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 

A Post-Thanksgiving Melting Pot Dinner

A Post-Thanksgiving Melting Pot Dinner

Two branches of the family gathered in northern Jersey to enjoy a great Italian-American meal with a Syrian twist.

A Jersey Thanksgiving

A Jersey Thanksgiving

We’re all gathered in northern Jersey for our Italian-American Thanksgiving dinner, 3 generations in the kitchen today. My sister Rose and her daughter Wendy are in charge, I’m just the sous chef. RoRo has been rocking in the kitchen since 7 this morning and barking 

Free Recipe: Salsa Verde (Green Herb Sauce)

Free Recipe: Salsa Verde (Green Herb Sauce)

A really versatile condiment that you can serve with vegetables, fish or meat.

Italian-American Thanksgiving – Roasted Turkey, Chestnut-Sausage Stuffing, and Gravy

Italian-American Thanksgiving – Roasted Turkey, Chestnut-Sausage Stuffing, and Gravy

Recipes for Italian-American roasted turkey, chestnut and sausage stuffing and turkey gravy.

Giardiniera (Pickled Vegetables)

Giardiniera (Pickled Vegetables)

Giardiniera, flavorful marinated vegetables, is a staple in the Italian kitchen. Make up a batch. Great on sandwiches or on an antipasti platter. It’s versatile!

Weekend Recipe: Cioppino

Weekend Recipe: Cioppino

Cioppino has been on my mind lately. Some of my fans asked me to share my recipe so I just had to make it today. Cioppino is a San Francisco original created by the Italians on Fisherman’s Wharf in the 1800s. The local story is 

Friday Recipe: Roasted Pork Tenderloin & Toy Box Tomato Salad

Friday Recipe: Roasted Pork Tenderloin & Toy Box Tomato Salad

The toughest part of this meal is cutting the toy box tomatoes in half. You can be eating dinner in about an hour. The crusty, tender slices of pork tenderloin are bathed in a pan sauce scented with garlic, sage and rosemary. The marinated toy 

Friday Recipe: Halibut Roasted in Parchment

Friday Recipe: Halibut Roasted in Parchment

A simple healthy dish that can be made in a jiffy any time of the year.

Strawberry Liqueur (Liquore di Fragole)

Strawberry Liqueur (Liquore di Fragole)

When I can’t stand the cold winter rain anymore a sip of this aromatic nectar with a kick does the trick.

Village News: Is It Fall Yet? North Beach Festa Italiana & Pizza

Village News: Is It Fall Yet? North Beach Festa Italiana & Pizza

Saturday’s annual SF Italian Athletic Club’s Festa Coloniale Italiana on North Beach’s Washington Square was quite an event–food stalls, wine tastings, live music, even a fountain temporarily installed in the Club’s ballroom.

Tulare Giant Plum Crostata

Tulare Giant Plum Crostata

We’re nearing the end of summer and the plums have been superb. I wanted a final plum celebration to tide me over until next season.

Village News: North Beach Labor Day & Gianni’s Best Burger

Village News: North Beach Labor Day & Gianni’s Best Burger

The purple fingerling potatoes are for a salad and the heirloom, cuke and onion for another. Sweet white corn may end up on the Labor Day table.

Friday Recipe: Tomato & Onion Focaccia

Friday Recipe: Tomato & Onion Focaccia

The tiny tomatoes glistened like jewels. They inspired a gift to celebrate late August in San Francisco–a red and gold cherry tomato and young onion focaccia.

North Beach Sunday Farmer’s Market

North Beach Sunday Farmer’s Market

Sunday was a chilly, foggy morning and the Village was still abuzz. North Beach denizens flocked to the Farmer’s Market near the library (Columbus/Mason).