A Daytrip to Italy
March 13, 2011
Well almost. At least as close as I’ve ever come to Italy without actually hopping on a plane. A few friends and I ventured to Arthur Ave in the Bronx on Saturday. I have heard great things about the authentic food selections available, but have yet to make the trek uptown. And it was well worth it. We quite possibly may have eaten enough in that one afternoon and evening to compensate for an entire week’s worth of food. Hence why this post has an overabundance of photos, I couldn’t bare to leave anything out. After carting back as many bags as possible, we prepared a meal of some of the best cheeses, meats, calamari, pasta and desserts.
Fresh Bread
Cosenza's Fish Market
Oysters on the half shell. We only bought 3 rounds. They were that good.
Casa Della Mozzarella. After purchasing 2 1/2 pounds of cheese, they gave us more fresh mozzarella in case we couldn't wait until we got home. Amazing,
Biancardi Meats behind the scenes where all the prep goes down
Biancardi Meats
Borgatti's prepping some fresh pasta for us
Arthur Ave Market
Provolone, Mozzarella, Sliced ricotta cheese, bread and tomatoes topped off with fresh basil from the farmer's market
Focaccia and fresh mozzarella
Canolli from Egidio's
Tomatoes and Ricotta
Frying up some calamari from Cosenza's
Winter Hor d’oeuvres
January 3, 2011
Before my holiday break came to an end, I enjoyed my final day in Syracuse relaxing and snacking on toasted cheese and my father’s famous spanakopitas by the fireplace. While his recipe consists of the traditional spinach and feta cheese combo wrapped in triangles of filo pastry sheets, he adds a topping of raspberry jam that is just the right amount to satisfy your sweet tooth. A perfect treat for a damp winter day.
Honey & swiss cheese on toast with a side of mixed nuts and blueberries
Spanakopitas with raspberry jam
Welcome
November 19, 2010
A traditional Sunday meal with friends at Lucia's casa.
Fruit smoothies at a café on a rainy Milan day.
Salads, fruits and cheese at Seebad on Lake Luzern. While in Zurich, I had time to spare while my friend was at work, so enjoyed an afternoon at a neighboring town, basking in the Swiss sun at this bathhouse with an amazing view.
A fresh loaf of bread from Jones Dairy café. A hidden gem on a side street off Columbia Road, host of London's Sunday flower market. Quite possibly my favorite place in the world to be on a Sunday afternoon.
Modern English cuisine at the industrial chic, Wapping Project restaurant in East London. Once an old hydraulic power station, this half art/half dining venue was perfect for a dinner catch up with the old crew from Amelia's Magazine.
Hot summer evenings on my roof, with a pitcher of Pimms and Lemonade, garnishing the leftover fruit with mint, and smoked salmon bruschetta.
Mac and cheese at Montauk's Navy Beach for a mid-summer escape to show my friend from Sydney a taste of our local beaches and sunsets.
Lobster rolls at the restaurant at Rowayton's Seafood. While my parents were in town visiting we spent a day dining by the Long Island Sound.
A backyard barbeque in Brooklyn at my friend, Geordie's home. All vegetables and mint for the mojitos grown locally, right from the back garden.
Fresh vegetables
An italian dinner at Margherita's Pizza & Café in Hoboken. I love taking summer ferry rides across the Hudson to relax, enjoy the view of the city and visit my friend, Beth.
Sandwiches, soups and salads at Cathryn's in Cold Spring, NY with some friends to celebrate my birthday and explore the small town about an hour north of the city.
Perfect autumn meals
And the party continued back in the city as we prepared stuffed squash boats, roasted potatoes and much more for a dinner party that evening.
The ingredients for the feast
Fresh fruit from Santa Monica's farmers market. By far the best fruit I've ever tasted.
While taking a mid-October break out on the west coast, we prepared a dinner with a couple old friends, new friends and family. Buying fresh from the market, we enjoyed pumpkin pasta, prosciutto wrapped pears and roasted potatoes.
a camera in the kitchen 