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I’m all “jazzed up” about Jazzed.
Jazzed is the name
of a hidden treasure in a little strip mall on W. Sahara and
Durango. Jazzed is a “cool” name for a “cool” Italian restaurant and
nightclub that has a comfortable atmosphere with a contemporary
décor and low lighting. It’s an intimate room that seats about 80
people
We (VCO’s music
critic and fellow columnist Jerry Marcellino and I) were greeted at
the door by our host, owner Lucio Picozzi. His accent (Lucio is from
Rome) was just the right touch for the dining treat that lay ahead…
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The name
Jazzed comes from the fact that they have a live jazz band
perform nightly. The quartet Straight ahead plus 1 including
(Michael Montana, piano, Pat Sherrod, drums, Dick Jones, bass
and Dale Rampton, vibraphone. ‘You don’t see many vibes players
nowadays) played in smooth traditional jazz style with mellow
groves that fits the clubs atmosphere. |
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They played
softer background music for the early crowd but pumped up the volume
a little, after 9:00 pm. The music however, did not interfere with
normal table conversation. Dale, 40ish, the “baby” of the group and
the other three “gray breads” were all accomplished studio
musicians.
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Alas, the
food and the service were the hit of the evening… We asked Lucio
to suggest our entrees and you can imagine my surprise (being of
Italian decent myself) when he recommended the special “pork
chops” and any of the many risotto entrees. |
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Jerry ordered
the risotto with Prosciutto and spicy sausage and I the pork chops.
We started with salads. (served to us by our wait person Mariana, a
cordial aspiring restaurant owner, who also had an accent. (this one
from Romania) Jerry’s a Caesar that he said was just right (there’s
an art to making a good Caesar salad, however I believe the right
touch would have been making it at the table!)
I started to order the house Italian salad when I spotted fig salad
on the menu. “what the hell” I thought “I’m having pork chops… It
was a fortuitous choice. The fig salad had to be one of the best
salads I have ever tasted… I’m going to order that again for sure…
Jerry, very much enjoyed his risotto “It had just the right touch of
spice” he declared. My pork chops with garlic mashed potatoes and
gravy was delicious, but next time (there will be a next time..) I
will try a more traditional Italian dish. The house wines (cabernet
and merlot) were quite good too as the fact that we both had a
second glass will attest to.
We were both to
“stuffed” to order dessert but still hated to leave, but my keyboard
beckoned. (So did my wife, VCO publisher and founder, Marleen)
Jerry and I
both, highly recommend Jazzed.
Bon Appetite |
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