Dinner-- Lui Lui (Italian)

This week my dad treated my mother and I to dinner at Lui Lui, a Italian restaurant near where I live in Lebanon, NH. My favorite Italian restaurant near me is called Three Tomatoes but they were holding a private event so here we are at Lui Lui on a Thursday night!



 (Lui Lui located in Lebanon, NH)

The first wine and food pairing I tasted was a Stella Pinot Grigio from Italy with a side of bread served with oil and vinegar mixed and herbs mixed in. Tasting this wine on its own before having any food you can smell the citrus and fresh aroma with a light body and finish and pear flavor. With the food the wine had a sharper acidity. I also tasted this wine with a side salad which brought out the dressing and added to the sweetness. I don't think this one paired very well with the food and would probably be a wine I would drink on its own.

  (Stella Pinot Grigio paired with bread, $7.5 per gl.)


For the main meal I had a three cheese lasagna paired with a deep Gnarly Head 1924 Double Black Red Blend from California. This red is a blend of Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah with 15% alcohol. The wine was recommended by the waitress who really enjoys it but I wasn't a fan myself. This was a very deep red full of blackberry flavor and spice. The body was full and very dry with a long lasting finish. This wine did have little to no tannins, thus a smooth wine with a bite at the end. With the food the wine brightened the tomato and basil. It softened the finish and body and because of this I liked the wine more paired with food.

  (Gnarly Head 1924 Double Black Red Blend paired with a three cheese lasagne, $8.5 per gl.)

The third and final wine I had was a Tintonegro Malbec from Argentina. It's description of the wine on the menu says, "flavors of blackberry, cranberry and black currant followed by notes of vanilla". I paired this wine with one of my favorite deserts, a cannoli. The vanilla in the wine is subtle but noticeable and earthy undertones. The wine has a full body and long smooth finish. With the cannoli the vanilla pops and brightens the wine.


  (Tintonegro Malbec paired with cannoli, $8.5 per gl.)


I really enjoyed being able to have a night out to eat with my parents. I absolutely love Italian food and the experience was overall great! The last pairing with the cannoli and the Malbec was my favorite by far but that could be because I have a big sweet tooth!