"La Stella Cucina Verace, a restaurant focused on preparing regional Italian dishes, is opening soon in the downtown Dallas Arts District. Born and raised in Italy, La Stella’s head chef Luigi Iannuario will reinterpret dishes from various regions of his home country that have been passed along over generations, like paccheri all’astice, which is made using pasta imported from Gragnano, Naples. Verace means “true” in Italian, and the La Stella team interprets the word as the nostalgia of family recipes and traditions, and an appreciation for good food, good wine, and “the good life.” The restaurant leans heavily into classic Italian cuisine with dishes like fried gnocco dumplings with salumi and mixed cheeses, saffron risotto, and gnocchi gratin. In addition, chefs at the new restaurant will be dry aging their own meats, including imported prosciutto, which will be sliced table-side before serving. For dessert, La Stella will offer tiramisu and semifreddo alla Nutella with merengue and hot chocolate sauce, a chocolatey confection with a texture similar to mousse. La Stella’s wine list, curated by beverage director John Dal Canton, will feature older vintages of regional wines, such as Barolos and Super Tuscans. Dal Canton has also concocted a number of cocktails for La Stella’s bar menu, taking an Italian approach to classic drinks. The restaurant intends to add a live music element to its dining room, with eventual performances from local artists on weekends. Though La Stella doesn’t have a set date for its grand opening, it has announced its hours of operations. Stay tuned to Eater for a more precise opening date." - Polly Anna Rocha
