I must start this review off with an apology. There is no excuse for waiting until mid-August to post a review of The Perfect Scoop. If this is the first you are hearing of this excellent book on all things ice cream, then I have let over two months of prime ice cream making and…
The da Fiore Cookbook – Damiano Martin By Phil Torre Tucked away on a small side street, a few minutes walk from the Rialto Bridge in Venice is Osteria da Fiore, considered by many to be the best Restaurant in Venice. I had the good fortune to dine there on my recent trip to Italy…
The New York town I grew up in, Mount Vernon, had a several good Italian bakeries, plus it was 15 minutes from Arthur Avenue, the Bronx’s Little Italy. Therefore, I became accustomed to being able to pick up a fresh loaf of delicious Italian bread in minutes. Now I live in Ridgefield, CT a very…
Pasta with Peas, very basic, very quick to prepare and very good. I do not know of an Italian that does not enjoy this dish. Serves 4 1 package of frozen fresh peas 1/4 cup olive oil 1/2 large onion chopped. 1/4 cup of marinara sauce 1 pound of datali pasta or small shells Bring…
This recipe comes from Chef Paolo’s wife Frances who is an excellent cook in her own right. The crepes can be made a few days ahead of time and kept refrigerated. Serves 6 For the crepes: 8 eggs 1 cup milk 1 cup water 2 cups flour makes 24 to 30 crepes For the filling:…
When preparing for large parties, baked pastas are a very popular menu choice, especially if time is an issue. The advantage of preparing a dish ahead of time and then popping it in the oven just before your guests arrive, so that you can spend more time enjoying their company than working, is very appealing….
A successful risotto can only be made using a particular type of Italian rice. The rice must be able to absorb lots of liquid to give it that creamy texture while still delivering an al dente firmness to the bite. The three types of rice Italians favor for risotto are arborio, vialone nano, and carnaroli….
For all of you steak lovers out there, here is an excellent alternative to a plain grilled or broiled steak. If you do not wish to add the mushrooms and peppers, it is delicious just with the marinara sauce alone. Serves 4 4 boneless Shell Steaks 1/4 cup olive oil 1 large green pepper and…
From Jamie’s Italy (Hyperion, 2006) This is a fantastic dish from southern Italy that’s eaten as a warm vegetable side dish or a cold antipasto. Sicilians are really proud that it’s made with produce from their island. All the different methods of making it are more or less the same – the thing that makes it special,…
From The Silver SpoonThe Silver Spoon (Phaidon Press Ltd, 2005) Serves 4 4 squid, cleaned 1 fresh flat-leaf parsley sprig, plus extra to garnish 1/2 garlic clove 1 cup bread crumbs olive oil, for drizzling and brushing salt and pepper lemon wedges, to garnish Preheat the broiler to hot. Chop the squid tentacles with the parsley and…
