Fabio Trabocchi's New Summer Menu in the Garden Cafe Italia

Fabio Trabocchi's New Summer Menu in the Garden Cafe Italia at The National Gallery of Art

As summer arrives in Washington, Chef Fabio Trabocchi of the Penn Quarter restaurant Fiola has revamped the National Gallery of Art Garden Café menu with lighter options inspired by a stellar exhibition of Italian drawings—Italian Master Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, 1525–1835, on view through November 27, 2011. New dishes include pollo in potacchio (chicken with rosemary, garlic, and tomato sauce), for which a complimentary recipe card is available, and a refreshing watermelon salad with yellow tomatoes, Pecorino Romano cheese, and a white balsamic dressing. The final touch is the traditional Italian favorite, gelato stracciatella—vanilla ice cream with chocolate shavings.

Chef Trabocchi first created signature Italian dishes for the Garden Café Italia menu in honor of Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals (2/20–5/30/2011), and will revise the menu once again in the fall to celebrate Antico: The Golden Age of Renaissance Bronzes (November 6, 2011–April 8, 2012). Chef Trabocchi's Garden Café Italia menu, consisting of a buffet as well as à la carte dishes, is also inspired by Italian masterpieces belonging to the Gallery's renowned permanent collection. It is even more fitting as the Capitoline Venus presides over the West Building Rotunda, directly above the Garden Café, until September 5.

The Garden Café Italia menu will be served through March 20, 2012, and is presented in partnership with Restaurant Associates and Executive Chef David Rogers at the National Gallery of Art.

Click here to view the full details on the new menu