Homemade "Appalachian" limoncello at Taverna Corvino
I like limoncello. A lot.
So when I saw that the new Taverna Corvino (1117 S. Charles St.) has its own house-made limoncello, I was eager to try it. But first, I wanted to see if it was any good.
I pulled our server aside and asked him what he thought of the limoncello. He hesitated. My hopes fell.
Whenever a server hesitates, I expect the worst. If a server doesn't like the stuff, chances are, I'm probably not going to like it. I mean, servers get to sample it for free, and as we all know, free makes everything better. Our server got free limoncello and still hesitated. Uh oh.
"It's better than it used to be," he said.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement. I pressed him for an explanation.
If you haven't had much limoncello, you'd probably think Taverna's stuff was OK, he said. If you've had really good limoncello, you're not going to like it.
As it turns out, I've had some really good limoncello ...
A couple years ago, I was in Italy visiting relatives and doing the tourist thing. A friend of my family there makes his own limoncello, and I had a few shots. It was amazing.
And about a year ago, an acquaintance introduced me to cream limoncello, which, served chilled, is divine on a hot summer day.
I told our server that I'd tried some really good limoncello in Italy.
"If you've had real Italian limoncello," he said, "this is more like Appalachian limoncello."
Yikes!
We passed on the limoncello, and opted to stick with ice cold Peroni drafts all night. Taverna is one of the few places in town with the light Italian beer on tap. It was deeelicious.
The Gin Mill is the only other place I can remember where I saw Peroni on tap, and it was warm, flat and all-around disappointing. So I was pleasantly surprised to find it at Taverna.
Hopefully, Taverna's limoncello will continue to get better. Maybe I'll see how it's shaping up the next time I'm there.
(Sun photo by Jed Kirschbaum)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I was just at the Gin Mill and it really has gone downhill. Went there on a Thursday and was only one of 3 people at the bar. Sad.
Posted by: hmmm | June 1, 2009 9:26 AM
So your review of the limoncello is no review. That was a great post.
divine on a hot summer day
Divine? What next, singing show tunes?
Posted by: VoodooPork ■|:o) | June 1, 2009 9:29 AM
I sampled a fair amount of moonshine when I lived along the Appalachians in Roanoke -- everyone seemed to have a jar in the pantry. I wish some farmer had been enterprising enough to make a lemon-flavored variety. I favored 'shine with cherries.
Posted by: Dave | June 1, 2009 12:23 PM
I'm pretty sure the Red Star has Peroni on tap. At least I've had it there in the past month on tap. They tend to rotate their selection.
Posted by: Rich B | June 1, 2009 1:59 PM
We enjoy making our own lemoncello. It is even better when you get to experiment how much water/sugar to add, constantly thinking "do I want it 100 proof or less?" and tasting along the way.
Posted by: Mike | June 1, 2009 2:45 PM
As someone who makes their own limoncello, it is really hit or miss even when you do it exactly the same each time.
Everyone has their own recipes as well. They range from 40 to 100 proof. If it's 100 proof, it's important to soak the peels for a very long time and only use organic lemons.
If they are making it every week, I bet they are not letting it sit long enough.
Posted by: Ted | June 1, 2009 2:51 PM
new summer drink. discovered yesterday, i am naming it limone fresco.
highball glass filled with ice
1 part limoncello
1 part vodka
sprite to top
garnish with thin lemon peel.
please feel free to increase alcohol as you see fit. enjoy till drunk, thank me later.
Posted by: bill | June 1, 2009 10:58 PM
Miss Irene's had Peroni on tap in early May.
Posted by: lab rat | June 1, 2009 11:00 PM
Red Star and Don't Know Tavern both have Peroni on tap...the latter was where I had my first taste and I order it every time now! On another note, where can one stumble across cream limoncello? It sounds like the perfect RTD (rooftop deck) refreshment. Pazo used to serve a gem of a cocktail with limoncello and vanilla vodka. It's not on the menu anymore but I think some of the bartenders will still make it.
Posted by: mandy g | June 1, 2009 11:32 PM
Great review of their limoncello. Maybe next time you can actually sample it before writing that you hope it gets better.
Posted by: LGood | June 2, 2009 8:55 AM
bill, limone fresco sounds quite tasty. i'm gonna have to try that, stat.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | June 2, 2009 9:01 AM
Divine on a hot summer day? I wouldn't have wanted to bump into him on a hot summer day, with his make-up sweating off.
Seriously, I don't know why, but Limoncello is ALWAYS better in Italy. Every little restaurant makes their own and they always insist that you try it, usually for free. Maybe that's why it tastes better?
Posted by: SF | June 2, 2009 10:18 AM
No Idea still rocks the Peroni on tap. At least it was last time I was there. And how do you tell a good limoncello from a poor limoncello. Haven't really had much but when I worked at Beltway Liquors we would sell a ton of it including orangcello and the cream which always sounded great to me. Also what is this delicious italian beverage made of. I could google this but I'm sure there are some expert here.
Posted by: Tyler | June 2, 2009 11:00 PM