Restaurateur and Italian food ambassador Simon Pagotto is back for another great chat! In the first part of the episode, Simon talks about commercial kitchens and how they differ with respect to domestic kitchens. For instance, he discusses timing, the ... Continue reading
Tag: spaghetti
[Thoughts on the Table – 60] The Basic Rules of Italian Food with David Scott Allen
Blogger and photographer David Scott Allen from Cocoa and Lavender is back on the podcast to discuss a guest article I wrote in collaboration with Diana Zahuranec and other bloggers on “The Basic Rules of Italian Food.” For instance, among ... Continue reading
Squash Risotto, a Comfort Dish for Winter
Squash risotto (or risotto con la zucca), is a traditional risotto common in all northern Italy. The squash gives an especially mealy texture, and a sweeter flavor to it, along of course with a beautiful orange color. But what is squash, exactly? Along ... Continue reading
My Guest Post on The Basic Rules of Italian Food
A few weeks ago, Diana Zahuranec, friend and recurring podcast guest, asked me if I was interested in writing a guest post for her blog: Once Upon a Time in Italy. Having lived in Italy for 5 years, Diana couldn’t help but notice that, when it ... Continue reading
Mediterranean Pasta with Capers, Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, and Mozzarella
This is a summer dish, but if you can find ripe cherry tomatoes, then it can be made every season. And it’s one of those pasta dishes where the sauce is so quick it can be made as the pasta cooks – my favorites when I don’t have time ... Continue reading
Egg and Smoked Scamorza Pasta – A Carbonara-Inspired Vegetarian Dish
This vegetarian dish is inspired by the renowned Carbonara. I would not call it “Vegetarian Carbonara” though, as there is no such thing in Italy. If you are interested in the original Roman dish, many Cannolo Award winners have recipes for ... Continue reading
Pasta alla Norma – A Sicilian First Course with Character
Pasta alla Norma is a staple Italian first course almost unknown in North America. The dish, native to Sicily, is especially known in southern Italy but can be found all around the country. Alla Norma sauce (likely named after the opera Norma, by ... Continue reading
Pasta Names Explained
In this atypical post, we will go over some of the most common pasta cuts and describe the origins of their names. We will use the following template: Italian Name (Literal Translation) Photograph* (photos are at scale) The root word that ... Continue reading
Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino – The Staple Midnight Pasta
Aglio (pronounced ‘ah-llyo’), Olio e Peperoncino (Garlic, Oil and Chili Pepper) is one of the simplest and most popular Italian pasta sauces, and one of the most delicious. Its simplicity is unmatched for showcasing perfectly cooked, ... Continue reading