Russian Salad is a very well known dish in Italy and was invented in the 1860’s by Lucien Olivier, a Moscow restaurateur of French origin.  Over time it has undergone many changes – it was known as Genovese Salad, and was considered one of the main dishes of Ligurian aristocratic gala dinners. And Italians have changed […]

Got the shopping list, dropped my son and next-door neighbours’ kids at school and heading like every Saturday morning to the farmer’s shop, north towards the hills. A plain, middle-aged woman with mud on her shoes will attend me in a 20 sq. meter barn transformed into a grocer’s shop. “Buongiorno signora come sta?”, she asks. […]

I’ll be honest – I always keep a nice pork loin in my freezer! I find it is very versatile, and in my little cookery experience, I’ve made it several different ways. But my favorite and especially for my husband Manuele is Maiale in Crosta/ Pork Loin in Pastry Crust. This recipe, adapted from Benedetta Parodi, […]

Mother’s Day! My son wanted to celebrate this day dedicated to all mothers in a special way by baking some biscuits for me. We chose some really “tempting” biscuits which are easy to make and are prepared with three simple ingredients – butter, sugar and flour. Their name literally means “cat’s tongue” as their shape […]

Gorgonzola cheese is one of my most favourite foods! The taste of Gorgonzola is a mix between savory and sweet- wonderful! Its history traces back to the year 879 AD  to town of Gorgonzola, near Milan and was first called the  “stracchino di Gorgonzola” or “stracchino verde”.  Made from cow’s milk, the main characteristic of Gorgonzola is the […]

The legend says that one day a group of Lanzichenecchis looters (mercenary soldiers from the 14th century) arrived at a South Tyrolean farm and the commander threatened to set fire to the farm and house if they were not fed immediately. The peasant farm woman was home alone with her daughters and unafraid, she went to work. […]

How many times have we exclaimed in front of an empty refrigerator and pantry, “Oh my gosh, what am I going to cook tonight!??”  Well here is a great “dinner saver” that will get you out of a panic-stricken situation in less than 15 minutes.  Every home has some left over breadloaf in the cupboard […]

Easter is the most important holy feast in the Christian religion and comes 40 days after Lent when we give up something we enjoy as a form of penance.  And in Italy, there are more than 3,000 celebrations from the north to the south including processions, religious rites, sacred representations, festivals and folk traditions. Entire villages […]

There’s a terrific cooking school in New York, the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), which along with its professional culinary program, offers hundreds of recreational cooking classes.  I’ve  enjoyed every class I’ve taken, but my favorite ones are Italian (surprise!). And my favorite Italian cooking instructor is Daniel Rosati who in addition to teaching at […]

I know, I know…Brie cheese isn’t Italian…and this isn’t technically a recipe either, it’s more just a simple combination of ingredients. But Brie is so darn good wrapped in flaky puff pastry and baked until hot and golden and oozing – and topped with a magnificent mostarda, it’s heaven.  Just because something is easy, doesn’t […]