Admittedly, this ain't pretty but my goodness, it is truly the best bolognaise I've had in ages! And I don't say this lightly because the last time I felt so strongly about a plate of bolognaise pasta was close to 15 years ago in Hong Kong. It was at Cafe Vergnano in the IFC Mall and up to that point in my life, theirs was the tastiest version I'd ever eaten. So much so that I got a second plate on the spot.
Fast forward to last night when I had the bolognaise cooked by Chef Takashi of Ristorante Luka. One mouthful of their handmade pasta in his stunning minced beef sauce, and I was instantly transported. It reminded me so much of the one I'd dreamed about and craved for over the years (sadly, it wasn't anywhere to be seen when I returned on subsequent trips). So I threw myself into this new discovery - to revel in its harmony of beautifully full and complex tasting sauce with al dente ribbons.
To me, it's an embodiment of joyful comfort food at its best.