Tuscany – Here we come!!
Our Italian Table is going to Tuscany! And to my beloved Montalcino no less – woohoo! Back in August when my dear brother came to …
Swordfish involtini on the grill (Involtini di pesce spade alla griglia)
The Sicilians don’t have the corner on cooking with swordfish (pesce spada) – the Calabrians, who share the same sea with Sicily, have their own …
Calabria at Sotto
Our friend Rory Harrington (@captainwine) put on another of his wonderful wine tasting events at Sotto (the one Italian restaurant in Los Angeles that Joe …
Just octopus! – Spaghetti con polpo
There’s a joke running around the Los Angeles restaurant scene that if your menu doesn’t include a kale salad, a fancy octopus salad, and PBR, …
The Beautiful Aeolian Islands and the Boat Ride from Hell
Join me for a tale about Calabria that needs to be told :-). Our trip in 2007 was indeed a memorable affair for so many …
Pollo con melanzane (Chicken with eggplant, tomatoes and pancetta)
As we continue our Calabrian adventures, I’ve been cooking with the aid of the excellent cookbook, My Calabria. This is a great source for all …
Insalata di calamari (Squid salad)
This is an awfully fancy bowl on a fancy place mat for such a simple salad. My sister is the photographer in the family, so …
Calabria: Le Puzelle Pitcher
Our introduction to the wines of Calabria is epitomized by our welcome at La Puzelle, a wonderful agriturismo near the small hill town of Santa …
Garlicky Swordfish Calabrian Style
The Tyrrhenian Sea off the Calabrian coast is chock full of the majestic swordfish (pesce spada) that migrate through this region in late spring …
Pasta ‘Ncasciata (Baked Pasta with Eggplant)
In Calabria, vegetables are king—especially in summertime. Every meal headlines the fresh vegetables that are in season, while meat or fish play a supporting role. …
Stuffed! Cipolle Ripieni (Onions Stuffed with Sausage and Parmigiano)
The cooks of Emilia-Romagna love to stuff things from their pillowy pastas to their greens-stuffed tortas. In this simple recipe, onions become the backdrop for …
Spuma di Mortadella (Mortadella Mousse)
OK, for most Americans, this is going to sound like a weird dish – a mousse made from Mortadella – Italy’s inspiration for American baloney. …