Author: Gianni

Friday Recipe: Hot or Mild? A Quick Paprika Pasta Sauce Your Way!

Friday Recipe: Hot or Mild? A Quick Paprika Pasta Sauce Your Way!

Paprika loves fat. And you’re gonna love this recipe, whether you choose to make it spicy or mild.

Yes, North Beach is Making a Comeback

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

Jersey Shore Is So Much More

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

Friday Recipe: da Flora’s Arancini with a Spicy Aioli

Friday Recipe: da Flora’s Arancini with a Spicy Aioli

All of those who gathered at my private Sunday dinner at da Flora raved about our il pranzo. The women at da Flora were at the top of their game!

Team Building Fun

Team Building Fun

A group of 15 who work together at IGT in San Francisco asked me to do a team building pizza demonstration for them. We gathered at Cookhouse for a few fun-filled hours. I put together an antipasti with salumi and cheeses, roasted peppers, olives and 

Bistecca alla Pizzaiola (Steak in a Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Bistecca alla Pizzaiola (Steak in a Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Rib-eye, San Marzanos, roasted potatoes, and escarole, in one hour.

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

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

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 

Friday Recipe: Ribollita (Twice-Boiled Vegetable Soup)

Friday Recipe: Ribollita (Twice-Boiled Vegetable Soup)

I’ve eaten a lot of the classic Tuscan soup Ribollita (re-boiled). This is one of the best I’ve had.

You Need to Chill, North Beach

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

Pollo Oreganata (Chicken and Vegetables Roasted with Oregano)

Pollo Oreganata (Chicken and Vegetables Roasted with Oregano)

A zesty dish from Campania that you can have on the table in about an hour.

North Beach Primavera: Yo-Yos, Stonefruit and Tanks!

North Beach Primavera: Yo-Yos, Stonefruit and Tanks!

Come and meet up with me in the Village of North Beach today!

More Rules

More Rules

Rule #6: The Food Drives Me Crazy Food shapes every day constantly slipping into conversations and dictating our touring plans. It’s just that way in Italia. We discuss what’s for dinner before lunch is done. Rule #7: No Hotels Rent an apartment and get into 

Vicoletto: A Calabria Celebration

Vicoletto: A Calabria Celebration

Met Francesco Covucci from Vicoletto on Green at NoodleFest where I did 2 fresh pasta demonstrations. His restaurant’s fresh tagliatelle with pork rib tomato sugo blew me away. Here he is making the pasta. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2011/05/01/BAU41J8NMS.DTL&object=%2Fc%2Fpictures%2F2011%2F04%2F30%2Fba-noodlefest_ph_0503385511.jpg It took me a couple of weeks to get to 

Friday Recipe: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

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.