Spinach Pies–My Bridge to Italy

Spinach Pies–My Bridge to Italy

Making spinach pies today is a culinary bridge from the States to my upcoming temporary home in Naples. The filling is inspired by the  “Wimpy Skippy,” a crowd-pleaser from Caserta Pizzeria on Providence’s Federal Hill, an Italian-American bastion. I’ll find variations of spinach pies, called 

Meatballs Neapolitan Style

Meatballs Neapolitan Style

My trip to Italy is fast approaching. I wanted to do a couple of posts before I leave and the dishes had to be simple. Meat-eaters love meatballs. These are from Naples and may be a bit different than what you’re used to eating here 

Pasta & Chickpea Soup (Pasta e Ceci)

Pasta & Chickpea Soup (Pasta e Ceci)

I’ll be in Rome and Naples soon so I’ve been cooking dishes from both cities to get ready for the trip. Here’s another Roman favorite that would be at home in Naples as well. The Romans prefer long pasta in their chickpea soup and the 

Roman Stewed Spring Vegetables

Roman Stewed Spring Vegetables

La Vignarola, stewed spring vegetables, is a simple dish that’s a real crowd-pleaser in Rome this time of year and you can be eating some in about 30 minutes. Quickly braise each of the 3 spring vegetables separately. Brown guanciale or pancetta with a little 

4 North Beach Sandwiches on 2 Top 10 Lists

4 North Beach Sandwiches on 2 Top 10 Lists

4 North Beach places own top spots in 2 recent San Francisco best sandwich lists. Molinari’s and Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store are on both lists, Eater SF’s Most Iconic Sandwiches and Sean Timberlake’s Citysearch Guide’s Best Italian Sandwiches. Giordano Brothers and L’osteria del Forno are 

Stracciatella–Italian Egg Drop Soup

Stracciatella–Italian Egg Drop Soup

After a slice of savory Pizza Rustica and some arugula salad, the first course for my Easter meal is Stracciatella, Italian egg drop soup. Stracciatelle means “little rags” in Italian. They’re formed by whisking beaten eggs into hot chicken broth. My Mom made perfect little egg 

Chicken Roman-Style with Peppers

Chicken Roman-Style with Peppers

I’m hosting an informal Easter dinner next Sunday. Some of the friends at the table will be with me in Rome and Naples in a few weeks so I’m serving dishes from those 2 cities. We’ll start with a savory deep-dish pie, Pizza Rustica filled 

Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Buona Pasqua! Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Natale con i tuoi, la Pasqua con chi vuoi, Christmas at home and Easter with whomever you wish” is an old Italian saying. Friends are coming to my place for Easter dinner next Sunday. I’m making 2 traditional Easter deep-dish pies from Naples that will bookend 

St. Joseph’s Day Spaghetti

St. Joseph’s Day Spaghetti

March 19 is the Feast of St. Joseph, Festa di San Giuseppe. It’s a big day in Italy and a big day among Italian-Americans. St. Joseph’s Day is Father’s Day in Italia. Joseph was Mary’s husband and helped raise the young Jesus. St. Joseph is also Sicily’s 

Chicken with Olives, Capers & Lemon

Chicken with Olives, Capers & Lemon

Here’s a really simple dish from Naples for those times when you really don’t feel like cooking. The recipe works well with chicken or with fish. It’s pollo (or pesce) con olive, capperi e limone. You see this combination celebrating meaty olives, zesty capers & 

2 North Beach Pizza Margheritas On Top 10 List

2 North Beach Pizza Margheritas On Top 10 List

Bravo! 2 of the pizzas on Chow’s Top 10 Pizza Margheritas in the Bay Area list are made right here in North Beach: Caffe Baonecci on Green near Grant and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana on Stockton at Union. The Gambaccini family at Baonecci really make you feel 

Asparagus Frittata–Spring Has Sprung

Asparagus Frittata–Spring Has Sprung

Spring is taking hold so I thought I’d make something to celebrate, an egg pie with tender, thin asparagus. Actually “La Squadra”, is gathering at my house for lunch. My Rome and Naples traveling companions and I need to finish planning our final week in Campania 

Spaghetti all’Amatriciana

Spaghetti all’Amatriciana

Here’s one of my favorite spaghetti sauces that’s ready in the time it takes to cook the spaghetti. The recipe comes from the the small hill town of Amatrice in the Sabine Hills northeast of Rome. You see spaghetti all’Amatriciana in all the trattorie in 

Steak and Mushrooms with Baby Arugula

Steak and Mushrooms with Baby Arugula

You may see a theme in my upcoming recipes. I’m celebrating the food of Rome, the first stop on my upcoming trip to Italia. A popular dish found in restaurants all over Rome, straccetti di manzo is a quick sauté of thinly sliced steak and 

Stay Healthy–Eat Italian

Stay Healthy–Eat Italian

You may have seen the news reports about the Mediterranean diet study just published in the New England Journal of Medicine. People who eat lots of beans, nuts, fish, vegetables and fruits, use extra virgin olive oil and drink wine with meals have a lower