A Symphony for the Senses: Kia Cadenza and Fiola

August 6, 2013

Written by Anita

Photos by Greg

On a recent rainy July evening, GregsListDC joined Kia and Fiola for a night of lavish luxury.

Think a Kia can’t be luxurious? Well, think again. We had the chance to test drive the 2014 Kia Cadenza—Kia’s newest upscale sedan. We nestled into its supple nappa leather seats (complete with 3-stage seat warmers and heated steering wheel!) and relaxed as the soothing strains of Mozart filled the air, courtesy of the Cadenza’s premium 550-watt Infinity 12-speaker audio system with rear surround speakers and subwoofer. The Cadenza’s powerful V6 engine purred as we glided along Pennsylvania Avenue. The hydrophobic windshield and front windows allowed us to see clearly despite the pouring rain, while the Cadenza’s complimentary UVO infotainment and navigation system guided us along our appointed route. The Cadenza’s specially designed headlights turned to illuminate our path and its adaptive Advanced Smart Cruise Control feature maintained a safe driving distance. As we returned to Fiola, the sky suddenly cleared, giving us a chance to enjoy the Cadenza’s dual sunroofs and to lower its rear sunshade.

Once inside Fiola’s sophisticated interior of cream and midnight blue, we sat down to chef/owner Fabio Trabocchi’s exquisite menu, designed to enhance our lux Cadenza experience. Appetizers included a zesty chilled gazpacho (based on a family recipe from Fabio’s wife, Maria) and a quenelle of luscious Wagyu beef tartare atop a crisp walnut cracker crostini. The antipasto course featured a radish, red pepper, and mache salad, bathed in a basil Genovese pesto and flanked by a creamy orb of buffalo mozzarella Burrata. For the primo course, we savored ahot, herby ravioli, filled with Pipe Dreams goat cheese, accompanied by local roasted sweet corn and cherry tomatoes from Northern Neck Fruits and Vegetables, and finished with fresh basil, pine nuts, and pecorino. For the main course, we dove into succulent beef tenderloin with a rich and decadent lobe of Hudson Valley Foie Gras. Pastry chef Kendra Grieco’s lighter-than-air white peach sorbetto with fresh berries provided the perfect ending to a perfect evening.

Want to experience this kind of luxury for yourself? You can test drive the new Kia Cadenza at your local Kia dealership or book an evening at Fiola through Open Table. And don’t forget to check out chef Trabocchi’s newest restaurant, Casa Luca, and to stay tuned for more information on his upcoming seafood restaurant, Fiola Mare! Want to enjoy chef Trabocchi’s fare in the comfort of your own kitchen? Then enter now to win a signed copy of his highly acclaimed cookbook, Cucina of Le Marche, by e-mailing events@gregslistdc.com with "Cucina" in the subject line by noon on Monday, August 12th, 2013. (Winner will be notified via e-mail and posted to our Facebook page.) With Kia Cadenza and Fiola, the good life never felt so good!

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