Tag: italian-american

A Peek Inside Capos on Vallejo

A Peek Inside Capos on Vallejo

Tony Gemignani’s Capos in the former Pucinella Pizzeria space on North Beach’s Vallejo Street is taking shape. The brick facade on the front of the building is in place. Soon a big black awning will hang out over the sidewalk. A beautiful custom-built wood Art 

Frittata: Italian Egg, Sausage and Potato Pie

Frittata: Italian Egg, Sausage and Potato Pie

Frittata, an Italian egg pie with potatoes and roasted sausage. Use the basic recipe and include your favorite ingredients. You can have a flavorful fritatta on the table in about 20 minutes.

Pasta Primavera: Bowtie Pasta with Spring Vegetables

Pasta Primavera: Bowtie Pasta with Spring Vegetables

The farmers markets are overflowing with early spring vegetables so I just had to make Pasta Primavera, farfalle (bowtie) pasta with just-arrived asparagus, fava beans and sweet peas. Pasta Primavera is a classic Italian-American dish concocted by Sirio Maccioni and made famous at his Le 

Discovering North Beach–A Post From Italia

Discovering North Beach–A Post From Italia

Nuok is an Italian travel, art and food site. A recent post by Alessandra Maffei who lives in Roma celebrates North Beach. “The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley so great that I thought I was in a dream.” is Alessandra’s 

An Easter Dinner Menu for You

An Easter Dinner Menu for You

Here’s a 4-course Easter dinner suggestion. I even threw in Italian wine pairings. Follow my easy video demonstrations and text recipes (a fan suggests I call these “videocipes” or “recideos”) and make dinner for yourself. Bake the 2 traditional Easter Pies the day before and let them sit 

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 

Grandma’s in the Kitchen

Grandma’s in the Kitchen

Not mine and maybe not yours but if you’re on Staten Island you can savor the cooking of a real nonna (grandmother) born in Italia at local restaurant Enoteca Maria. No chefs here. Every night one of a stable of 9 grandmothers is in the 

St. Joseph’s Day Is Coming! Make Zeppole

St. Joseph’s Day Is Coming! Make Zeppole

March 19 is St. Joseph’s Day, also Father’s Day in Italy. It’s the time of year to make a special sweet, Zeppole di San Giuseppe. You find zeppole all over Italia this time of year. Each region makes them in their own way. In North 

Pizza Championship In Vegas Next Week

Pizza Championship In Vegas Next Week

Do you have what it takes to be a World Pizza Champion? I just may have to fly to Vegas for the World Pizza Championship & Games on March 13 to find out. Everyone in the pizza biz will be there. There are 5 events in the 

CSI in the Kitchen

CSI in the Kitchen

Have you ever craved a dish your Mama made for you? Did you eat a dish in a restaurant that you just had to make yourself? Can’t get the recipe? I read an interesting article last week about everyday kitchen detectives re-creating lost family dishes 

Italian Wedding Soup: Chicken and Escarole Soup with Veal Meatballs

Italian Wedding Soup: Chicken and Escarole Soup with Veal Meatballs

Chicken and escarole soup with tiny veal meatballs is an Italian-American classic often called the Italian Wedding Soup. It’s easy to make and it’s delicious.

A North Beach Valentine’s Day

A North Beach Valentine’s Day

Many of you have been reading last year’s Valentine’s Day post Accidental Heart a cute memory from when I was a kid in Jersey. It’s that time of year again. Valentine’s Day is next Tuesday. I’m not a big fan of going out for dinner on Valentine’s Day. It’s 

North Beach Italian Restaurant List

North Beach Italian Restaurant List

I found a Yelp list of North Beach Italian restaurants listed 1 to 50. Actually there aren’t 50 places. Some are listed more than once and a couple have closed. Before you get to the list and all of the comments I can’t help adding 

Caponata Siciliana (Eggplant and Vegetable Cooked Salad)

Caponata Siciliana (Eggplant and Vegetable Cooked Salad)

I scored some beautiful small Italian eggplant at Union Street Produce so I just had to make caponata. I love this flavor-packed sweet-sour eggplant side dish (condimento) from Sicilia. Usually I make caponata during the summer when the eggplant and tomatoes are at their prime. I 

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