“I’m not a chef, I’m Italian”- David Rocco


Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Una nuova vita in Guardia Sanframondi, Italia


Se mi avresti detto quattro anni fa che avrei proprio una casa in Italia, mai ti avrei creduto. Fortunatamente per me, che è come la mia storia ha rivelato. In un modo strano, mi sono ricordato di questo a causa di un abito...

Era solo quattro anni fa, quando prima ho viaggiato in Italia con mia madre a partecipare a un festival dell'Opera il resort stupenda isola d'Ischia, appena fuori della costa di Napoli. So che è un cliché, ma mi sono innamorato con l'Italia. Mi sono innamorato con la bellezza, la gente, la storia, lo stile di vita, il cibo; le cose semplici. Qualcosa di piccolo come una passeggiata al mercato giornaliero per alcuni pomodori freschi è diventato qualcosa che ho atteso con impazienza di tutti i giorni. Ho deciso quindi che sarebbe necessario tornare in Italia come spesso come ho potuto, ma ho solo bisogno di capire un piano.

Poco dopo essere tornato a New York dopo un mese in Ischia, io non era lo stesso. Ho lasciato un pezzo di me lì e ha iniziato a vedere tutto in modo diverso. Non ho più sentito a casa e ci siamo sentiti come un estraneo nella città che avevo conosciuto da quando sono nato. È stata una sensazione molto strana e non era abbastanza sicuri di cosa fare fuori di esso. Ogni giorno, ho pensato a Ischia, non ho potuto ottenere fuori della mia mente. Non ho potuto ottenere la bellezza dello stile di vita fuori dalla mia testa. La mia routine in Ischia era così rilassante; sveglia, avere un cornetto e un frappe in città, andare al mercato, hanno la mia mattina voce classi, un bellissimo pranzo del balcone con mozzarella fresca, pomodori, fagioli, pane e noci, prendere un breve sonnellino, nuotata, doccia, corsi serali o prestazioni, una grande passeggiata attraverso la città o dall'acqua, cena (a volte con gli amici), gelateria, un altro a piedi e letto. Era uno stile di vita che non avevo mai sperimentato. Venendo da New York, tutto è così veloce, non hai mai un attimo di respiro, è sempre lavorare lavorare lavorare, che cosa posso fare per fare soldi, come posso farlo, ma farlo più velocemente. Non c'è mai un momento di pace e mi sono reso conto dopo vivendo tale beatitudine, non ho più voluto la vita che avevo a New York e che incluso fare una transizione da opera ad una passione che ho avuto da quando ero piccola... cucina.

Avevo iniziato a studiare canto privatamente quando avevo solo 11 e ha avuto successo in età molto giovane, quando all'età di 17 anni sono stato invitato dal Metropolitan opere che portano il tenore Marcello Giordani a cantare come solista al concerto inaugurale per la sua nuova fondazione. Dopo anni di studio vigoroso, ho iniziato a perdere l'amore che ho avuto una volta per il canto e solo voglia di cantare per divertimento; Forse con alcuni amici fuori a cena o per una serata casuale in una grande piazza tranquilla in Italia (io riesco a quello in un altro post.) La routine di diventare un cantante non era più attraente per me e ho sentito che non era una misura per la mia personalità. Ho anche sentito che non mi ha permesso di esprimere la mia creatività in modo ritenuto naturale per me.
Da quel primo viaggio in Italia nel 2011, ho viaggiato in Italia nell'autunno del 2012 e 2013 (l'anno che ho studiato di cucina a Firenze) e l'anno che è stata veramente un punto di svolta, 2014.
L'anno 2014 è stato un grande anno per me, che avevo completamente fatto la transizione a tempo pieno di cucina. Nel 2012, avevo iniziato a scrivere un blog di cucina/stile di vita, La Cucina Della primadonna e da che avevo stato contattato per sviluppare le ricette e contribuire a vari libri di cucina. Ospitare cene a tema; come Alice nel paese delle meraviglie Tea Party o una cena di Carnevale veneziano e fornire servizi per eventi aziendali e lavorare con agenzie di pubblicità e pubbliche relazioni. Posso essere me stesso, pianificare il mio programma e ciò che più amo è che nessun due giorni sono gli stessi. Sempre sto progettando nuovi menu per eventi diversi, lo shopping per la nuova funzione, testare nuove ricette, è eccitante e dopo la routine dell'opera, eccitazione è esattamente quello che avevo voglia. Ho sempre amato cucinare, in realtà, più spesso, quando ero alle prove o lezioni, stavo pensando, casa e cottura. E quando vuoi andare a casa e cuocere, vorrei portare il cibo alle mie lezioni per i miei insegnanti o ai colleghi.

Così, torna a perché 2014 è stato l'anno che ha cambiato tutto. Io e mia madre avevamo fatto dei piani per tornare in Italia per alcuni mesi in modo che ho potuto fare qualche lavoro a Firenze e iniziare a stabilire lì con l'intenzione di stabilirsi alla fine lì a tempo pieno. Tutto ciò che avevamo impostato. Avevamo un appartamento affittato, avevo lavoro e interviste, esso è stato piallato tutto. Ma un giorno, mia madre stava guardando House Hunters International. Fu un episodio che ha avuto luogo in una città che non avevo mai sentito parlare di, chiamato Guardia Sanframondi.

E ' stato bellissimo, unico, fuori dal sentiero battuto e i prezzi delle case sono state completamente nel mio budget. Non avevo mai pensato di comprare una casa in Italia perché presumevo che mai potessi permettermelo. Ho pensato che vorrei affittare un piccolo appartamento a Firenze e che sarebbe bene. Ma una volta che mia madre ha visto questo, abbiamo avuto i nostri cuori impostato su esplorare questa pittoresca città medievale. Abbiamo tagliato corto una settimana a Firenze così che potessimo viaggiare a Guardia e iniziare la caccia casa. Eravamo solo in Guardia per sei giorni e ha lasciato per andare a Firenze. Abbiamo lasciato senza una casa, ma siamo partiti con molto più di quanto abbiamo immaginato che ci sarebbe. Abbiamo lasciato realizzando che abbiamo dovuto tornare indietro e trovare una casa lì. Ci siamo innamorati con Guardia. La gente, la città, le montagne, i panorami, l'aria, lo stile di vita, tutto. Questa è stata una città dove la gente ha detto "buongiorno" a vicenda semplicemente camminando per le strade. Dopo aver incontrato qualcuno una volta, avrebbero honk a voi e onda e offrire a darti un passaggio. I vicini lascerebbe frutta fresca ed erbe alla tua porta. Questa è stata una vera e propria comunità. Venendo da New York, questo era qualcosa che non avevo mai sperimentato. Una volta arrivati a Firenze dopo quelle belle giornate sei in Guardia, ci siamo sentiti come shock culturale. Io amo Florence, ma dopo aver vissuto in una comunità italiana, sapevo che era quello che volevo. Ancora una volta, abbiamo tagliato il nostro tempo a Firenze breve e restituito a Guardia per tre settimane per continuare la nostra ricerca. Poi ho trovato quello...

 
Storia divertente, il nostro ultimo giorno in Guardia durante quella prima settimana, dovevamo per vedere la casa che ho finito per comprare, ma a causa di qualche confusione con la lingua e non capire che ora e dove, non abbiamo mai visto la casa. Questo mi ha fatto pensare che questa casa era destinata a me.
 

Così, all'inizio della mia storia ho parlato di un vestito. Ho indossato prima quel vestito a Ischia solo quattro anni fa e questa mattina, ho messo quel vestito, levato in piedi sul mio balcone e poi ha preso la mia passeggiata in città al mercato. Mi ha ricordato quanto può cambiare. I miei capelli sono più brevi, il vestito è lo stesso, ma è cresciuto solo del mio amore e la passione per l'Italia.

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ora qui in Guardia per l'estate, avro' la mia casa pronta e prendendo tempo per rilassarsi e apprezzare tutto. Quando vado a casa mia mi fermo e guardare le montagne. Guardo una farfalla che si siede sui fiori. Vedo la stessa bella donna anziana a piedi su per le colline ogni giorno con la sua canna. Vedo due amici che parlano a vicenda da attraverso le strade sui loro balconi. Vedo la bellezza e la magia. Ho avuto così tanti "mi pizzichi" momenti, che non riesco a credere che questo è tutto vero. Vedo che cosa può accadere se si imposta il tuo cuore su qualcosa. La vita è breve e dobbiamo fare il più possibile mentre noi siamo qui. Se non siete felici con qualcosa, spetta a voi per cambiarlo. Vita può essere un sogno se è trasformarlo in una realtà e per mia fortuna, ho trovato quel sogno.

A New Life in Guardia Sanframondi, Italy


If you would have told me four years ago that I would own a house in Italy, I never would have believed you. Lucky for me, that is how my story has turned out. In a strange way, I was reminded of this because of a dress….

It was only four years ago when I first traveled to Italy with my mother to participate in an Opera festival on the gorgeous resort island of Ischia, just off the coast of Naples. I know it is a cliché, but I fell in love with Italy. I fell in love with the beauty, the people, the history, the lifestyle, the food; the simple things. Something as small as taking a walk to the daily market for some fresh tomatoes became something that I looked forward to everyday. I decided then that I would need to get back to Italy as often as I could, but I just needed to figure out a plan.

Soon after returning to NYC after a month in Ischia, I was not the same. I left a piece of myself there and started to see everything differently. I no longer felt at home and felt like a stranger in the city that I had known since I was born. It was a very odd feeling and I was not quite sure what to make off it. Every day, I thought about Ischia, I could not get it out of my mind. I could not get the beauty of the lifestyle out of my head. My routine in Ischia was so relaxing; wake up, have a cornetto and a frappe in town, go to the market, have my morning voice classes, a beautiful lunch of the balcony with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, beans, bread and nuts, take a brief nap, swim, shower, evening classes or performances, a big walk through the town or by the water, dinner (sometimes with friends), gelato, another walk and bed. It was a lifestyle I had never experienced. Coming from NYC, everything is so fast paced, you never have a minute to breath, it is always work work work, what can I do to make money, how can I do this but do it faster. There is never a moment of peace and I realized after experiencing such bliss, I no longer wanted the life I had in NYC and that included making a transition from opera to a passion I have had since I was little…cooking.

I had started studying voice privately when I was only 11 and had success at a very young age, when at 17 years old I was invited by the Metropolitan Operas leading tenor, Marcello Giordani to sing as a soloist at the inaugural concert for his new foundation. After years of vigorous study, I started to lose the love that I once had for singing and only want to sing for fun; maybe with some friends out to dinner or on a random evening in a big quiet piazza in Italy (I’ll get to that in another post). The routine of being a singer was no longer appealing to me and I felt it no longer was a fit for my personality. I also felt that it no longer allowed me to express my creativity in a way that felt natural for me.

Since that first trip to Italy in 2011, I traveled to Italy in the fall of 2012 and 2013 (the year that I studied cooking in Florence) and the year that truly was a game changer, 2014.

The year 2014 was a big year for me, I had fully made the transition to cooking full time. In 2012, I had started writing a cooking/lifestyle blog, La Cucina Della Prima Donna and from that I had been contacted to develop recipes and contribute to various cookbooks. But in 2014, I started Magic & Pasta Events. With Magic & Pasta Events the goal is for my clients to have a unique dining experience, either in the privacy of their own home or in a commercial kitchen/dining space. I host theme dinners; such as an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party or a Venetian Carnevale Dinner and provide services for corporate events and work with public relations and advertising agencies. I can be myself, plan my own schedule and what I love most is that no two days are the same. I am always planning new menus for different events, shopping for new function, testing new recipes, it is exciting and after the routine of opera, excitement is exactly what I had been craving. I had always loved cooking, in fact, more often than not, when I was at rehearsals or lessons, I was thinking about being home and baking. And when I would go home and bake, I would bring the food to my lessons for my teachers or to colleagues.

So, back to why 2014 was the year that changed it all. My mother and I had made plans to return to Italy for a few months so that I could do some work in Florence and start establishing myself there with the intention to eventually settle there full time. We had everything set. We had an apartment rented, I had work and interviews, it was all planed. But one day, my mother was watching House Hunters International. It was an episode that took place in a town I had never heard of, called Guardia Sanframondi.

It was beautiful, unique, off the beaten path and the prices for houses were completely in my budget. I had never thought about buying a house in Italy because I assumed I could never afford it. I figured I would rent a tiny apartment in Florence and that would be fine. But once my mother saw this, we had our hearts set on exploring this picturesque medieval town. We cut short a week in Florence so that we could travel to Guardia and start house hunting. We were only in Guardia for six days and left to go to Florence. We left without a house, but we left with much more than we imagined we would. We left realizing we had to go back and find a house there. We fell in love with Guardia. The people, the town, the mountains, the views, the air, the lifestyle, everything. This was a town where people said “buongiorno” to each other just walking on the streets. After meeting someone once, they would honk at you and wave and offer to give you a lift. Neighbors would leave fresh fruit and herbs at your door. This was a real community. Coming from NYC, this was something I had never experienced. Once we arrived in Florence after those beautiful six days in Guardia, it felt like culture shock. I love Florence, but after living in a real Italian community, I knew that that was what I wanted. Once again, we cut our time in Florence short and returned to Guardia for three weeks to continue our search. Then I found the one….

 
Funny story, on our last day in Guardia during that first week, we were supposed to see the house that I ended up buying, but due to some confusion with the language and not understanding what time and where, we never saw the house. This made me think that this house was meant for me.

So, at the beginning of my story I mentioned a dress. I first wore that dress in Ischia just four years ago and this morning, I put that dress on, stood on my balcony and then took my walk into town to market. It reminded me just how much can change. My hair is shorter, the dress is the same, but my love and passion for Italy has only grown.



 

 
 
 
 
 
 
I am now here in Guardia for the summer, getting my house ready and taking time to relax and appreciate everything. When I walk to my house I stop and look at the mountains. I look at a butterfly sitting on the flowers. I see the same beautiful old woman walking up the hills every day with her cane. I see two friends talking to each other from across the streets on their balconies. I see beauty and magic. I have had so many “pinch me” moments, that I cannot believe this is all real. I see what can happen if you set your heart on something. Life is short and we must make the most of it while we are here. If you are not happy with something, it is up to you to change it. Life can be a dream if you turn it into a reality and lucky for me, I have found that dream.


Thursday, November 13, 2014

Ciao da bella Firenze!

Ciao a tutti! I apologize for not posting for a while. Things have been very very busy. I am actually in bella Firenze for the time being and enjoying every second of it. I hosted a fabulous Halloween party with The Florentine and I have a lot of other VERY exciting things coming up. What are they, exactly? Well, if I told you that would spoil the surprise, now wouldn't it?

Want to see pictures from the party I hosted with The Florentine? Check them out right here!

In the meantime, I will be posting pictures at least once a week, but hopefully more, entitled "A Day in the Life"....photos of my what my day looks like while in Florence. I will also be heading back to Campania soon where I spent time in a beautiful medieval village before I arrived in Florence and then I'll be headed back to Rome. Tell me..what is your favorite site to see in Florence? And if you haven't been yet, what do you hope to see someday? Addio per ora!

"A Day in the Life in Bella Firenze"
November 13th, 2014


 
Part 1- Find a delicious cornetto filled beyond belief with nutella. Enjoyed at café in Piazza Santa Croce.
 
 
 
Part 2- Explore some of the beautiful museums that Florence has to offer. — at Museo del Bargello.
 
 
Part 3- Take a moment to stop and LOOK. Appreciate what is in front of you. This is Donatello's David. — at Museo del Bargello.
 
 
Part 4- Enjoy pizza that is topped with speck, ricotta, grana and stracchino. AND FINISH THE ENTIRE THING! — at Trattoria Pizzeria GUSTOLEO.
 
 
Part 5 - Catch a glimpse of a rainbow peaking through the sky as I slowly walk home in the rain without an umbrella...because I'm in Florence and I don't care about getting wet.
 
 
Part 6- Enjoy un altro cappuccino and tiramisu. Because I'm an adult and I can eat however many sweets I want!! — at Piazza del Duomo.
 
 

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Buon Anno! e Polenta Fritti with Wild Mushrooms



Felice Anno Nouvo!! Happy New Year to my friends all around the world. This year has been absolutely amazing, I am so grateful for the wonderful opportunities that I’ve had. From becoming a Sous Chef with Feast on History to studying cooking in Italy and all of the incredible things that happened while I was there and seeing Paul McCartney in concert. Yes, that is seriously one of the highlights from my year. (For those that don’t know, I am a HUGE Beatles fan) As I mentioned in my last post, I have a lot of very exciting things in the works that I will be announcing over the next month or so, so please stay tuned. Last night I hosted a New Years Eve Party for my family and friends, the pressure was on. Everyone knew I had just returned from studying cooking so I felt the need to really shine!! In fact, a few of my guests told me they had been bragging to their friends about coming to a chefs house for dinner, that brought the biggest smile to my face!

One of things I served last night was my Polenta Fritti with Wild Mushrooms. Polenta Frittii something I enjoyed a few times while in Florence, a deep fried piece of polenta and yes, it is every bit as good as it sounds. Here is my recipe, hope you all like it as much as I do. Enjoy!

Polenta Fritti with Wild Mushrooms
Wild Mushrooms
2 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 tbsp. minced garlic
3 cups of mixed wild mushrooms
3 tbsp. chopped parsley
In a medium size pan over medium heat, heat your butter, salt, pepper and minced garlic. Let the garlic get a little color, but not too much. Add the mushrooms and cook until a lot of the liquid has evaporated. I personally like the mushrooms a little dry, not too wet, so let them cook for around half an hour. Once they have finished cooked, add the chopped parsley and mix. Serve a tablespoon or two on top of the Polenta Fritti.
Polenta Fritti
8 cups of water
1 tbsp. salt
2 cups of medium grain poleta
2 tbsp. dried Italian seasonings (rosemary, oregano, etc)
1 cup of neutral oil, plus 1 tbsp (I like to use canola or peanut oil for frying)
In a large pot, bring 8 cups of salted water to a boil. Add the polenta and seasonings and mix with a wooden spoon. Oil a pound cake pan and pour the polenta in the pan and spread it so the top of the flat. You can choose to shape and cut them however you like, I pour my polenta in a pound cake pan, let it harden up a little and then slice it almost like a loaf of bread. Cover it and put in the refrigerator for an hour. Once the hour is up, flip the pan over on a cutting board, the polenta should easily come out. Slice the polenta the same way you would slice bread, I like to slice it pretty thin, around ½ an inch. Prepare a large deep pot while the oil over medium high heat. Once it is hot enough, add the polenta, as many as you can get in there. I like my polenta really REALLY crispy, so each piece can take around 7 minutes to get that crunchy. As the pieces finish, put them a paper towel on a wire rack. Top with the wild mushrooms. Boun Appetito!!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Ciao Roma!!


Ciao mei amici!! I finally arrived in Rome and let me tell you, it feels like I never left. I feel like I'm home. I know my way around, I understand and speak some of the language, the people at my hotel remembered us from last year, it's just perfect. The weather is STUNNING. The past few days I've just been settling in before I leave for Florence tomorrow. We've been spending our time just wandering. One of the amazing things about Rome is you can you just wander and you never know what you're going to come across. A lovely piazza, a stunning fountain, a little café, musicians in the street, etc. I thought I would share some photos with you from the past few days. Once I get to Florence where I'll be attending cooking school, I will start posting recipes that I'll be making in class and at home.  I will also be posting on my facebook and twitter daily and will be sharing lots of beautiful pictures on my pinterest, so please be sure to follow me the entire way. And of course, I will posting here..recipes, photos, journals, you name it. Ciao for now!

They have different versions of nutella like we have peanut butter!

I have to tell you, I got a small mozzarella at the supermarket for 1 euro that rivaled most mozzarella sold in gourmet shops in NYC.



Yes, Baci Yogurt is a thing in Italy.










 

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Insalata Caprese


Ciao a tutti!! When I’m in Italy, something that I really look forward to eating is a beautiful, fresh Insalata Caprese. It’s just a perfect meal. Milky and creamy mozzarella, plump, juicy tomatoes and sweet fragrant basil  with a drizzle of beautiful olive oil and sprinkle of salt. 

I certainly eat Insalata Caprese in America, but……they’re just not the same. The big thing for me…the tomatoes. Tomatoes in Italy are just amazing. The oil, air, water and sun in Italy all contribute to the extraordinary quality and taste of the tomatoes. When I was first in Ischia the summer of 2011, we brought some tomatoes at the local market, took them home and cut them in half and ate them with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Bliss. We had never had such good tomatoes. Honestly, they just taste different then what we have back home.

So..one day while wandering around Rome, literally, just wandering and seeing what we found, we weren’t looking for anything specific, just taking in all of the beauty, we came across a little trattoria and decided to give it a try. I ordered the Insalata Caprese and did not regret it. Another key to making a fantastic insalata is getting REAL mozzarella. Not the kind packaged in the supermarket. You need to find a place that sells fresh, milky mozzarella.

I know this may sound like the most, simple, easiest recipe ever and it is…but that’s one of the reasons I love it so much. You’ll be amazed at how something so simple, can taste so incredible. Buon Appetito!!

Insalata Caprese

3 vine ripe tomatoes (cut into ¼ inch thick slices)
1 pound fresh mozzarella (cut into ¼ inch thick slices)
1 bunch fresh basil
Extra virgin olive oil (to drizzle)
Salt and Pepper

Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella, adding some basil between. Drizzle the top of the salad with the olive oil and sprinkle with some salt and pepper (quanto basta!). Enjoy!!

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Cioccolata Calda- Italian Hot Chocolate



Buongiorno!! Ahhhh, breakfast in Italy. That lovely time when you wake up, pop out of bed and you’re excited for another day of sight-seeing and delicious eat. You get ready and go out for that much need cappuccino (or Cioccolata Calda). I was in Rome and Florence over this past winter and it was pretty cold, I must say. But as long as you have a good warm coat and lined boots, you should be fine. And of yeah, a cup of something nice and warm.

 

Breakfast in Italy is not at all what you have probably come to think of breakfast. At least, not an American style breakfast. Italians do not eat eggs and bacon or pancakes and waffles; they make have a cornetto or a cup of yogurt. Half of the time, they just have a cappuccino. (By the way, NEVER have a cappuccino after 12 noon; they will know you are a tourist). Italians consider a cappuccino a morning drink and that’s it!! When we were in Rome, our breakfast was included with the room price and we lucked out. Our hotel served fresh cornettos, fruit and yogurt and cappuccinos made to order that were perfecto!!

 

In Florence however, we went out for breakfast every day. In Italy also, when you go someplace for coffee or a pastry, expect to pay one price if you stand at the counter and drink it and more if you sit and get table service. We found a place right off of Piazza della Signoria that had the most amazing Cioccolata Calda!! It was rich, creamy and intense. It was like drinking melted chocolate. The coco is so intense over there, that they serve it with a pack of sweetener on the side, that you can choose to use or not use. Every morning in Florence I had a Cioccolata Calda for breakfast, it was just delicious.

 


Now that I am back home, I treat myself to an Italian hot chocolate a few times a week. It’s either the perfect way to start a day or the perfect way to top off a chilly New York night. I have created two versions. One classic version made with milk and for those on a low carb diet, one made with almond milk. Forget what you think you know about hot chocolate, this, is hot chocolate! Please let me know what you think. Buon Appetito!!

 

Traditional Cioccolata Calda with Cream

 

4 ounces of good quality dark chocolate (70% or higher, I personally prefer 85%)

1 ½ cups of whole milk

1 tbsp. of cream

2 tsp. sugar

2 tbsp. corn starch

 

Add your milk and cream to a pot over medium heat and let it heat, but not boil. Add the chocolate and sugar and mix until melted and smooth. Add the cornstarch and continue to mix. Stir until everything is smooth and creamy!! Pour into mugs and serve with a dollop of homemade whipped cream….

 

Whipped Cream

 

1 cup of cream

1 tsp. vanilla extract

 

Add the cream and vanilla extract to a small bowl and whisk with an electric beater until it looks like whipped cream.

 

Paleo Cioccolata Calda

 

1 cup of almond milk or coconut milk

2 tbsp. cocoa powder

1 ounce dark chocolate (85% is best for paleo)

1 tsp. chocolate extract

 

Add you milk to a pot over medium heat and let it heat, not boil. Add the cocoa powder and let it dissolve. Add the dark chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Add the chocolate extract and let heat until creamy. Pour into a mug and a dollop of whipped cream. 

Monday, January 14, 2013

The Sweets of Roma: Tortine di Nutella


Ciao a tutti!! When you’re in Italy, you can’t NOT have candy and pastries. I mean, it’s kind of a law. Well, it’s not, but still. It really should be. Something I love about Italian sweets is how different the flavors are from the ones we have in America. In America it’s all about cookie dough and cookies and cream, in Italy, nut and fruit flavors are very popular. 

I've never seen a Chestnut Torta in a bakery, except when I’m in Italy. I’m a big fan of nutty flavors, so everything topped with pistachios, walnuts, almonds, pignolis and chestnuts is a nice surprise for me. I’m telling you….just looking in the windows of the bakeries was a treat. So, I thought it would be fun to post a Pastry Photo Tour of Roma!! I've also added recipes that I've tried and tested that were the closest to the actual experience. I'll be posting a new pastry recipes/photo every few days inspired by the beautiful pastries I enjoyed while in Roma. And in a few days, a Pastry/Gelato Photo Tour of Firenze! 


But for today....Tortine di Nutella. That's right. Nutella. Who doesn't love nutella? I'm not sure I should tell you how many of these babies I ate while in Italy. Honestly....I had one almost every night. I'm not even kidding. Clearly, I love nutella, as you may recall from my Nutella Chronicle Post. Every bakery has their own take on this classic tart, so I figured it was only fair to try everyone's version!! Right?!?! These are little flaky shortbread tartlets filled with a deep and rich nutella ganache. 


They. Are. Amazing. No lie. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!! 

Tortine di Nutella



Buttery Shortbread Pastry Crust

2 cups all purpose flour
14 tbsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. chilled heavy cream
1 tsp. salt

In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, egg, sugar, heavy cream and salt and pulse until the dough gathers into big clumps.  Put the dough on a clean counter surface that is lightly floured and gather it together. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough. You can use whatever size tart pans you like, piccolo, medio or grande. Press the tart pans into the dough for your crust. Put them in the oven on 300 degrees and cook for 6 minutes. They will not be completely done, but you will be baking them again when filled with the nutella. Now prepare your nutella ganache...

Nutella Ganache 

1 cup of nutella
4 ounces of good quality milk chocolate, I like to use Perugina chocolate bars
1/2 cup heavy cream
Chopped Hazelnuts to top the tarts

Prepare the nutella and chocolate in a small mixing bowl. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer. Add the nutella and chocolate to the heavy cream and mix until silky and smooth. Now get the tart/tartlet crusts (whatever size you picked) and carefully spoon the nutella into the crust. Put back in the oven on 300 degrees and bake for another 6 minutes. Take out and add the chopped hazelnuts to top of the tarts. Boun Appetito!!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Bella Roma- Part Uno; Castel Sant’Angelo and Seafood Pasta


Rome. When I first came here to study opera in the summer of 2011, I didn't quite know what to expect. My mother had been before and loved it and of course I have a lot of pride in my Italian background, but I had never been out of the country and was a little nervous. But, like most people that visit Italy, I instantly fell in love. It may sound like a cliche  but it’s true. I feel in love with the culture, history, the people, the food and just everything about being in Italy. I mean, what’s not to love?  


The second I landed back home, I was literally counting the minutes until I got to return. And luckily, just a year, 5 months, 11 days and 7 hours later, I got back to Italy. Not only was I going to get to experience Roma, but Firenze as well. On my first trip, we spent 6 nights in Rome and two weeks in Ischia and I loved every second of it. This time, we would be spending 2 and half weeks in Rome and a week in Florence.

Today, we decided to cross the Tiber River and go to one of my favorite places in Rome, Castel Sant’Angelo. One of the reasons I love Castel Sant’Angelo so much is that it figures prominently in Puccini’s “Tosca.” It is the prison and execution location of Mario Cavaradossi, as well as where Floria Tosca throws herself from the rooftop after learning of Cavaradossi’s death, as she is trying to escape from Scarpia’s henchmen. As she stands on the edge about to kill herself, she sings “O Scarpia, avanti a dio!” and the theme of the hauntingly beautiful aria “E lucevan le stelle” is played. Every time I visit, I feel the need to sing the last line all the way at the top (only if no one is around of course.)

Castel Sant’Angelo is the tomb of Hadrian and was later used by popes as a fortress and castle. It’s very fun walking around and finding little nooks and crannies to squeeze into. After exploring for a few hours, we decided it was time for lunch and ate at a little restaurant right off the Tiber. As soon as we glanced at the menu, we knew we had to try the gnocchi with fresh seafood. 

Homemade gnocchi with shrimp, clams, tomato and arugula in a garlic wine sauce. We also shared a Caprese salad. The pasta was incredible. The gnocchi were light and fluffy, just the way homemade gnocchi should be. The seafood was delicious and fresh, the sauce a wonderful fragrant combination of the wine and garlic, mixed with the seafood flavor and a little juice from the tomatoes. It was heavenly. While I don’t know the exact recipe of their version, I did try recreating my own once I got home, so I am happy to share my recipe with you. I made homemade gnocchi, but you can obviously use pre-made. Enjoy!!

Gnocchi with Seafood

1 pound of clams
1 pound of shrimp
1 package of gnocchi
¼ cup of olive oil
1 tbsp. crushed red pepper
4 cloves of garlic, minced very fine
½ cup of white wine
6 baby tomatoes, chopped in half
Handful of fresh arugula

Start off by cooking the clams with ½ a cup of water until cooked. Keep the liquid. Remove the meat from inside the clams and throw out the shells.

Start boiling salted water for your pasta. Once it has begun to boil, add the gnocchi. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, heat up the olive oil. Add crushed red pepper and garlic. Once the garlic has begun to brown, remove from heat and add the white wine and around 6 ounces of pasta water to the sauté pan. Put it back on the stove to heat.

When the pasta is almost done, remove from the water and add to the sauté pan. Save the water!! Add more liquid to the sauté pan depending on how creamy you want the sauce. Add the clams and shrimp and finish cooking with all the seafood until nice and al dente. Add the chopped tomatoes and arugula. Serve immediately. Enjoy with a glass of Prosecco. Buon Appetito!!