North Beach Festival Next Weekend

North Beach Festival Next Weekend

The 58th Annual North Beach Festival is next weekend, June 16-17. Don’t miss this opportunity to revel in all that North Beach has to offer. The weather will be superb. Stroll Grant Avenue, the oldest street in San Francisco. Enjoy music, ranging from The Carol 

Open and Closed in North Beach

Open and Closed in North Beach

I’m back in the Village after a week out of town and was pleased to see the Capos sign was up. Capos is Tony Gemignani’s new place on Vallejo (between Stockton and Columbus). As Tony promised the vintage National cash register sits proudly on top 

Making the Same Pizza in North Beach for 77 Years

Making the Same Pizza in North Beach for 77 Years

North Beach’s Tommaso’s opened in 1935. The Crotti family bought it in 1973 and they’re still serving the original menu from 77 years ago. Agostino Crotti boasts that Tommaso’s was the first to have a wood-burning oven on the West Coast . “That’s written in the books.” 

Easter Savory and Sweet Ricotta Pies

Easter Savory and Sweet Ricotta Pies

The Spring holidays are upon us. Passover is covered. We’ll be at Joyce Goldstein’s Seder celebrating the Italian Jewish kitchen. (Our private table is full. Sorry to those of you who wanted to join us. Maybe next time.) Now I’m getting ready for Easter. I’m making 

SF Seder From The Roman Ghetto

SF Seder From The Roman Ghetto

I’m jazzed. San Francisco’s own world-famous Italian cook, teacher and author Joyce Goldstein is preparing a Seder at Perbacco on April 10. The roots of this meal are in Square One, Goldstein’s sorely missed Jackson Square restaurant. She first served a Seder meal there in 

Washington Square Park Now Complete

Washington Square Park Now Complete

There was just one shuttered space left on the blocks surrounding Washington Square Park. Now there are none. The historic Original Joe’s restaurant re-opened in North Beach Thursday more than four years after a fire shuttered its Taylor Street location in the Tenderloin.  “Joe’s Special,” a 

Broadway Corridor Coming Back

Broadway Corridor Coming Back

“It takes a village,” was the frequent refrain at a community meeting at Broadway Studios. The group gathered to develop a strategy to bring Broadway back. Call me crazy but after years of decline I think it’s happening. Maybe the transformation of Big Al’s sex 

SF Examiner in My Kitchen

SF Examiner in My Kitchen

Gianni’s North Beach was featured in a San Francisco Examiner article. The reporter and photographer joined me while we were filming our 3 new episodes.

Holidays in America

Holidays in America

Lidia Bastianich’s PBS special “Lidia Celebrates America: Holiday Tables and Traditions” is a celebration of family traditions, the common immigrant experience and the importance of food in 4 ethnic cultures. Watch it. You’ll feel good.

My Basil Pesto Gnocchi Is Too Green!

My Basil Pesto Gnocchi Is Too Green!

Olive Garden, Romano’s Marcaroni Grill, Buca di Beppo bastardize true Italian and Italian-American dishes. Stay away! Make your own easy, delicious authentic dishes.

Christmas Eve Feast of Seven Fishes (Cena di Vigilia)

Christmas Eve Feast of Seven Fishes (Cena di Vigilia)

UPDATE: There is now a video recipe for Cioppino, the simple and easy seven-fish San Francisco stew: WATCH NOW Italian-American families have their favorite dishes for Christmas Eve fish dinner – some serve 7 fish (for the 7 sacraments or 7 virtues), some serve 10 (for 

Is North Beach Shrinking?

Is North Beach Shrinking?

I was worried about the south side of Vallejo Street between Columbus and Stockton. There was an even mix of Italian and Chinese stores on that block. Then Pulcinella Pizzeria closed and I heard that Victoria Pastry (est. 1914) on the corner was moving to 

NYC’s Real Little Italy

NYC’s Real Little Italy

  I’m interested in the health of Italian-American communities across the country so I travelled from Manhattan to the outer borough of the Bronx to check out a neighborhood I’ve heard about for a long time but never visited. Arthur Avenue is a vibrant Italian community 

Song of Pulcinella Mural In Hiding

Song of Pulcinella Mural In Hiding

3 weeks to the day since the heavily damaged North Beach Song of Pulcinella mural was rescued from the dumpster and he’s back in his all his glory. Today we gathered at Emerald Tablet where the artist Vranas restored his mural. We had to position