I’ve just returned from a four-day road trip through the Blue Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina, including the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. My first impression: awed. The landscapes were incredible. The Appalachian delicacies a delight. The music, a dreamy wonder.
Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe
My exploration of Rome’s typical pasta dishes starts with the seemingly simple, yet incredibly delicious Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe. This traditional dish uses three simple ingredients Tonnarelli pasta (also known as spaghetti alla chitarra), grated cacio, and freshly ground black…
Risotto Beatrice Quasi-Sbagliato
Inspired by a scene in my novel A MISTAKE INCOMPLETE, this was the risotto a hopeless, distraught, and disappointed Beatrice cooked to distract herself from her thoughts. The recipe follows the technique for a classic saffron risotto – otherwise known…
Skillet Gnocchi
This is a basic recipe you can use with any vegetable, really. I make this for a quick lunch or dinner. TIPS: Look for potato gnocchi in the refrigerator section of your grocery store. In fact, some packets actually say…
Lessons in Roman Cooking
[From 2011 Rome Archives] – I was invited to take a cooking lesson at Trust.Ever.Tastes – located in the building in which i was living at the time. The small company is dedicated to teaching real Italian home cooking. The name Trust.Ever.Tastes…
Holiday Struffoli
Need an Italian dessert idea for Christmas dinner? Try the traditional struffoli – small balls of fried dough smothered in honey and dotted with colorful sprinkles. Fun Fact: The name struffoli is derived from the Greek word strongulos – meaning…
A José Andrés Culinary Experience
Inspired by my history in public television, when I first learned about and became awed by Spanish Chef José Andrés and his series Made In Spain. When I scheduled my trip to Las Vegas, I sought out to have this…
In Search of Death’s Cookie
November in Italy is known as il Mese dei Morti (The Month of the Dead) – not just to honor the dead, but to officially mark the true start of the autumn season. The gloomy month begins with a celebration…
Restaurant: Locanda della Luna
Local Chef Honors Traditional Flavors Through Modern Cuisine [Autumn 2011] – Every time I find myself visiting friends and relatives in southern Italy (Campagna), it has become a tradition to enjoy a delicious meal at La Locanda della Luna in San Giorgio…
Maritozzo and the Modern Serenade
While living in Rome (back in 2011), I once went on a hunt for a special Roman sweet called maritozzi con panna. These sweet Roman sugar brioche buns are filled with whipped cream and served at breakfast – but I…
Rome’s Pizza al Taglio
Among many of its food specialties, Rome is also known for the pizza al taglio – which literally translates to ‘pizza by the cut’. These pizzas are long and narrow and served by the slice. They are typically found at…
Stuzzichini: Supplí
Stuzzichini are small bite sized snacks typically found at bars at happy hour or served as appetizers. These bites vary from fried mozzarella, finger sandwiches, arancini, supplí, potato croquettes, and more. This post focuses on supplí specifically. Supplí are typical…
