Thursdays at Renata is Risotto in a Cheese Wheel

Recently, on Thursdays at Renata they have been offering a special risotto a la minute which is finished in a parmesan cheese wheel in the middle of the room before being brought to your table. This is a little similar to the cheese wheel experience/dalla forma pasta I enjoyed in LA that I wrote about previously, but is focused at Renata on a rich creamy risotto in a cheese wheel only available on Thursdays. I don’t currently know of any place else in Portland offering anything finished in a cheese wheel.
Recently, on Thursdays at Renata they have been offering a special risotto a la minute which is finished in a parmesan cheese wheel in the middle of the room before being brought to your table.

On our visit the Risotto a la Minute was with morels, pea tendrils, Parmigiano-Reggiano – by default it used a meat stock but could be made vegetarian by request. As it sounds, it was rich, creamy, and so comforting.
Recently, on Thursdays at Renata they have been offering a special risotto a la minute which is finished in a parmesan cheese wheel in the middle of the room before being brought to your table. On our visit the risotto was one with morels, pea tendrils, Parmigiano-Reggiano - by default this risotto in a cheese wheel used a meat stock but could be made vegetarian by request. Recently, on Thursdays at Renata they have been offering a special risotto a la minute which is finished in a parmesan cheese wheel in the middle of the room before being brought to your table. On our visit the risotto in a cheese wheel was one with morels, pea tendrils, Parmigiano-Reggiano - by default it used a meat stock but could be made vegetarian by request.


I’ve professed my love for the pastas and aged meats at Renata previously on this blog, and even on a visit where we were coming for the risotto, I couldn’t resist ordering extra pastas and meats. The menu changes often based on what is fresh, and for our visit we went for a Smoked Brisket Ravioli with spring onion, thyme, and Grana Padano that was amazingly even more melt in your mouth then the risotto.
Renata pasta dish of Smoked Brisket Ravioli with spring onion, thyme, Grana Padano

And if you ever see it listed, do not miss Renata’s Isabella Scarpinocc one of the signature pastas here, named after the young daughter Isabella of Renata owners Nicholas and Sandra Arnerich. The textures of this bow shaped pasta are pillows of firmness and softness in a spa of butter.
Renata signature pasta dish of Isabella Scarpinocc. named after the young daughter Isabella of Renata owners Nicholas and Sandra Arnerich. The textures of this bow shaped pasta are pillows of firmness and softness in a spa of butter

The winner dish of the night though was the Renata Hearth dish of Porchetta Spiced Chicken with spring carrots, cedi bean puree, pistachios – so many layers of flavors and textures that complimented but contrasted each other and had a nice seasoning with a touch of spice. Although you may be wowed by the pasta, and maybe distracted by the pizza oven, the secret best things on the menu come from Renata’s program of purchasing meat and butchering and aging it themselves in their own meat locker like an extremely small curated steak house – but they take that same care with any meat, be it beef or pork or chicken or whatever they acquire.
Renata Hearth dish of Porchetta Spiced Chicken with spring carrots, cedi bean puree, pistachios

It’s one of the many reasons I adore Renata and like to recommend it to others – very family friendly yet good enough for a business dinner or a romantic date, has food items for the conservative eater to the adventurous, easy parking along the streets and they even have a lovely patio outside if you want to dine al fresco. They were named Restaurant of the Year when they had barely opened yet, but now a few years later they are still going strong even though the hype train has moved on to the newest places, making this incredible restaurant more accessible to everyone for great food, service, and atmosphere, which is what they wanted to bring you before the media storm anyway.
Renata's Old Fashioned Flight with rye-demerara, bourbon-maple, and scotch-honey
Renata’s Old Fashioned Flight with rye-demerara, bourbon-maple, and scotch-honey

Have you ever enjoyed a dish finished in a cheese wheel before? Have you been to Renata before?

Renata Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Comments

  1. When I can finally indulge again I am going to have to go to Renata just for the Old Fashioned Flight. It’s by far my favorite cocktail and the flights sounds amazing.

  2. You had me at “cheese wheel” 🙂 It all looks delicious!

  3. I LOVE Renata! And while I can’t indulge in that cheese wheel risotto, I definitely need to indulge in that ravioli. Their pasta dishes are the best!!

  4. I’ve seen your Instagram of this and so want to check it out. That looks so good!!

  5. Like Megan, you had me at cheese wheel too! Happy to see that they’re still going strong after the initial publicity subsided.

  6. I just spotted this on your Instagram and immediately thought I need to get to Renata ASAP. I’ve not yet been and this looks like the perfect opportunity to try something really unique!

    • It really is unique – not every city offers something like this, and I keep wondering if once the cheese wheel is done if that’s it ;(

  7. Big chunks of parmesan are so cool! I’ve never had a dish served from one though!

  8. I read your LA cheese wheel post and was smitten, and now you tell me I can get a similar experience in Portland?! Heck yeah!

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