Month: April 2011

Carciofi alla Romana (Roman Style Artichokes)

Carciofi alla Romana (Roman Style Artichokes)

Italians love their artichokes and Romans know how to treat them. A text and video recipe from Rome’s Jewish ghetto.

A Taste of Spring in Venice at da Flora Ostaria

A Taste of Spring in Venice at da Flora Ostaria

Don’t miss this custom Venetian-style menu with wine pairings from my favorite North Beach restaurant!

Tale of Two Noodle-Loving Neighborhoods

Tale of Two Noodle-Loving Neighborhoods

Chinatown and North Beach come together for Noodle Fest 2011 – an outdoor event celebrating food and culture.

Chicken & Potato Cook-Off

Chicken & Potato Cook-Off

Two different authentic, regional recipes for Italian chicken and potatoes.

Walking and Eating in North Beach

Walking and Eating in North Beach

In the course of the 90 minute romp, I cover tons of history and trivia that goes beyond food and deep into the culture – past and present – of my Italian North Beach village.

Easter Pies: Pizza Rustica & Pastiera Napoletana

Easter Pies: Pizza Rustica & Pastiera Napoletana

Serve the pizza rustica as part of the antipasti course and the Pastiera as your dolce (dessert). But only on Easter!

Beyond Pasta

Beyond Pasta

That’s Mark Leslie’s book and the theme of our cook-off in North Beach on Tuesday.  Mark and I are making chicken and potatoes from 2 different regions of Italia. Mark learned his dishes from Nonna in Viterbo northwest of Rome in the region of Lazio. 

Have a Drink With Emperor Norton

Have a Drink With Emperor Norton

Over seventy years ago, Peter Macchiarini made up his mind that San Francisco needed a symbol. This idea wasn’t a modest one — Macchiarini was looking for San Francisco’s Statue of Liberty, its Eiffel Tower. Something to erect and have stand tall and proud atop the City by the Bay, embodying the city’s ethos. The decision soon became obvious: Emperor Norton.

North Beach Loves Banksy

North Beach Loves Banksy

Street artists like Banksy are making their mark on North Beach.

Sun’s Out and So Are We

Sun’s Out and So Are We

April is off to a start that’s making us city-dwellers – for the moment at least – forgive the recent rain.