La Buona Tavola

Eggplant parmigiana: when I used to live abroad, it was one of my culinary cavalli di battaglia. Simple to make enough to be thrown together on a weeknight, yet full of Italian va-va-voom. Eggplant, a staple of our national cuisine …

It’s the beginning of October and our markets are full of autumnal produce, from pumpkins to pears, and it’s easy to forget that summer vegetables like peppers and tomatoes are still very much in season. So why not make use …

From the city of Taranto in the region of Puglia comes this simple but tasty take on mussels, cozze alla tarantina, or Mussels Taranto Style. Taranto has been famous for its exquisite mussels since ancient times when their deliciousness was praised by …

Up north, some villages could be under a blanket of snow driven by harsh winds. Down south, most towns bask in warm sunshine brushed by gentle breezes. The climate may vary, but all of Italy embraces one common denominator during …

This week we have a dish especially appealing for these chilly autumn evenings: spezzatino di maiale e zucca, or pork and pumpkin stew, featuring two seasonal ingredients playing a lovely duo of savory and sweet notes. Although the Italian word …

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…Jack Frost nipping at your nose. Opening line in “The Christmas Song.” When late singer-songwriter Mel Torme composed those lyrics 77 years ago, he perhaps envisioned the dark brown nuts roasting on stands at street …

Italian Heritage Month has just passed, but we’d like to remain focused on Italian-American food for one more week, instead of giving you a traditional Old-Italy recipe as we usually do. Today, we have a real crowd-pleaser: baked ziti. True …

Fall is the perfect time to invite friends and family over to get their hands messy and have your own personal pizza party. Pizza is the perfect food to make with a group. It’s easy. It’s fun and it’s a great …

When temperatures reach astronomical highs as they have done lately, I often turn to salads for sustenance. To me, they’re the ideal hot weather food. Not only do you generally serve them chilled or at room temperature, but they’re quickly thrown together …

The mere mention of pistachios evokes a variety of visions. Cooks use them in almost anything and everything. Sports fans consider them a perfect snack while watching a ballgame on TV. Nutritionists say they are abundant in vitamins. In the …