On this Valentine's Day, I reflect back to when I first met Patricia, the ideal modern woman, desirable on so many levels: strong, artistic, beautiful, and smart. I placed her high up on a pedestal. And being the saint that I am,... Read More »
Pasta al forno, or baked pasta (ziti in this case), is a triple comfort food. First, although almost any type of pasta can be used, the very thought of “baked ziti” is sure to bring back warm memories from years ago, when... Read More »
Sometimes it's easier to have just a few choices rather than to have too many. This notion is so simple, and yet so complex, and perhaps so very bourgeois. But the intersection of freedom and boundaries can be tricky, especially... Read More »
a world in tatters riots war recession 'quakes ball of confusion* tomato basil olive oil garlic pepper salt parmigiano spaghetti vino a simple summer pleasure escape share love Check out our wine pairings for... Read More »
I once had a bowl of trofie al pesto for dessert. We were young, carefree, and on the Italian Riviera, Zelda and I. We wandered into a trattoria. It could have been any trattoria in Liguria. The pasta arrived at the table. I can... Read More »
Other then the deathly allergic, who among us doesn’t love a delicious bowl of linguine with clams? Fresh clams, garlic, parsley, olive oil. You crave. It delivers. Imagine this perfect day. You start off with some fresh... Read More »
Meet my friends, Cacio and Pepe. Cacio is pale white, from the countryside outside of Rome; Pepe is black as night, of mysterious origins. Their relationship is still very taboo in most of America. As a matter of fact, I’ve... Read More »
So dark, so bitter, so misunderstood. So Sicilian. Ok, enough about me. Let's talk about eggplant (which like me) is an acquired taste. As I watch my children gag over eggplant, I recall my own such repulsion as a child. Why... Read More »
Ok. There are few lessons buried in this recipe, which is probably the most common and the most bastardized of all pasta dishes in America. First, despite the Italian Facebook page dedicated to the non-existence of Fettuccine... Read More »
You wanted comfort food? This is Italian comfort food, and one of my childhood favorites. (Please note that this is nothing like the meat sauce served in school cafeterias across America, but I digress). The real Bolognese style... Read More »
