The Best Italian & Italian-American Recipes on the Internet
I’ll be in Rome and Naples soon so I’ve been cooking dishes from both cities to get ready for the trip. Here’s another Roman favorite that would be at home in Naples as well. The Romans prefer long pasta in their chickpea soup and the …
La Vignarola, stewed spring vegetables, is a simple dish that’s a real crowd-pleaser in Rome this time of year and you can be eating some in about 30 minutes. Quickly braise each of the 3 spring vegetables separately. Brown guanciale or pancetta with a little …
4 North Beach places own top spots in 2 recent San Francisco best sandwich lists. Molinari’s and Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store are on both lists, Eater SF’s Most Iconic Sandwiches and Sean Timberlake’s Citysearch Guide’s Best Italian Sandwiches. Giordano Brothers and L’osteria del Forno are …
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 …
Natale con i tuoi, la Pasqua con chi vuoi, Christmas at home and Easter with whomever you wish” is an old Italian saying. Friends are coming to my place for Easter dinner next Sunday. I’m making 2 traditional Easter deep-dish pies from Naples that will bookend …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …