In The Kitchen at Conte's Ristorante in Milford, CT

Chef Claudio Conte

In early October, Chef Ray Gennaro and I were invited to visit Conte's in Milford for a behind-the-scenes tasting. As we came in from the back door and made our way through the kitchen, we were greeted by the one and only Chef Claudio Conte (middle), owner and head chef. Claudio has over 30 years of experience cooking in the finest restaurants, so I was extremely excited for our night ahead! He led us to a private table in the back of his restaurant and once we were settled, Chef Claudio went back into his kitchen to start preparing our meal.

Chef Claudio came out of his kitchen and graciously brought us Caprese, filled with sliced buffalo mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, fried eggplant, peppers, olives, and topped with fresh basil, EVOO and balsamic glaze (pictured below). He also brought Fried Calamari, which was perfectly tender and lightly floured, paired with his marinara sauce (pictured below). Lastly, Chef Claudio brought us an off-the-menu item: Prosciutto and Arugula Artisan Flatbread Pizza (pictured below). The crust was perfectly light and chewy, topped with shaved parmesan, fresh prosciutto, sun-dried tomatoes and arugula.

After our appetizer, we were happily served Chef Claudio's Penne Ala Vodka; served with pancetta and an onion vodka cream sauce (pictured below). The vodka sauce was perfectly done. In some cases, Vodka Sauce can be bland if the flavors are masked by the use of too much heavy cream, but this sauce was delicious. The deep-orange color was stunning and certainly caught my eye.

After I licked the bowl of penne clean, we were served Chicken Marsala with a great side of potato wedges and vegetables. The vegetables were bursting with bright colors and flavors, while the potato wedges were perfectly seasoned. They both paired nicely with the creaminess of the Chicken Marsala. It is important to recognize the amazing pan that Chef Claudio served our Chicken Marsala in (pictured above).

The service at Conte's was beyond excellent and so were our espresso martinis from the bar. Next time, I'll have to reserve a table on their outdoor patio. If you're ever in Milford or the surrounding area, go visit my friend and incredible chef, Chef Claudio Conte!

Thank you for having us Chef Claudio of Conte's Ristorante in Milford, CT!

- CTFG