Photos by Elizabeth Gelineau
Authentic Italian dining isn’t about eating a meal. It’s about embracing fresh seasonal ingredients, mingling with friends and living in the present. Gathering around a table is an event — a moment to forget about the concept of time and turn your attention to the food and people around you. For Mobilians, this experience is no longer a world away. It’s waiting for them at
Amici Trattoria.
The creation of Amici Trattoria wasn’t part of a long-term plan for owners Brooke Goff and Shane McCullough, but a fortunate twist of fate united the two in a shared culinary dream. Goff, the owner of Domke Market, wanted to expand her business after her wine pairing events became a local hit. She had begun looking for a space with a kitchen and patio when McCullough visited her store and introduced her to his Italian friend Luigi Tonghini. “Luigi and I decided we were going to open a small restaurant, and I went to Domke Market to show him some of the wines available here, and Brooke was there,” says McCullough. “She told me about bringing chefs in for events and her success with having with food at the wine shop. I introduced her to Luigi, and he started cooking in the little kitchen there. And all three of us, we just fit, you know? It was a perfect little marriage.”
Tonghini wanted to bring more than just Italian flavors to Mobile Bay. Eating at Amici Trattoria is a whole-evening affair that follows the Italian dining experience. Tonghini prepares every meal to order with fresh seasonal ingredients, and every dinner consists of multiple courses. Each plate is worth waiting for. “We wanted to create an atmosphere that was relaxed where they sit for three or four hours and enjoy their meal,” says McCullough.
A flight of food calls for a flight of wine, and wine expert Goff and chef-sommelier Tonghini work together to assemble perfect pairings. “When we started out, I’d tell him to pick the food first so I could pick the wine, and he’d tell me to pick the wines so he could pick the dishes,” says Goff. “It’s been a back-and-forth, but it’s been fun to work with a chef that truly has an extensive knowledge of wine and can really understand all the flavors.”
It’s that collaboration that makes every dining experience at Amici Trattoria so remarkable. With a menu that changes as often as the seasons, each visit brings something new and exciting. At its core, Amici — meaning “friends” in Italian — is always
a celebration of food, friendship and moments shared around
a table.
Rigatoni alla Carbonara
On the Menu
Filetto di Pesce al Cartoccio
A delicate redfish filet baked with juicy lemon, fresh tomatoes, briny olives and tangy capers deliver a taste of the Italian coast to your plate.
Rigatoni alla Carbonara
Rigatoni tossed in a rich, creamy carbonara sauce with pancetta and Parmesan come together to create the quintessential Italian comfort dish.
Bistecca al Funghi
Succulent ribeye, sauteed mushrooms and a velvety potato and mushroom cream achieve a decadent balance that’s both rustic and refined.
Tiramisu
This classic tiramisu layers espresso-soaked ladyfingers with creamy mascarpone and a dusting of cocoa in a dessert that’s as rich as it is irresistible.
