Basil and lemon-infused panna cotta with strawberry sauce
Panna cotta (or “cooked milk”) must be the world’s simplest dessert; yet it impresses guests and tastes wonderful. It’s really a blank canvas to add …
Warm Farro, Fava Bean and Pancetta Salad
Spring is in full swing. Last spring, when we were in Marche, Italy, fava beans were coming into the local farm stands right about this …
Fava bean and mint “torta rustica”
It’s springtime in Los Angeles. The rain seems to be over; the days are getting warmer and longer; plants are growing and flowers blooming all …
“Wild” Mushroom Risotto
A few years ago I finally got around to reading Michael Pollan’s decade-old book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I loved the entire book, but as I …
A modern Coniglio in Porchetta
The first and only time I served a whole, intact rabbit was several years ago for Easter dinner (insert humorous comment about serving a bunny …
In Search of Castelluccio Lentils
While in Umbria on vacation a few years ago, we went in search of fabled Castelluccio lentils. We had seen these lentils for sale when …
Mussels and Shells in a Saffron Tomato Soup
With Christmas Eve fast approaching, it’s time to starting thinking about that uniquely Italian-American tradition of the Seven Fishes. Probably born from the Italian tradition …
Drunken Octopus Salad
Octopus is finally available again in seafood stores in Southern California. In Italy, being able to buy freshly fished octopus is nearly a birthright. Along …
The crostata revisited
Way back in 2009, one of my first food posts was for an apple crostata. I just ran into a friend at church this weekend who …
Calamari ripieni alla marchigiana (Stuffed squid)
While we were in Marche, Italy this spring, we had stuffed calamari prepared by my cousin’s wife, Maria, several times. These beautiful squid from the …
Seppie con piselli (Cuttlefish with peas)
I’m in Italy!—in the region of Marche, along the Adriatic sea—staying in the town where my grandfather grew up (he immigrated to America in 1911, …
It’s raining artichokes! – Baby Artichoke Risotto
We have arrived in the hilltop town of Scapezzano, where my grandfather grew up and our cousins still live, in the Marche region of Italy. …