Appetizers at La Piazzetta in Wurtsboro

Food blunders should really be the name of the post.  Pronouncing various ingredients and dishes can be tricky and I made a mistake in identifying the difference between Clams Oreganata and Clams Casino.  Horrors.  Do you know the difference?  Here is the official distinct definition:

Clams Oreganata is an Italian seafood dish served most commonly as an appetizer. The dish consists of a number of clams (usually six or twelve) that are topped with bread crumbs (usually moistened with olive oil) and baked. Lemons are often included so that the orderer may squeeze the lemon juice onto the clams. The name comes from the addition of oregano to the bread crumbs...

meanwhile:

Clams casino is a clam "on the halfshell" dish with breadcrumbs and bacon.^[1] It originated in Rhode Island in the United States.^[2] It is often served as an appetizer in New England and is served in variations nationally.

Not that Wikipedia is the strong voice in defining all things culinary, but it was the easiest, quickest source to plug in to the blog.

I had one and though bacon is a flavor enhancer that could be included in almost all dishes, these were nicely prepared oreganatas.  (It's my blog and making up food words is fun.)

Shrimp Cocktail

A seasonal salad served with a marinated pear over a fig spread alongside an arugula salad rounded out my lunch companion's choices.

For me, the eggplant rollatini appetizer was a portion large enough that I could have considered it a meal.

In fact, if I had known, I may not have ordered the flavorful and traditional Pasta e Fagioli (pasta and bean) soup.

How do you decide what to eat? Is it about calories, taste or satisfying a craving?  I like to consider specials first though I know this can be a double edged sword.  It could be the restaurant's star dish or a matter of using up food.  I have also learned to ask the server what the restaurant's most popular dish is and take that into consideration.  If I was thinking of something simple like a hamburger, but am told the steak sandwich is hands-down their most ordered meal, it's not tough for me to switch culinary gears.

Seasonal choices and dishes that are too complicated (or not great crowd pleasers at my house) are also at the top of the list.  It's not likely that I will ever make eggplant rollatini at home - mostly because I'm not sure anyone else would enjoy it even half as much as I do.

How do you make your food choices?

I thoroughly enjoyed the appetizers at La Piazzetta and left feeling Fed Well.

And a side note...not long after this visit, I held the Mr's. surprise birthday party at La Piazzetta and it was a great success!