Clafoutis di ciligie (Cherry Clafoutis)

Frankdessert, summer35 Comments

Clafoutis

Clafoutis is an egg custard fruit tart of French origins, specifically from the southwester region of Limousin. But isn’t this an Italian food blog, you might ask? Well, yes, but clafoutis has become quite popular in Italy. Like so many Italian recipes, clafoutis is both easy to make and absolutely … Read More

Scialatielli con frutti di mare

FrankCampania, pasta, primi piatti29 Comments

Scialatielli

I was in the lovely town of Praiano on the Amalfi Coast recently for a family wedding. There I discovered a rather thick semi-long fresh pasta called scialatielli, served with a delicious sauce of lobster simmered in fresh tomato. It was a most memorable meal, made even more special by … Read More

Vignarola (Roman Spring Vegetable Medley)

Frankantipasti, Lazio25 Comments

Vignarola

This iconic Roman dish called la vignarola is a ‘medley’ of spring vegetables made from spring onions, fava beans, artichokes, peas and tender lettuce, flavored in typically Roman style with a bit of guanciale. If there’s one Roman dish that says “spring on a plate”, this is it. Admittedly, prepping the vegetables, … Read More

Brutti ma buoni

Frankdessert, Lombardia, Piemonte, Toscana24 Comments

brutti ma buoni

Brutti ma buoni, meaning “ugly but good”, is the jocular name Italians give to these nut and meringue cookies originally from north-central Italy (their precise origin is disputed) but now popular all over the country. The recipe is simple enough, though you need to take some care so they come … Read More

Carciofi alla romana (Roman Style Artichokes)

Frankantipasti, contorno, Lazio26 Comments

Carciofi alla romana (Roman Style Artichokes)

Artichokes are back in season! There is scarcely any vegetable more typical of Roman cooking, perhaps of all Italian cookery, than the artichoke. One of the most iconic Roman artichoke dishes is called, appropriately enough, carciofi alla romana or ‘Roman Style Artichokes. Stuffed, trimmed but whole, with garlic and herbs, … Read More