Sigh!

            Looking back at one of my favorite restaurants.  Did you already know?  I bet you already knew.  Or at the very least, had a sneaking suspicion that Blu Tomato near Georgetown has CLOSED.  Why do all the good restaurants have to close?

Blu Tomato offered wood fired pizza, pasta, and martinis, with great music and a nice laid back, casual, upscale, trendy atmosphere.  Not as pretentious as Biaggi’s and much more elegant than Casa.

The Blu Tomato had different rooms that you could sit in and each were decorated a little differently but all are still warm and friendly just like the wait staff.  The hostesses always panicked when I asked for a chair without arms, but they quickly found one and brought it to the table for me.  The white paper table-covers placed over the white tablecloths are very handy to draw on and are kind-of-cute.  I always forgot to take crayons.  

At the table was a bottle of extra virgin olive oil and a dish of parmesan cheese to put on the fresh bread that was brought to the table in a basket along with flatbread and a small dish of black olive tapenade which was superbly made with diced black olives, extra virgin olive oil, and capers. 

Appetizers included Fried Polenta (in Indiana we call it mush) crispy and delicious, with Italian sausage and roasted mushrooms in an asiago cream sauce.

Four Cheese Artichoke and Spinach dip served lukewarm with Blu Tomato bread-sticks. Valenza Chicken Wings; Smokey and yummy, a bit small but very tasty.

Salads included the Chopped Salad of romaine, provolone cheese, peppers, carrots, garbonzo beans, cucumbers and balsamic vinaigrette.  And the Caesar Salad with romaine, roasted garlic dressing, housemade croutons and parmesan cheese.

 And an absolutely delightful Spinach Salad made with goat cheese, grapes, pears, toasted walnuts and a maple sherry vinaigrette.  The Radicchio and Romaine salad is one of the nicest salads in Fort Wayne.  Tossed fresh gorgonzola cheese, spiced walnuts and balsamic vinaigrette and with honey mustard marinated oranges which truly made the salad over the top and fantastic.  Just wish the kitchen would have removed the seeds from the oranges.

Dinner items included Filet Mignon served on weekends and Wednesdays, served with spiced butter on top and cooked perfectly to order.  Rigatoni with chicken, Italian sausage, portabella mushrooms, basil and vodka-tomato-cream sauce, light and incredibly delicious.  Chicken Marsala with garlic new potatoes and green beans in a sweet Marsala Sauce.

My favorite was always the Chicken Chop.  It was stuffed with smoked cheese, roasted mushrooms, sauteed spinach, and artichokes. With rosemary sprinkled everywhere, and served with roasted potatoes.

Desserts included Warm Apple Tarts, Spumoni Pie, a Cannoli, and Tiramisu which was exceptionally light yet flavorful, and a Warm Chocolate Brownie served with butter pecan ice cream, candied walnuts, and caramel sauce.

Yeah, their hours were limited, only being open from 4pm until 10pm and closed on Sunday and Monday.  And the credit card receipt said “Blu Harbor Grill” 10601 North St. Road 13, Syracuse, Indiana (574)457-5711 instead of Blue Tomato on Maplecrest Road in Fort Wayne.

The food, atmosphere, and service was so good.

But it doesn't really matter now, does it?  The place is closed.