La Buona Tavola

It’s wintertime, and around my house that means long, slow meat braises. It’s my pleasure to share with you my family’s favorite cold weather meal, Brasato al Barolo. Fork-tender chuck roast braised in a full bottle of Barolo wine will …

Treat your holiday guests to ripe pears cloaked in sweet pastry set atop a pool of rich caramel sauce.  Add an Italian accent with a scoop of vanilla gelato and an elegant flourish of Italian gold leaf.   Indeed, Italians’ …

August is tomato time.  Each year in early Spring I always plant more than we’ll ever eat.  But I can’t resist names like Cuore di Bue, Costoluto Fiorentino, Principe Borghese and more.  I fill my orto with tiny seedlings that …

Italian cuisine is well known for superb vegetable cookery.  Stuffed vegetables, found across Italy, and known as verdure farcite, are a particular favorite.  This versatile method starts with large or small vegetables that serve as a vessel to hold a …

In the region of Campania, approximately one hour from Salerno and a stone’s throw from the ancient Greek ruins of Paestum, you will find the home of a local specialty, mozzarella i latte di bufala …mozzarella made from the milk …

Save your energy for visiting with your guests with this simple brunch menu.  Instead of the usual Bloody Mary, serve your guests a Bloody Monty.  This drink, based on Amaro Montenegro, is ideal for brunch.  Nibble on Crostini with Gorgonzola …

Cold weather stalwarts, farro, aromatic vegetables, cannellini beans, and butternut squash come together to make zuppa di farro (farro soup), a soup so rich and thick it could well be called a stew.  The backbone of this dish is farro …

It’s fall, time to plan for Thanksgiving.  Get a jump on your family’s feast by making these delightful cappellacci, pasta hats. Start with sheets of Emilia-Romagna’s famous pasta sfoglia, egg dough rolled so thinly you can see through it.  The …

To the east of Rome lies Abruzzo, one of the hidden gems among the patchwork that is Italy.  A sparsely populated land of stunning natural beauty and ancient customs, the motto of Abruzzo is Forte e gentile, a strong land …

Summer is on the wane, and the tomatoes are finished.  That means out with salsa checca and in with all manner of cooked sauces for weeknight pasta dishes.  With just a little advance work, this one comes together right on …