How many second-generation Americans have dreamed of shedding their workaday cubicle job, flying to Italy to discover long-lost family, and embarking upon an exotic new life?
The notion probably flits across a million minds each year, but few ever take the leap. Fewer still are able to actually capture the elusive culinary essence of that journey and transport those flavors safely back home.
If you've eaten at handsome Le Virtù in South Philadelphia, you'll realize that Francis Cratil and his wife, Catherine Lee, are among the lucky few. And if you've had a chance to savor the homespun Abruzzese pastas topped with lamb and duck ragus, or to nibble on deep-fried olives stuffed with braised meat, then you'll know we're the lucky ones, too. Because Le Virtù is not simply one of the most pleasant new restaurants I've visited this year; it adds yet another layer of authenticity to our already rich and growing Italian scene.