One of the nice things about having Italian parents is that they spoil you with free food.  For example, I arrived home the other day to find about a pound of fresh peas that my father had delivered earlier in the day (now that he’s retired he spends his days searching for the best fruits and vegetables, among other critical […]

Stuffed Artichokes The Artichoke capital of the world is Italy and not simply because Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (fancy Latin speak for artichoke) is consumed throughout the peninsula but because Italy produces about 487,000 metric tons of the vegetable every year (outpacing Spain, the second largest producer, by about 200,000 metric tons).   Here in the United States, artichokes (primarily grown in California) […]

The variety of kale known as Lacinato is critical to Italian food history and specifically to the second-most-populous region of Italy known as Campania (Napoli being the most well known city in the province).  Lacinato kale has a bitter and sweet flavor profile and is comprised of a rich blue green color.  Lacinato kale is traditionally used in minestrone soupand […]

The common, everyday Frittata, is a critical dish to master if you’d like to eat in the Italian tradition – especially the Potato, Red Pepper, and Onion Frittata (Frittata di Patate, Peperone e Cipolla).  The dish will allow you to make a delicous lunch or dinner at any point during the week and it’s incredibly versatile and able to be made from leftovers […]

(photo: cubed Sicilian, round, eggplant just prior to roasting) Our roasted eggplant with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano contains two ingredients (not including Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil) and I’m very proud to assert the lack of ingredients in the dish!   The dish, like much of the cooking in Italy, is dependent on the ingredients.  The eggplant we used […]

(photo: grilled eggplant with herbs, garlic, vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil or melanzane arrostite) Eggplant is consumed en mass in southern Italy and you see melanzane as a parmigiana, of course, pickled in olive oil and vinegar, slowly roasted and simmered for pasta alla norma, and my favorite preparation grilled with herbs, garlic, and vinegar.  

(photo: simple roasted potatoes <patate al forno> with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and plenty of extra virgin olive oil) Italians love their roasted potatoes or patate al forno.  In Italy, most home cooks produce a variation of roasted potatoes based on their particular region.  My favorite versions include using plenty of herbs (sage, rosemary, fennel seed, etc.) and […]

Fried Peppers (Peperonata) are an Italian American staple and for good reason; they are tasty, very versatile as a side dish, and straightforward to prepare. Our version can be made with friarelli (at times refereed to as green frying peppers) or standard bell peppers.  If you opt for the ladder, red and yellow bell peppers tend to be sweeter in flavor.  Moreover, […]

This simple, satisfying, Oven Roasted Potatoes With Breadcrumbs and Herbs side dish compliments fish, chicken, and beef and requires very little preparation.  We used thyme, parsley, and dried oregano for our herbs but you can mix up any combination of dry and fresh herbs. Oven Roasted Potatoes With Breadcrumbs and Herbs   Print Prep time 10 mins Cook time 30 mins Total time 40 […]

(photo: homemade pizza with arugula salad <including red onion>) Growing up in the suburbs just outside of New York City our neighborhood had its fair share of pizza joints, including Vincent’s Pizzeria, Sal’s Classic, First Pizza Pan, Godfather II Pizzeria, Euro’s Pizzeria, Villa Rosa Pizzeria, etc.  All of the pizzeria’s mentioned made pizza in the NY fashion, that is to […]