Italian food 'magnificent'   

  Two weeks ago I finally had the opportunity to try Michael J's Restaurant, in Camino/Pollock Pines (where Weird Harold's was located).  I have known Michael Cresci, the owner and chef, for some time and he was kind enough to offer to select our meal for us, serving smaller portions and allowing us to try a variety of his dishes.   
  The presentation of each dish was magnificent and the whole meal was like a symphony of different tastes and textures.  We started with a glass of wine accompanied by warm, housemade pesto bread.   
  This was followed by a taste of the clam chowder with shrimp, salad with a wonderful gorgonzola dressing, Bruschetta (housemade bread toasted and topped with tomato, garlic, mozzarella, herbs and olive oil), Caponata 'E Mozzarella Antipasti (eggplant appetizer surrounded with slices of fresh mozzarella and vine-ripened tomato wedges), Mediterranean Prawns (lemon butter sautéed prawns with vine ripened tomato wedges and capers on linguine), and Roast Pork (garlic crusted roast pork with garlic au jus, garlic mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini).  This followed by their own cannoli - a desert with no equals.   

  The menu at Michael J's also includes numerous other pasta, seafood, chicken and vegetarian dishes and each night they serve a half a dozen specials.  Everything is made fresh at the restaurant.  The wine list (lots of El Dorado wines) is one of the best I have seen in this county.