Spring Asparagus Frittata

Spring Asparagus Frittata

I made this asparagus frittata last spring while in Rome. Allesandro, my friend and produce vendor in Campo de Fiori, the huge open air produce market in the historical center of Rome, showed me wild asparagus he had foraged the night before. It took him all 

Cardi Fritti: Fried Cardoons

Cardi Fritti: Fried Cardoons

In the spring when I was a kid in Jersey I went foraging for cardoons with my Uncle Frank in the “wild” West Orange hills. He married Aunt Florence, my Mom’s sister, and they lived downstairs from us. Uncle Frank was born in Calabria and didn’t 

Risi e Bisi: Venetian Rice & Spring Peas

Risi e Bisi: Venetian Rice & Spring Peas

In the run-up to Ash Wednesday earlier this week Venetians ended their 12-day Carnevale celebration. It was their last raucous blow-out before the arrival of Lent and 40-days of fasting. The traditional festivities and the arrival of the first of the spring vegetables in the market 

Torta di Riso: Sweet Orange-Scented Rice Cake

Torta di Riso: Sweet Orange-Scented Rice Cake

Don’t miss the next recipe video: Subscribe now to my YouTube channel. As a kid I pigged out this time of the year. I knew I’d have to give up stuff for Lent and usually that included a favorite sweet. So if chocolate was on the 40-day 

Stufato di Manzo: Italian Beef & Vegetable Stew

Stufato di Manzo: Italian Beef & Vegetable Stew

Beef stew was my favorite lunch when I trudged home from elementary school on a cold wet winter’s day. I liked to squash all of the tender ingredients together to form a shepherd’s pie mash-up on my plate that I scooped up with a spoon. 

Baked Baby Eggplant via Japan

Baked Baby Eggplant via Japan

Don’t miss the next recipe video: Subscribe now to my YouTube channel. Baked Italian baby eggplant is a favorite blog text recipe post so we decided to show you how to make it. Let me know if there are other recipe posts or other Italian dishes you want me 

Black Kale Steam/Sauteed with Garlic & Chili

Black Kale Steam/Sauteed with Garlic & Chili

Don’t miss the next recipe video: Subscribe now to my YouTube channel. I love leafy vegetables cooked using this easy steam/saute method. You can have delicious and healthy vegetables on your table in about 15 minutes. Heat up olive oil, garlic and chili flakes in a 

Pasta with Prawns & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Recipe

Pasta with Prawns & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Recipe

I love the intense sweet roasted red bell pepper flavor of this quick sauce. It’s a perky fresh topping for chicken, meat or fish and fantastic as a sauce for pasta. I’m using it to dress strozzapreti (choke the priest) pasta and prawns. Roasted pepper 

New Year’s Eve Italian Rules & Recipes Galore

New Year’s Eve Italian Rules & Recipes Galore

Are you ready for your New Year’s Eve celebration? Be sure to include these Italian tips and recipes in your plans. You won’t be sorry in 2014 that you did. There’s an Italian saying that what you do on New Year’s Eve you’ll do all year 

New Year’s Hearty Bean, Ham & Cabbage Soup Recipe

New Year’s Hearty Bean, Ham & Cabbage Soup Recipe

I’m just back from Christmas in the redwood forests overlooking the Pacific on the northern Sonoma coast a few hours north of San Francisco. Our Christmas dinner on top of the ridge included roast turkey and baked ham. When I got ready to head back 

Christmas Eve Focaccia in North Beach

Christmas Eve Focaccia in North Beach

Everyone’s out this morning to get the last few items they need for their holiday table. The lines are out the door at North Beach’s Molinari Deli and Victoria Pastry. Look at all those hopeful people in line at 100-year old Liguria Bakery trying to 

Bow Ties? Wandi? Cenci?–A Sweet Crackly Holiday Recipe

Bow Ties? Wandi? Cenci?–A Sweet Crackly Holiday Recipe

I love these delicate fried dough ribbons that show up on the table at the end of the meal this time of year. I have 2 problems with them though. I don’t know what to call them and once I start eating them I can’t 

North Beach is San Francisco’s Heart

North Beach is San Francisco’s Heart

What’s not to love in North Beach, the heart of San Francisco? Carl Nolte’s Chronicle column surveys it all. Plus, a North Beach food shopping spree and a marvelous art exhibit.

Start Thanksgiving Dinner with Crab & Vegetables in a Hot Bath

Start Thanksgiving Dinner with Crab & Vegetables in a Hot Bath

The dungeness crab season started a couple of weeks ago and the harvest is superb. So here’s a simple delicious start for your Thanksgiving dinner, steamed crab and vegetables with bagna cauda, a flavorful anchovy-garlic hot dipping sauce. This is a super easy dish. Buy 

Mighty Minestrone–A Hearty Vegetable Soup Recipe

Mighty Minestrone–A Hearty Vegetable Soup Recipe

There’s been a chill in the air so I decided to make my first soup of the fall season. Minestrone was at the top of my list. It’s easy to make, delicious and good for you. The most difficult part of this recipe is chopping