Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Hepcat)

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:01:33 GMT

signman

Toasted ravioli is a St. Louis specialty. It's cheese ravioli covered with a light breadcrumb coating, deep fried, and then served in a bowl covered with marinara sauce.

Hmmmmmm, interesting! Is it also available in meat ravioli form?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (stricken_detective)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:24:30 GMT

michaelgemmell

I think the difference is the St. Louis version is served without a side dish of unmitigated attitude.

They always say beware of the first person at a new place that wants to be your friend. Nailed it!!!! That's why his name looked so familiar. Ugh.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (stricken_detective)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 23:19:48 GMT

The Travelin Man
The only sweet was in the sauce - and, naturally, the diner, himself.

Wow.

Fried ravs are meh. They were good, but it would take too long to do all that when you could just boil them up, cover them with sauce & eat them.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (CCinNJ)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:31:06 GMT

Excellent! You'll love the book. Laura is a James Beard award winning author.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (ken8038)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 15:21:40 GMT

Our local Aldi in NJ occasionally carries their store brand of frozen Toasted Ravioli. It's not fried, just breaded. I guess we could fry it, but we just heat it in the toaster oven and decorate it with sauce and pecorino romano cheese. I'm sure people from StL would be appalled, but for what I can get in NJ it's certainly passable.

PS: Thanks CC in NJ for the tip on that Hoboken Ravioli Book, just ordered it from Half.com for all of 75 cents (plus of course the profit-generating $3.99 shipping charge).

Growing up in Brooklyn, although my Mom and her 2 sisters were Italian and cooked a lot of Italian, I don't remember Ravioli ever being on the menu. Lotsa peas and Macaroni and home-stuffed shells though.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (FriedClamFanatic)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:55:00 GMT

At least she wasn't unmitigated! You ever try to "mitigate" someone? It's not easy..when you unmitigate them the sight is definitely scary!

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Twinwillow)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:18:01 GMT

1bbqboy

Tony, NY performs a public service by localizing and compressing the rest of the country's need for a bully to be our whipping boy. LA doesn't inspire much but indifference, everyone loves Chicago, (like my native KC, a great place to be FROM) and that's about it for megalopolises.
http://www.rowlandweb.com/reuben/history.asp
My favorite NY moment is still George Brett's Homerun into the 3rd deck of Yankee Stadium.
http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/22.html
George Steinbrenner getting up and leaving in disgust. Priceless!

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Twinwillow)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:13:17 GMT

kland01s

Toasted ravioli from St. Louis was featured on "Food Finds" yesterday (3/10)on the Food Network so you should find some info on it on their website.

That's funny. Guy Fieri featured a toasted (fried) ravioli dish from a Greek/Italian restaurant in St. Louis last night on a Triple D episode filmed recently. Looked delicious covered in marinara sauce and dusted heavily with pecorino romano cheese.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (buffetbuster)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:14:53 GMT

That is some great looking toasted ravioli! But, I have never had toasted ravioli I didn't like.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (The Travelin Man)

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:09:39 GMT

Good thing I could get this thread back on track, huh?

joerogo - It was grated romano cheese. The only sweet was in the sauce - and, naturally, the diner, himself.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 22:02:21 GMT

wanderingjew

Wow, who rememembers that Tony Bad character from 7 years ago who made all of those ego-centric comments....

Those New Yorkers are just so arrogant!

We only appear arrogant to some because they are jealous of us always being right, and the best at most things...okay...everything. How can that possibly be construed as arrogant?

Just in case...

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (wanderingjew)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:27:57 GMT

Wow, who rememembers that Tony Bad character from 7 years ago who made all of those ego-centric comments....

Those New Yorkers are just so arrogant!

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Ivyhouse)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:22:32 GMT

CCinNJ

Tsk...tsk...tsk...Nonna.

I have read that book and enjoyed it very much!

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (CCinNJ)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:14:56 GMT

Tsk...tsk...tsk...Nonna.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 16:06:16 GMT

ScreamingChicken

Tony Bad

Did I ever mention my arrogant, egocentric grandmother used to make these for me when I was a kid?

Did she put the unmitigated attitude directly on them or did she leave it on the side?

It depended on whether she was feeling arrogant or egocentric that day.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (joerogo)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:48:14 GMT

I was going to ask if that was sugar on the rav's, but TTM usually doesn't answer me. Sometimes I think he doesn't "like" me

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (ScreamingChicken)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:46:05 GMT

Tony Bad

Did I ever mention my arrogant, egocentric grandmother used to make these for me when I was a kid?

Did she put the unmitigated attitude directly on them or did she leave it on the side?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (joerogo)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:43:54 GMT

Tony Bad

Did I ever mention my arrogant, egocentric grandmother used to make these for me when I was a kid?

Typical New Yorker

I wonder what our banned brother would say if he met some Pittston people?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:06:48 GMT

Did I ever mention my arrogant, egocentric grandmother used to make these for me when I was a kid?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (The Travelin Man)

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:05:26 GMT

I am a little hesitant to revive this 7 1/2 year old thread that I found while searching the phrase "toasted ravioli." I was looking for a home for my picture and recommendation from my discovery this past weekend in Saint Louis. The banter above is priceless, though, and would hate to ruin it with a food recommendation! :)

Still, I may have found the best toasted ravioli (T-ravs, apparently, to the locals) in all of St. Louis. This place, believe it or not, wasn't even open when the snark on this thread was happening back in 2005!

I can't say that Stellina Pasta would meet many folks' definition of "Roadfood," as it is more of a modern Italian restaurant, as opposed to the classic red sauce joints found on The Hill. That said, I am thinking, in particular, my friend zataar would love this place. Cutting to the chase....

Like most places in St. Louis, Stellina is not particularly expensive. I believe that the toasted ravioli were about $8 for the plate of five, with a small salad. The menu at Stellina changes every day, and I was told that they make the filling for the toasted ravioli just about every other day, so there are never any frozen ravioli being served. This filling included mozzarella, ricotta and basil. I should have taken a cross section photo, but got caught up in the eating and not in the photo-taking. I assure you, these were not gummy in the middle at all. The filling binded together, for sure, with the help of the melted mozz, but I would never call these gummy. The sauce was the previously described "St. Louis sweet." I am thinking that this may be a MO/IL thing? My ex-wife was from the Peoria area and she sweetened her red sauce with cinnamon. This tasted very similar - and I like it.

I would heartily recommend Stellina Pasta for their Roadfood-approved, regionally-appropriate, made famous in Saint Louis, toasted ravioli - and to try some of their other, more eclectic modern takes on Italian food.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (zataar)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 22:57:40 GMT

Years ago, I had toasted ravioli for the first time at Charlie Gitto's. It seemed deep fried rather than toasted. I was perplexed. Somewhat gummy in the center, surrounded by that curious sweet red sauce that many St. Louis places love. Not too far in the future I tried it at Rigazzi's. Deep fried, somewhat gummy in the center, with the sweet red sauce. A little farther on down the time line, Zia's toasted ravioli entered the picture. Definitely breaded and fried, vaguely gummy in the center and the sweet red sauce. Still perplexed. But for some reason I enjoyed them all and would probably order them again for a nostalgia fix. Little kids seem to love them, I know mine did.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 22:32:20 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by bill voss

Tony, are you my long lost brother? Geez, The second part of that sentence was about the hand dug well, but following the "new" Tony Bad stylebook, I eliminated the reference as TOO obscure. Were you in the Army at Ft. Riley or something?
Tony, you're welcome in Southern Oregon anytime. We can have a picnic with WJ, Peachpie, Mr. Chips, Dr. Chanterelle, BbqKing, ExtraMsg and anyone else who wants to come. My treat. You gotta like lamb, salmon,Thai, Baklava, and Mexican Food though.

I was not in the army...I worked for a company that had me on the road a lot (too much). When I traveled I used to try to always cram in a tour, going as far as time would allow. I would often bring back a rental car after two days with 800 mile on the odometer. The trip thru Greensburg KS was part of a business trip to OK City...I had a meeting Friday, and didn't get a flight until Sunday, so Saturday was ROAD TRIP...first NW toward Dodge City, then east across southern KS, then SW back to OKC. Saw a lot of places I would never have gotten to see.

Sadly, I haven't spent much time in your beautiful state. I will, however, remember your invite!!

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (1bbqboy)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 22:10:42 GMT

You can come too, jen. It's not that far up 99/I-5. What is a Fresno Sandwich, by the way?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Jennifer_4)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 22:07:19 GMT

Well to get back on topic, I love the stuff..... I used to make it at home as a matter of fact.. when I was in my frying phase....yum!

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (1bbqboy)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 21:51:05 GMT

Tony, are you my long lost brother? Geez, The second part of that sentence was about the hand dug well, but following the "new" Tony Bad stylebook, I eliminated the reference as TOO obscure. Were you in the Army at Ft. Riley or something?
Tony, you're welcome in Southern Oregon anytime. We can have a picnic with WJ, Peachpie, Mr. Chips, Dr. Chanterelle, BbqKing, ExtraMsg and anyone else who wants to come. My treat. You gotta like lamb, salmon,Thai, Baklava, and Mexican Food though.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 21:16:48 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by bill voss

Tony, don't do that. I love your posts, and, as previously stated by me, your name.
What did you think of the world's biggest ball of twine?

In the world of large objects displayed in outdoor pavillions, the ball of twine was far more impressive than Plymouth Rock, but didn't excite me as much as the world's largest hand dug well down south a bit in Greensburg KS! They need to work on the marketing of that ball of string...I almost drove right past that ball of twine pavilion!

I was also in Darwin, MN once, and they too claim to have the largest ball of twine. Personally, I think the one in KS looked bigger.

As to your George Brett comment...I have been a Met fan since I was a child, so George Brett was my hero. Anyone who beats the Yankees is okay in my book. Heck, I even bought a Red Sox cap this year!

Really sorry to have veered so far from the original topic.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 21:00:22 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by michaelgemmell

If New Yorkers don't like snarky comments they should not start the trouble with their usual claming that they invented everything, and that everything is better in New York. The rest of the United States is very happy for you that you live in your "best of all possible worlds" (wait, that's Westphalia!) and urge you to stay right there amongst all your favorite foods and folks that share your attitude.

You are proof positive that NY doesn't have the market cornered on "snarky comments". I am uncertain how my comments on toasted ravioli translated into the nasty set of generalizations you make above.

quote:
Tony, my comment was not directed at you personally. You're quite correct that it's unlikely that Minnesotans would claim that a St. Louis specialty was really from Minnesota. Actually, the vast overweaning majority of Americans are too polite to do something like that.

Read it again, that isn't what I wrote...and by the way...Are YOU an example of the politeness one encounters when traveling around America?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (1bbqboy)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 20:54:15 GMT

Tony, don't do that. I love your posts, and, as previously stated by me, your name.
What did you think of the world's biggest ball of twine?

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (Tony Bad)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 20:43:34 GMT

quote:

Being from originally from NY, but being able to take a step back and observe, I personally know how egocentric New Yorker's can be.
For example- quotes and comments throughout the years.

I think your examples point more to an ignorance of culture and geography that is prevalent in our country (and in other countries) then "egocentric behavior". Is this brand of ignorance a problem in NY?...you bet it is!...but it is most certainly not a disease only found here. I could give you an equally long list of inaccurate generalizations or comments I have heard people make about NY as I have traveled. I met a guy, who was actually a well educated engineer who was convinced everyone in NY was Italian or Jewish (only he didn't say it quite so politely). I also met a guy pumping gas in Cawker City Kansas who was certain gun play in the streets was a regular occurrence in NY city. Then there was a couple in Moscow who were certain large portions of the US looked like a scene from Bonanza. It happens every where, I guess it is just more irksome to some when a NYer makes such comments.

I am genuinely sorry my comments came across in such an offensive and egocentric manner and I regret making a comment at all. I'll make more frequent use of the delete rather than send button in the future.

RE: Toasted Ravioli... Good Eats? (1bbqboy)

Sat, 12 Mar 2005 15:04:23 GMT

Tony, NY performs a public service by localizing and compressing the rest of the country's need for a bully to be our whipping boy. LA doesn't inspire much but indifference, everyone loves Chicago, (like my native KC, a great place to be FROM) and that's about it for megalopolises.
http://www.rowlandweb.com/reuben/history.asp
My favorite NY moment is still George Brett's Homerun into the 3rd deck of Yankee Stadium.
http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/25moments/22.html
George Steinbrenner getting up and leaving in disgust. Priceless!