Blog

10 Minute Mussels & Clams

A basic recipe from Campania that you can have as I make it here and eat in 10 minutes. These quickly steamed cozze e vongole (mussels and clams) are just out of the Bay of Naples, pristine and briny.

Zucchini, Potato, Onion & Tomato Stew (Ciambotta)

A fan reminded me that zucchini is overflowing the garden, so how about two Friday Recipes to cook this prolific summer vegetable. Gagootz is an Italian-American word for zucchini. It derives from the name of an Italian squash cucuzza.

The Boats Are In!

A man can only be confined to the concrete jungle for so long. I needed a break from the city. I boarded Amtrak at Penn Station for the 3 hour ride up the coast to Rhode Island, looking forward to a week on the beach before heading back to San Francisco. A special dinner with friends at their beach house was on the schedule.

My Favorite Dish – Eggplant Parmigiana

My favorite dish in the whole world, to cook and to eat. Don’t miss the bonus controversy on how to prepare it!

Yes, North Beach is Making a Comeback

In my 20 years living in the Village I’ve seen places open and I’ve seen them close. Some I miss, some I don’t.

Jersey Shore Is So Much More

MTV’s Jersey Shore is more about class and culture than New Jersey or Italian-Americans.

Friday Recipe: Pasta Fave, Aglione e Guanciale con Ricotta Secca

My adaptation of a Viola Buitoni recipe for Spring.

Una Pizza Napoletana: A Night with Anthony Mangieri, Il Maestro

I’ve been jonesing for Anthony Mangieri’s pizza for years. I was going to check it out when he was in New York’s East Village. Never did. 2 hours just to get in. No way, it’s just pizza. I got so excited when Anthony moved to …

You Need to Chill, North Beach

I thought this was behind us. Another North Beach art gallery, open just four months, was vandalized recently. The historical home of San Francisco poets, artists, bohemians, City Lights bookstore, of Ginsberg’s Howl that they tried to suppress in the ’50s – can do better than this

Friday Recipe: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Super easy and delicious spaghetti sauce that pairs best with a good 100% bronze die dried pasta from the Italian regions of Campania or Puglia.

Strolling for Gelato in North Beach

Gelato is one of those quintessential Italian desserts. With less butterfat and more sugar than American ice cream, it has a smoother texture that allows the quality of the ingredients to shine through. In the heart of North Beach, you might expect gelaterias to line …