Month: July 2012

Panzanella (Summer Tomato & Bread Salad)

Panzanella (Summer Tomato & Bread Salad)

I never throw away bread. I use stale bread for my meatballs, for stuffings and for breadcrumbs. I always have some hanging around. Day-old bread inspires panzanella, a simple summer tomato and bread salad. Some of you asked for this recipe based on the classic 

Crispy Succulent Shrimp (Gamberi Fritti)

Crispy Succulent Shrimp (Gamberi Fritti)

When I was a kid on a steamy summer Friday night in Jersey, fried fish was one of my favorite dinners. My Mom lightly dredged an array of fish in flour and quickly fried them in olive oil. We ate the fish hot out of 

Hello Milwaukee

Hello Milwaukee

A while ago a post, Forget Food Network! 7 Cool Online Cooking Shows, appeared on Milwaukee Radio’s website. Gianni’s North Beach was #5. After all this time many of my site visitors come from Milwaukee Radio, 88.9 on your FM dial. So here’s a shout out to 

Summer Heirloom Tomatoes Are In

Summer Heirloom Tomatoes Are In

I returned from NYC to find the first decent crop of local heirloom tomatoes. A big, fat golden and red orb in the farmer’s market had my name on it. The ripe tomato had a sweet aroma and was just firm to the touch. You 

Baked Stuffed Mushrooms (& Friends)

Baked Stuffed Mushrooms (& Friends)

I made baked stuffed mushroom caps to accompany prosciutto and smoked mozzarella on my antipasti platter. That’s them in the front of the plate. Stuffed mushrooms are quick and easy to make and pack a lot of flavor. Serve them hot out of the oven or 

Chinese Bakery Replaces Victoria Pastry

Chinese Bakery Replaces Victoria Pastry

Victoria Pastry has been in North Beach since 1914. The Vallejo and Stockton corner bakery closed last month to move to a new space on Filbert and Powell on the other side of Washington Square Park. As word about Victoria’s closing spread many wondered whether 

Pasta alla Norma: Rigatoni in a Tomato & Eggplant Sauce

Pasta alla Norma: Rigatoni in a Tomato & Eggplant Sauce

A classic from Catania on the eastern shore of Sicily, this wildly popular pasta took on its name in honor of favorite-son Vincenzo Bellini’s opera Norma 180 years ago. You’ll find it on menus all over Sicilia now. A couple of you asked about this dish