Comfort food

Sweet Cousin Sally, who took us in for our Tennessee Thanks- giving, asked to share a vicarious meal -- my birthday dinner Friday. Well, since she asked. . . .

It was a chilly night (in the 60s, with stiff breezes), so we bundled up, stayed fairly close to home and hit La Trattoria. When I wrote about the place's sale last month, I was apprehensive at the loss of an old Duval Street standby.

Not to worry. Just about the same staff (sans Michael), same menu, same music, same mood, same delicious fun.

Appetizer? As ever, tortellini alla Romana, in a cream sauce that's worth licking the plate for (actually three plates, since we split one order).

Wine? Nero d'Avola -- wonderfully rich and not that expensive.

Main plates? Robert got the dentice alla Med- iterraneo -- yellowtail snapper with capers, tomato, lemon, white wine, butter (it's the delicious top picture). I got the piccata di petti di pollo: chicken piccata -- lots of butter, lemon and capers. I ate half of his, and vice versa. Woo-eee.

For dessert, the Godiva dark and white mousses, with a little bottle of bubbly Moscato thrown in for good measure.

Fantastico.