Month: February 2022

Antipasti

Stuffed Mushrooms

These will fill your house with the most delectable aroma! We typically served these at Easter and Thanksgiving—though they’re great any time of year. In fact, whenever I see huge mushrooms at the market, I generally can’t resist. As with all stuffed dishes, you can add whatever you have in the fridge. In this case, […]

Butter-based, Primi

Farfalle with Salmon

This is another dish of my own creation. It’s a nice dish to eat al fresco on a warm summer night—but I often serve it with the Christmas Eve feast. (My dad, on the other hand, would typically make spaghetti with a crab marinara, made with crabs he had caught and frozen over the summer). […]

Antipasti

Mozzarella in Carrozza

After graduating college, I worked in an Italian restaurant to save up money for a trip to Europe. The restaurant was new, and they needed staff. I exaggerated my qualifications—because I didn’t have any—but I spoke some Italian to the chef/owner during our brief interview. So he hired me as a busboy. After a few […]

Contorni

Sautéed Spinach

Spinach is really quite simple to prepare. Unfortunately, it gets a bad rap because many people overcook it, which results in a rather unappetizing lump of green mush. So be careful! As with many dark leafy vegetables, it comes into season in winter in SoCal and spring in other regions. Always buy produce in season—it’s […]