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Fish in some form has always been the main event in my families kitchen come December 24th, but was there always seven? We ate baccala several ways (I am partial to the fried version of this thick salt cured cod), zeppole laced with anchovies, lobster arrabiata, a mixed seafood salad simply tossed with fresh lemon and parsley, baked clams, [...]
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I promised myself I would return soon. From the moment our plane landed, certainly not on time, but earlier than expected, I felt a connection to the island, its people, and its food. We rushed to the bar for a quick caffe; an intense coffee with a thick crema followed by a dark liquid gold. [...]
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In a perfect world there would be one in every neighborhood. Not exactly a restaurant, and hardly fast food. Brancaccio’s Food Shop is an owner operated establishment in every sense of the word. Joe Brancaccio is not only the chef and creator of Food Shop, but he is also the guy you will find behind the counter, at the [...]
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As the summer comes to an official end on Friday, I envision fewer salads and more stews bubbling on the stove top. Put away the salad spinner and pull out the slow cooker, the cool and crisp winter is drawing closer, and what we eat will inevitably change. Our cheese draw will undergo a transition; from [...]
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Brooklyn’s own Little Italy is alive and well, though with a small case of separation anxiety. What was once a single stretch of Italian markets, restaurants, bakeries, cafes, social clubs and novelty stores has become a bit more diverse. A place where time seemed to stand still, Bensonhurst has evolved into a multiethnic food scene. In [...]
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I first discovered Brenta while traveling in the Veneto region on a buyers trip, and immediately I was taken by the cheese. It is a very straightforward cheese, aged for about two months until it is semi firm. Brenta is made from whole cows milk exclusively from the Italian Alps, lending to the cheeses unique flavors. It has a clean finish with strong flavors of fresh milk [...]
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Last week Nancy Harmon Jenkins wrote a thoughtful plea to producers of extra virgin olive oil to continue to produce the best possible product possible, without regard to tastes which may favor rancid or poor quality product. Unfortunately, it seems that some producers are successfully marketing olive oils that are defective, or of lesser quality because it is what [...]
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The Italian way of life means keeping everything important in your life close. Often times this includes family, friends, and the foods we eat. Families don’t move far, and sometimes they even work together. My grandfather had his home, business, and garden all under the same roof. The garden was actually on the roof, and [...]
When Michele Scicolone talks about a great Italian restaurant, I make it a point to listen. She is the author of countless italian cookbooks and has one of the best palates in the business. So when I read her post on the 18th Street outpost of Tarallucci e Vino, I couldnt believe I had never been. If [...]
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Memories of my most memorable meals were not at at restaurant, or even out of a cookbook. The meals I remember most, that defined what a good meal was to me, happened without reservations.
