On a warm spring afternoon, Antonella’s Italian Ristorante bartender Francesca Forbes displayed a prized bottle of cognac, still celebrating the restaurant’s new title as the winner of the La Fayette Cognac People’s Choice contest.
She reckoned she has made 200 servings of the award-winning Chocolate Berry Infusion since the restaurant was crowned in March 2024.
Restaurant owner Antonella Scibilia conjured up the concept, said Francesca, who created the cocktail and brought it to life.
“I made a raspberry and blackberry puree with cognac, dark chocolate, and Mexican bitters, and added a splash of coffee,” Francesca said.
Poured over an ice cube and served with fresh raspberries, blackberries, and chocolate, the cocktail is a feast for both the eyes and the palette.
Restaurant manager St. Clair Cooper described the cognac contest as a team-building experience for a staff that is already like a family and strives to treat customers like family, too.
Taking advantage of recipes handed down through her Sicilian family for generations and setting a standard of quality and attention to detail, Antonella set out in 2017 to bring Italian inspiration to Fayetteville. Those standards are reflected in the restaurant’s food.
“Our dishes are made from scratch, with love and care,” St. Clair said. “Antonella has put a lot of effort into building the menu, and this is one of the few places in North Carolina where you can get traditional Italian food.”
Antonella’s is located at 300 Hay St. The restaurant, open for dinner only, features an intimate setting including patio dining and does not take reservations.
Learn more at antonellasitalianristorante.com.
Read the e-edition of the 2024-2025 issue of DestinationFAY here.