With the chop came a portion of broccoli di rape that looked beautiful on the plate but was too bitter to eat. Bright green and crisp, it had perhaps been briefly steamed as we do with green vegetables nowadays. In the old days, broccoli di rape was boiled first to lessen its bitter taste. The result looked drab and bedraggled but tasted wonderful, especially with pork and sausages. I talians don't go in much for desserts, at least not after a meal.
Italian meals being what they are, it's easy to see why.
But American tastes must be served, and Raffaello's obliges with four or five desserts. A lternatively, one might linger over a glass of after-dinner wine. With 15,000 bottles to choose from, Raffaello's is the place to do it. Raffaello's 2977 Whitney Ave. Dinner Monday through Friday 5 to 9, Saturday till 9 by reservation only, Sunday 4 to 8.