The Best Italian & Italian-American Recipes on the Internet
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 & …
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 …
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 …
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 …
When I was in New York City a couple of weeks ago I ducked into a deli for a beef brisket sandwich before heading to the airport to come back home. Unfortunately, the sandwich sucked. I left most of it uneaten on the plate. Back …
Here’s an Italian twist on the wildly popular grilled cheese sandwich, mozzarella in carozza (mozzarella in a cart). My Dad made this Neapolitan treat when I was a kid and I still make it often. You have to construct the “cart” to carry the mozzarella. I …
Why go out for a “romantic” dinner on Valentine’s Day? The restaurants are crazy busy. Why tolerate the hassle of overbooked places and food pouring out of an overworked kitchen? All you’ll get is agita (heartburn). Don’t go out. Stay home and cook Valentine’s Day …
I’m in New York City and meeting up with friends. On a brisk, sunny Saturday morning we’re off to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, the true NYC Little Italy. We’ll spend the day cooking together, eating and drinking in northern Jersey. But first we have …
You know how much I love eggplant and this is one of my favorite dishes. On my restaurant’s menu in the 80s, Eggplant Rollatini was a popular main dish. I ate it often at the end of the evening service. Make the marinara sauce, fry …
What do you expect from a guy in San Francisco’s Italian North Beach who hopes the Lombardi Trophy comes home with the 49ers? Here’s an Italian-American appetizer for your Super Bowl buffet that sports the Niner’s red and gold. The meatballs are easy to make and …
This is getting to be a habit. Another gathering of friends and another request to bring an appetizer. “No meat and no cheese please, and make sure the appetizer is “finger food.” OK, I’ll take the challenge. I’ve been thinking about these stuffed pepper roll-ups …
Oscar Worthy “Moonstruck” Eggs
In anticipation of tomorrow night’s Academy Awards I cooked up some Oscar-worthy eggs this morning. Ever see Norman Jewison’s 1987 movie about a Brooklyn Italian-American family? “Moonstruck” won Oscars for Olympia Dukakis and Cher. There’s a kitchen scene where Dukakis is making these eggs for …