This cocktail is inspired by a scene in my noir-inspired fiction novel A MISTAKE INCOMPLETE. I used Jägermeister as a nod to Berlin, in which the scene takes place. I had actually originally named this drink The Barber of Prenzlauer…
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…
A Poisonous Escape
Of course, I had to include a tiki-style drink to my novel collection of cocktails. A Poisonous Escape is a delicious concoction I imagine would be served at the Poison Ivy tiki bar scene in A MISTAKE INCOMPLETE. It’s probably…
Cyn Cyn Punch
The Cyn Cyn Punch is another cocktail I created inspired by my first novel THE LOVE FOOL, and was first printed in the Book Club Edition released in August 2020. This cocktail is a refreshing sipper that my character Teddy…
Bird Club Daiquiri
This daiquiri twist is another cocktail inspired by my book A MISTAKE INCOMPLETE. I wanted to create a cocktail that could be found on the menu of the birdcage-inspired bar to where Elena leads the crew early on in the…
The Side Eye
The Side Eye is another cocktail inspired by my debut novel THE LOVE FOOL. This cocktail honors the plump black cat that frolicked among the ruins of Largo Argentina. I named it The Side Eye because of the surly look…
We Were Never Together
For this cocktail, I was inspired by my first novel THE LOVE FOOL. This recipe was featured in the book club edition of THE LOVE FOOL, and in the summer 2020 issue of Sip the Magazine. The color of this…
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…
Paccheri with mushrooms, goat’s milk, and thyme.
This dish is my take on the well-known Paccheri with mushroom and cream sauce. But, I swapped heavy (and fattening) cream for healthy and flavorful goat’s milk. The tang of goat’s milk was not as overpowering as one would think,…
Aperitivo: La Bicicletta
Picture it: Italy. Small local bar. Late afternoon. Old men playing cards, discussing politics, and arguing over who-knows-what, all while sipping a ruby red Bicicletta. I won’t be going to Italy this summer, so I’ve been enjoying my aperitivo time…
Fettuccine with Pistachio Pesto
I discovered this recipe in La Cucina Italiana, and made slight adaptations based on ingredients I had on hand. Many have been asking me to share or translate the recipe. So, here it is. What’s interesting about the pistachio mixture…
Sipping at the Algonquin
The Algonquin cocktail brings me back to that time in the mid-90s when I had the pleasure of staying at the famous Algonquin hotel in New York City. I was having drinks in the lobby with a view of the…
