michele becci

Aompany coming? Impress your guests with a spectacular timballo di riso, a Sicilian dish named after the mold in which it is typically made. The preparation can be a bit time-consuming but the result is worth the effort – a …

I was re-arranging my pantry recently and found a package of Sardinian fregola. Memories came flooding back of my trip to this wonderful island back in 2008 and, as importantly, to the amazing food of the island.   I had …

The beginning of Spring leaves me craving bright, beautiful sun-filled color in every corner of my world. And my kitchen is no exception. I return home from our local market with armloads of pomegranates and a very special treat when …

In our market in Montalcino last week, the Winter array of radicchios were on full display. Tucked in alongside the Winter squashes and bright piles of oranges, were piles of radicchio with long tender leaves that curl upon themselves, and …

A friend recently brought me the precious gift of a jar of Sicilian pistachio cream made from the pistachios of Bronte. Almost as soon as she was out the door, I had a spoon at the ready to taste this …

As the season cycles back to Fall and the air begins to chill, the Italian table is frequently graced with delicious roasts that highlight the flavors of the season.  Simple meats are elevated with the flavors of Autunno, whether stuffed …

As summer draws to a close, most of us have cleared out our garden beds either to let them rest for the winter months or turn them over for fall crops.  But many of us still have that one huge …

Leftover wine from that party last eve? Don’t toss it – make these simple Italian cookies instead.  I first came to learn of these wonderful little cookies during a cooking class at Locanda Demetra in Montalcino.  Leftover wine from their …

I tend to shy away from making meatloaf at home. Growing up, my mother made meatloaf a lot.  In fact, she made it almost every Wednesday. Now, she was an amazing cook but truth be told, her meatloaf was simply …

The year was 1921, the place Ellis Island. My maternal grandmother, single, arrives into port from Napoli on the ship Patria to be with her sister Concetta, living in Brooklyn. My grandfather, who had come to America in 1911 from …