EspressoStyle Recommends: La Turn, Sibiu

La Turn is a restaurant terrace situated in Sibiu, Romania, in the historical center of the city. We are talking about the European Capital of Culture of 2007. It has excellent placement towards both main piazzas of the medieval city of Sibiu. We sat on the terrace in the Little Piazza. The food is good, not the absolute best, but definitely above average. It's Italian based cuisine, which in itself is a plus, especially if cooked well, but for the restaurant market in Romania that is over saturated with Italian oriented menus, it turns into a minus. Well, that being said, it's a good joint. Let's go to the food.

We started with a chicken salad for her and some salmon crostini for me. They were bot good, especially the crostini (although it could have been jut my raging hunger at the time). Anyway, they were baked just enough to melt and brown the cheese a bit. Lovely. Bread was not great, but not bad either.

Next came a dish of penne pasta al forno (baked in the oven) with chicken meat and mushrooms, a pink sauce and mozzarella on top. That was good, not too fat and totally eatable. The reason I save up on the praises is because the ingredients used were average, at best. The lean chicken breast strips, the sliced (maybe even canned) champignon mushrooms, cheap mozzarella. The pink sauce saved the dish by being light enough and smooth. Other than that, great.

The girl who served us was quick and communicative, with good knowledge of the menu. Smiles and everything.

For desert: a fried batter thing called "papanashi" (romanian classic) with cream and fruit jam for her and just espresso for me. Sadly, both of these were below average.  The papanashi was too fat and over fried and the espresso a bit bitter. Considering though that by this time we were full bellied and more indulgent, I got past very well and made it a nice lunch out. 

Scenery in the Little Piazza of Sibiu is just satisfying enough, anyway.

I give it 3 stars out of 5 for food quality, and also 3 for atmosphere. That means it was very nice. 4 stars means I was very impressed and 5 is reserved for the very best in the business.

That also means I warmly recommend La Turn, in Sibiu, Romania.

Potato & White Fish Salad

This is a favorite of mine ever since I don't remember when, from my mother's home entertaining at special occasions or holidays. The other day I just got a craving for the garlicky stuff and I bought 2 fillets of pangasius fish (it works with any white fish). Then, all you have to do is boil some potatoes (skin on), and whisk a good bowl of mayonnaise from two eggs and some vegetable oil. Do not use extra virgin olive oil that has too strong a flavor, unless you absolutely love it. I used sunflower. Into the mayo throw a pinch of salt and pepper to taste. I didn't use any lemon. I like it better without lemon in this particular salad.

After the (2-3 big) potatoes are boiled well to the core, extract them from the pot, let them rest for 10 mins and then peel off the skin. Chop the yellow things into smallish cubes (dimension to taste). 

The fish fillets are also boiled by now; you get rid of the skin and all the leftover bones as much as possible, then mash up the boiled fish meat into smallish chunks (about the size that you've cut the potato cubes).

That's it: now just mix well together the potato, fish bits and mayonnaise. Season to taste (I lke mine a bit peppery) and add the last and most important ingredient/condiment: garlic. About 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed, for the whole salad.

If it is still a bit warm, it is best served later, chilled, so the garlic has time to infuse the bulk of it. Enjoy!