Garlic

Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe (Orecchiette alle Cime di Rapa) is an iconic and treasured dish from the region of Puglia. I adore it. For one thing, it includes one of my favorite pasta shapes of all time – fresh orecchiette. I love making them and I certainly love eating them! They are little whimsical cups of joy filled with tasty sauce. Then there is broccoli rabe – another ingredient I can’t get enough of. Not only is it an utterly scrumptious vegetable but it’s incredibly good for you (win-win). Then, you season those already glorious ingredients with extra virgin olive …

Spring has arrived but there is still a chill in the air. Before it gets too warm, I want to share a delightful and delicious soup recipe with you from the beautiful region of Abruzzo (and also Molise). Sagne e Ceci is a fresh pasta and chickpea soup seasoned with garlic, rosemary, and bay leaf. Despite its rustic and humble nature, it is a very satisfying and inviting dish. It’s one of those Italian preparations that surprises you by tasting like so much more than it is. In my post, I’ll take you through all of the steps to prepare …

If you have been following me on Instagram, you know that I recently went to Molise for the first time. (My 18th region out of 20!) What I found there was natural beauty, warm, extremely generous people, excellent food and ingredients, great wine, and… pampanella! What is pampanella you ask? It’s something you need in your life – that’s what it is! Pampanella is a spicy, luscious, rich, and utterly craveable roast pork dish from a town called San Martino in Pensilis. I am ecstatic to tell you about this unheard-of dish and share a recipe for this scrumptiousness. Spice …

Seppie al Nero alla Veneziana is a glorious, dramatic, and scrumptious dish of cuttlefish (a cousin of squid) stewed in its own ink. It is one of my favorite Venetian dishes. The black ink with its taste of the sea, combined with a few aromatics, creates a magical sauce that is both simple and luscious at the same time. Traditionally, it is served on a bed of polenta as a main course or on spaghetti as a primo. Either way, it is heavenly and special. Happily, I was taught how to prepare it recently by a Venetian grandmother. I can …

Bagna Cauda from Piedmont is one of those iconic dishes that you come across repeatedly when you read about Italian cuisine. What it is, at its simplest, is a warm sauce of garlic and anchovies slowly cooked in extra virgin olive oil until soft and luscious, served in autumn with seasonal raw and cooked vegetables. It’s not just a dish but a communal event shared with friends and family. (Red wine flowing…) If you hear the recipe described – it doesn’t necessarily sound appealing or interesting at first. However, once you taste it and experience a proper Bagna Cauda, it …