Cooking
It's been twenty years since I've been in Italy and in some ways it feels like I never left. That's why I chose this photo instead of any of the other 200 photos I have shot in the last two days. It somehow captures the timeless spirit of the place. Yes, it's been two days of exploring Naples and Caserta and Sorrento again. This time I am older and my Italian a bit rusty but still it is a joy to be visiting this lovely region with it's sunshine and views of the bay of Naples and the gorgeous and bountiful landscapes with roaming animals and abundant produce. Most of all it is a joy to be experiencing the passion of the residents of Campania again. Twenty years ago after feeling like a second class citizen in Florence I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers I experienced in both Naples and Sorrento and the same is true this time around.
I have eaten paccheri pasta and fresh mozzarella and sfogliatelle pastries more times than I can count and enjoyed it all. A lot. I have seen a bit of opera, climbed Mount Vesuvius and talked to a professor about the significance of pizza in Naples. Dottore Mattozzi also told me about his family's pizzeria about the two systems of credentials bestowed in regards to pizza and his experiences as a child during the war. He shared the thrill of eating canned corned beef and candy American soldiers brought to him and his starving family as if it were yesterday. All the while we dined on the most exquisite fried and ricotta stuffed zucchini blossoms I have ever eaten. I have so many stories to tell. I promise to get to more of them in time.
- A16 Turns 10
A16 restaurant is celebrating a 10 year anniversary. That’s a huge accomplishment in any city, especially San Francisco. A16 focuses on the food and wine of Southern Italy. When it opened, the idea of a regional Italian restaurant was a bit of an anomaly...
- A Culinary Vacation In Campania
It's hard to believe it was a year ago I travelled to Campania to eat, explore and enjoy. I saved many of my discoveries for an article and slide show that is now up on Epicurious. Please head over for a peek at A Culinary Vacation in Campania, The...
- Bello Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano
There is good food everywhere. That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. In some places it is easier than others, to find something delicious. Sorrento is a pretty tourist town just a stone's throw from Naples. Orange trees pop up through...
- Contest Winners
Here are the answers to yesterdays quiz: What's the most popular cheese on a pizza in Ohio? A. Parmesan B. Ricotta C. Mozzarella D. Provolone What's the signature pizza in Boston? A. Pepperoni B. Clam and Garlic C. Mozzarella and Basil D. Lobster...
- Pizza Contest
Italy may be the birthplace of pizza, but it's plenty popular here in the U.S. where there are over 61,000 pizzerias, and 350 slices of pizza are consumed a second. Just how much do you know about American pizza? Take the quiz below and find out....
Cooking
Grazie, Napoli!
It's been twenty years since I've been in Italy and in some ways it feels like I never left. That's why I chose this photo instead of any of the other 200 photos I have shot in the last two days. It somehow captures the timeless spirit of the place. Yes, it's been two days of exploring Naples and Caserta and Sorrento again. This time I am older and my Italian a bit rusty but still it is a joy to be visiting this lovely region with it's sunshine and views of the bay of Naples and the gorgeous and bountiful landscapes with roaming animals and abundant produce. Most of all it is a joy to be experiencing the passion of the residents of Campania again. Twenty years ago after feeling like a second class citizen in Florence I was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers I experienced in both Naples and Sorrento and the same is true this time around.
I have eaten paccheri pasta and fresh mozzarella and sfogliatelle pastries more times than I can count and enjoyed it all. A lot. I have seen a bit of opera, climbed Mount Vesuvius and talked to a professor about the significance of pizza in Naples. Dottore Mattozzi also told me about his family's pizzeria about the two systems of credentials bestowed in regards to pizza and his experiences as a child during the war. He shared the thrill of eating canned corned beef and candy American soldiers brought to him and his starving family as if it were yesterday. All the while we dined on the most exquisite fried and ricotta stuffed zucchini blossoms I have ever eaten. I have so many stories to tell. I promise to get to more of them in time.
- A16 Turns 10
A16 restaurant is celebrating a 10 year anniversary. That’s a huge accomplishment in any city, especially San Francisco. A16 focuses on the food and wine of Southern Italy. When it opened, the idea of a regional Italian restaurant was a bit of an anomaly...
- A Culinary Vacation In Campania
It's hard to believe it was a year ago I travelled to Campania to eat, explore and enjoy. I saved many of my discoveries for an article and slide show that is now up on Epicurious. Please head over for a peek at A Culinary Vacation in Campania, The...
- Bello Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano
There is good food everywhere. That's my theory and I'm sticking with it. In some places it is easier than others, to find something delicious. Sorrento is a pretty tourist town just a stone's throw from Naples. Orange trees pop up through...
- Contest Winners
Here are the answers to yesterdays quiz: What's the most popular cheese on a pizza in Ohio? A. Parmesan B. Ricotta C. Mozzarella D. Provolone What's the signature pizza in Boston? A. Pepperoni B. Clam and Garlic C. Mozzarella and Basil D. Lobster...
- Pizza Contest
Italy may be the birthplace of pizza, but it's plenty popular here in the U.S. where there are over 61,000 pizzerias, and 350 slices of pizza are consumed a second. Just how much do you know about American pizza? Take the quiz below and find out....