Cannoli are perhaps the most beloved of Italian pastries, a true icon of Italian cookery across the world. So why, you might ask, have I not written about cannoli in over 13 years of blogging? It’s a good question. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have much of a sweet tooth. … Read More
Patate in tecia
It’s back to Trieste this week with a lovely side dish from the region of Friuli Venezia-Giulia. Chiara Giglio, a fellow blogger who hales from that fair city, left a comment on last week’s gulasch triestino post, mentioning that she liked to serve her goulash with a potato side dish … Read More
Gulasch triestino
Italians make goulash? Yes, indeed they do. As we’ve observed before, the regions of Italy that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, in particular Alto-Adige and Friuli Venezia Giulia, and to a lesser extent Lombardia, retain many traces of its influence. And nowhere perhaps is this more apparent than … Read More
Passatelli in brodo
The region of Emilia-Romagna in north-central Italy is home to some of the most exquisite fresh egg pastas in the country: tortellini, tagliatelle, lasagne, cappelletti, gramigna, garganelli… as well also many more you probably haven’t heard of. The region boasts 23 different shapes of pasta in all! No wonder that, … Read More
Baccalà al forno con patate (Oven-Roasted Salt Cod with Potatoes)
As many of our readers doubt already know, Christmas Eve dinner among Italians traditionally features a seafood menu. And it just wouldn’t be Christmas Eve unless at least one dish on that menu includes baccalà, or dried and salted cod. Besides being a fixture on festive tables, baccalà is immensely popular … Read More
Zuppa alla canavesana (Piedmontese Bread and Cabbage Soup)
When the weather starts to turn really cold, as it’s beginning to do around these parts, we naturally turn to warming dishes like the one we’re offering up this week: Zuppa alla canavesana, a hearty cabbage and bread soup from the Canavese area near Torino in the region of Piemonte … Read More
Lasagnette alla cacciatora col pollo (Pasta Cacciatore)
It may come as a surprise to non-Italians, but if you ask the average Italian what they think of pasta and chicken, you’re likely to get a negative reaction. A very negative one in fact. That’s certainly the view among my Italian acquaintances. To them, a dish like Chicken Alfredo … Read More
Ossobuco di tacchino (Turkey Ossobuco)
Let’s talk turkey, shall we? For most Americans, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without roast turkey. And for many others around the world, the same goes for Christmas. A splendid roast bird does make for a striking centerpiece for our dinner tables. But if we’re honest, how many of us really … Read More