It’s a bittersweet time of year this, as the summer comes to a close. Autumn is my favorite time of year. (Or at least it used to be before the advent of gas powered leaf blowers. Don’t get me started…) And yet, as I get older, I find that I … Read More
Pasta ai peperoni (Pasta and Peppers)
September is here and, for many in the northern hemisphere, the return to work this means autumn is already here. And here in US, last Monday was Labor Day, which. marks the unofficial end of summer. And yet foodwise September is a transitional, you might even say schizophrenic, month. We … Read More
Tagliata di manzo con rucola e parmigiano
Like many people, we do a lot of grilling in the summertime. More often than not, especially when I’m grilling for a crowd, I opt for a grigliata mista or mixed grill, with its tempting spread of sausages, pork, lamb, chicken and more. But when I’m grilling for myself and … Read More
Parmigiana di melanzane alla siciliana (Sicilian Style Eggplant Parmesan)
The parmigiana di melanzane or Eggplant Parmesan that my grandmother Angelina used to make, a version typical of the hinterlands of Naples with its eggplant dipped in egg and fried, then layered with mozzarella, parmigiano-reggiano and tomato sauce and baked in a hot oven until bubbly and golden brown on … Read More
Americano Cocktail
Is there any aperitivo as welcome on a summer evening as the Americano? If there is, I haven’t found it yet. What is an Americano? Equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth, topped up with sparkling water and garnished with an orange slice. It’s as refreshing as the popular Campari Spritz … Read More
Fagiolini e patate (Green Bean and Potato Salad)
It’s a testament to the vastness of Italian cookery that, even after 14 years of blogging, I find that I’ve managed to miss an uber-popular dish like this staple of summer tables, fagiolini e patate or Green Bean and Potato Salad. Well, better late than never… If you haven’t tried … Read More
Risotto all’Amarone e ciliegie
This recipe was born out of a challenge. One of my nieces, who lives in Rome, recently took a weekend jaunt to Verona. She had dinner one night at Darì Ristorante & Enoteca, where she tasted and fell in love with their risotto all’Amarone e ciliegie, or risotto with Amarone … Read More
Maritozzi
Roman cookery is probably best known for its world famous pastas like the iconic carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e pepe. But Rome has also made its mark in the world of sweets. While less well known than say Naples’ sfogiatelle or Sicily’s cannoli, Rome’s most iconic pastry called maritozzi is … Read More
