasta sort of set-up. Each of the dishes is prepared from scratch in the Enoteca Turi kitchens (including the pasta) and the menu, Giuseppe tells me, features traditional seasonal dishes from different regions across Italy. Ive brought along my sister to help me sample the delights on offer tonight, after all, this is a family-run place. Having already taken a sneaky peek at the dessert menu beforehand (only sensible), we decide to share a starter to leave room for whats to follow. We opt for the Skrei cod Mediterranean sh cake with spicy salsa rossa and it rates up there with one of the most delicious things Ive eaten to date. The shcake has a salty, rich avour which is perfectly accented by the tangy tomato-based salsa and the frise salad lends the nishing touch: a slight crunch. Now I wish wed ordered one each. Still, with the main course and dessert still to come there is plenty more to enjoy, including a decent tipple. Giuseppes sommelier background is evident in the extensive wine list approaching 500 different bottles. Wine enthusiasts

Two-course set menu 28.50, three-course set menu 33.50 (excluding beverages). 28 Putney High Street, SW15 1SQ 020 8785 4449 (enotecaturi.com)
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