Adri Barr Crocetti

Braises of beef have been stalwarts of Italian cuisine for hundreds of years.  Once the province of home cooks, these dishes are now making appearances in fine dining restaurants across the country.  Whether you use inexpensive chunks of beef stew …

Behold the blood orange, that most glorious citrus. It makes wonderfully refreshing sorbetto and delightful gelato, frozen desserts at their best. Blood oranges are somewhat smaller than standard sweet oranges and typically sport a rough, somewhat dark skin.  They are offshoots, …

The culinary traditions of Abruzzo’s pastoral land reach back through the ages. Perhaps Abruzzo’s most famous contribution to Italy’s pantheon of pasta is maccheroni alla chitarra, but another of Italy’s culinary traditions is a favorite here too, ravioli. This is …

When I was little, helping my grandmother make pasta was my idea of a good time.  With her deft hands she transformed flour and eggs into silken pasta sheets so thin I could see through them.  I look back now …

Polenta, the gift from the new world to the old, and a gift from my grandmother to me.  This was a favorite dish of my father, William Anthony Crocetti.  It was a staple, one of those humble, family-style dishes that …

Somehow I can’t leave Sicily behind and I’m hooked on Averna Amaro Siciliano.  Call me pazza per gli amari.   I love this genre of liquor; with its complex interplay of flavors, Averna in particular has captured both my heart …

Italians have a way with vegetables.  Whether it’s a slow stovetop sauté or a hot roast in a fast oven, Italian vegetable cookery shows off the genius of the cuisine.  Try this savory twist on the crostata, the classic free …

For an afternoon snack, an accompaniment to an after-dinner glass of wine, or tidbits for surprise guests, these biscotti are perfect. Not too sweet, and great for dunking, these little cookies bear a distinct resemblance to Sicily’s famous Biscotti di …

Spring is here, and how about greeting it with a Meringata? This simple dessert is composed of two disks of ethereal meringue, baked to a delicate crispiness, and filled with a layer of sweetened, chocolate-flecked whipped cream. The technique is …

With holiday feasting over, we are all looking for lighter, yet nutritious food.  Take a look back into history and meet the humble cicerchie, Lathyrus sativus.  This hearty legume with a woodsy flavor has a tradition that can be traced …