#74: Arancini at Lorenzo's Trattoria

It's difficult to choose a single favorite dish from Lorenzo's Trattoria, one of the best -- and most underrated -- Italian restaurants in St. Louis. I was tempted to go with the veal t-bone steak, as tender and flavorful a cut of meat as you can order anywhere in town. Consider it #74-a

But my first love at Lorenzo's will always be the arancini: rice balls stuffed with ground beef and peas, breaded, deep-fried, smothered with cheese and served in a pool of rich red sauce. The texture is fun -- crunchy, chewy (sticky, even), gooey -- and, for a fried food, the flavor is suprisingly light, sparked by the verdant sweetness of peas.

Of course, when you visit Lorenzo's, you don't have to choose between them: Start with the arancini, then enjoy the veal t-bone and finish with an espresso and a smile.

Lorenzo's Trattoria
1933 Edwards Street
314-773-2223
$6.95 (Veal t-bone, $20.95)

I'm counting down -- in no particular order -- 100 of my favorite dishes in St. Louis. Some are well-known, others obscure. Some are expensive, others dirt cheap. All of them, I guarantee, are delicious. Please do not hesitate to share your own favorites via the comments thread.

Previously:

#75: Meat shawarma at The Vine Mediterranean Café & Market
#76: The South Side Smoke at sandwich at Stellina Pasta Café
#77: Falafel at Kabob House
#78: A slice with pepperoni at Feraro's Jersey-Style Pizza
#79: Birria at Pueblo Nuevo
#80: Banh mi dac biet at Phuc Loi

#81: Prosciutto bianca pizza at the Good Pie
#82: Gold Coast Chocolate ice cream at Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream
#83: Hot salami (salam de testa) at Gioia's Deli
#84: Veal parmesan sandwich at Biggie's
#85: Nachos (with jalapeños and extra cheese cup) at Busch Stadium
#86: Lobster bisque at Café Ventana
#87: Calamari fritti at Mangia Italiano
#88: Brisket sandwich at Winslow's Home
#89: Paletas at La Vallesana 2
#90: Spaghetti and meatballs at Sugo's Spaghetteria