Spaghettini all’acqua di limone e provolone—thin spaghetti cooked in lemon infused water and finished with provolone cheese—was invented by Chef Peppe Guida, chef at the Michelin starred restaurant Osteria Antica Nonna Rosa on the Sorrentine Peninsula about 11 km west of Sorrento. In this rather trendy, lighter alternative to the … Read More
Polpo alla piastra su crema di piselli (Seared Octopus over Green Pea Purée)
A simple but elegant main course, polpo alla piastra su crema di piselli (Seared Octopus on Green Peas Purée) provides a striking contrast of colors, textures and taste, with the dark purple of the briny chewy octopus set against a backdrop of the velvety, sweet bright green of the pea … Read More
Pasta salmone e piselli (Pasta with Salmon and Peas)
A quick and easy dish that doesn’t skimp on looks or flavor, pasta salmone e piselli (Pasta with Salmon and Peas) is a staple in our home. We have this or something similar for dinner just about weekly. Don’t ask me why I haven’t gotten around to posting a recipe … Read More
Zuppa di lenticchie e porri (Lentil and Leek Soup)
Regular readers of this blog will know that lentils are my favorite legume. I adored my grandmother Angelina’s pasta e lenticchie as a kid, and I still love just about anything made with lentils, including of course soup. Zuppa di lenticchie or lentil soup is a winter standby in Italian … Read More
Pesto di cavolo nero (Tuscan Kale Pesto)
Generally speaking I’m not a picky eater. Just the opposite in fact. There are very few things I won’t eat or at least try. I’ve had alligator in Florida, live lobster sashimi and rattlesnake in New York, fried lamb’s brains and pasta with calf’s intestines in Rome, fermented cassava balls … Read More
Pomodori gratinati (Gratinéed Tomatoes)
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
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
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
