Swordfish with lemon-oregano bath (Pesce spada al salmoriglio)
This is a classic Sicilian dish that is perfect for the summer. It’s adapted from Evan Kleiman’s 1993 cookbook “Cucina del Mare” which remains a …
Southern Italian seafood salad (Insalata di mare)
Seafood salad is served all over Italy: anywhere near the sea and with ready access to seafood, which is most of the country. This is …
Clam, squid, fennel and sausage stew (Vongole, calamari, finocchio, salsiccia guazzetto)
Guazzetto is the Italian word for stew: not just any stew, but a low-and-slow-cooked stew. Cooking it slowly allows all the flavors to meld. I …
Clam risotto with lemon (Vongole risotto al limone)
I was on the hunt for some interesting seafood at a Korean market here in Los Angeles and came across GIANT clams. They reminded me …
Italian Pickled Vegetables (Verdure in Scapece)
“Vedure in Scapece” is a summer dish from Naples found in Italian delis all over America. It’s the go-to recipe in Italy for people who …
Bresaola, Rughetta e Parmigiano (Bresaola with Arugula and Parmesan Cheese)
Bresaola is air-dried, salted beef that has been aged two or three months until it becomes hard and turns a dark red, almost purple color. …
Bucatini All’Amatriciana (Bucatini in Tomato Sauce with Pancetta and Hot Pepper)
Bucatini All’Amatriciana is a classic Roman dish that starts fights in restaurants and is the source of family and friend’s gossip and whispers over who …
Saltimbocca all Romana (Veal Saltimbocca)
Saltimbocca means “jumps in the mouth” in Italian. This word has all to do with the great flavors of this dish. What could be better …
The Art of Frittata
When we were growing up, my mother tried to convince my sister and me that a frittata was a good use of leftover spaghetti. At …
Saffron Mussels (Cozze al Zafferano)
I love mussels. They can be steamed in all kinds of broths and served with crusty bread. Adding saffron to the mix of ingredients reminds …
Farfalle with smoked salmon and orange (Farfalle al salmone e arancia)
The beauty of this dish is the ready-to-go ingredients and a splash of citrus throughout. This recipe calls for Farfalle (butterflies) pasta but choose any …
Roasted Celery Root and Chestnut Soup
With winter still in the air (even in California), soup is always on my mind. Given it’s cold in the evenings in LA, I was …