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


Showing posts with label pop up dinners NYC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pop up dinners NYC. 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, February 19, 2015

A new dinner with Magic & Pasta in NYC, a new haircut and a new house in Italy....

Ciao a tutti!! Tutto bene?! It’s been too long! Last I posted I was exploring Florence and having the time of my life. What has happened since then? To put it more accurately, what HASN’T happened since then? I’ve gotten a haircut. I know that might not seem like a big deal to you but I have always grown my hair for years at a time, even cutting it for Locks of Love Twice. One day in Florence I looked at my hair, almost down to my shoulders and thought “it’s time for a change.” Thinking on it just one day, I marched into a saloon, translated best I could and ended up with a fabulous short, shaggy chin length bob. I figured with all of the big changes I was making in my life this just part of it. What do you think??



Next up was going back to Guardia Sanframondi. Remember I had mentioned I spent some time in a beautiful village in Campania before getting to Florence? Well, I loved it there so much, I actually cut my time in Florence short and returned to continue my journey. What did I do while I was there? Well, I made a ton of wonderful friends, ate some of the best food I’ve ever had and bought a house. Anyhow…..wait, what? A HOUSE, YOU SAY? That’s right. I BOUGHT MY VERY FIRST HOUSE IN ITALY!!!! As you can clearly see, Italy is very important to me. I am very proud of my Italian roots and have always wanted to be closer to what I feel is really my home. In fact, Guardia is just two hours from where my great-grandfather was born in Naples. I will be posting pictures and I will dedicate a whole post to the beauty of Guardia. I have never been anywhere like Guardia. It really is magical and I can’t wait to share this journey with you. Here is my new view...
 

I then returned to NYC and have been cooking regularly, doing private events with Magic & Pasta. Here are some of the dishes I have made for some dinners. In the order that they are shown are my "Caprese Salad" with parmigiana mousse, pesto gelatin and candied baby tomatoes, Polenta Fritti with Mushroom Onion Tapenade and Garlic Rosemary Chicken with Grilled Scallions over Parsnip Puree….
 




 
I actually am hosting one of my stylized ticketed dinners coming up on March 7th in NYC that I would love to invite you all too….”Aperitivo Italiano.” The menu will include small bites of Aperitivo Style dishes with my own twist, such as Rosemary Fried Chicken with Semolina Pancakes and Spicy Chestnut Honey and Herbed Parmigiana Polenta Bites with Speck. What to see the full menu for this delicious dinner? Then click here, you will also see ticket information. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to comment here or e-mail me at magicandpasta@hotmail.com Here are a few photos from one of my last dinners to give you an idea of the setting...





Until then my friends, I will be spending the day doing some prep in the kitchen and trying to stay warm!!! Ci vediamo!!

Friday, September 26, 2014

Potato Gnocchi in Sage Butter with Crispy Potato Skin Petals


 
Ciao a tutti!! I know it has been a while. I’ve been very busy getting ready for my upcoming time in Italy, setting up dinners, events, classes, etc. I am SO EXCITED!!!!! In fact, to say I’m excited is downplaying it. Like last year, I will be journaling a lot of my trip and will be sure to share a lot of pictures, details, recipes, menus and more with you. I look forward to another wonderful adventure.
 In the meantime, I will share with you my recipe for Potato Gnocchi in a Sage Butter Sauce with Potato Skin Petals. I got the idea for the petals because I really don’t like to waste ANY food if it can be helped. So, when I was preparing the potatoes for the gnocchi and I had all the skin left, I thought “hmmmmm, why not fry this in some butter and top the gnocchi with it?” I know, I know, I’m crazy!! Enjoy!!

Potato Gnocchi in Sage Butter with Crispy Potato Skin Petals
 
Potato Gnocchi
 

3 ½ ounce of double zero flour (if you can’t find 00 flour, you can use AP)
1 lb. potatoes
1 egg
Pinch of salt
 
Sage Butter
 
5 tbsp. butter
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
Sage leaves, gently torn (as much or as little as you like)
 
Potato Skin Petals
1 tbsp. butter
Potato Skin
 
Put you potatoes in a large pot and cover with cold salted water. Bring the water to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, this should take around an hour.
 
 
Let the potatoes cool. Peel them and be sure to set the potato skin aside! Put the potatoes through a rice. Combine the potatoes with flour, egg and salt. Mix by hand or using a fork. Put the dough on a floured surface and divide into 4 portions. Roll each portion into a long log and cut each log into ¾ inch pieces using a flour knife. Press each piece of dough against tines of a floured fork, carefully push with a floured thumb in a forward motion toward the end of the tines and let the gnocchi fall from the fork. You can also use a gnocchi board (which I did, I also made jumbo gnocchi, which of course, you can do too!)
Cook the gnocchi in salted boiling water. Fresh pasta cooks much quicker than dried, package pasta, do DO NOT OVER COOK!! The gnocchi should be tender and cooked within 3-5 minutes.
 In the meantime, while the gnocchi is boiling, prepare a medium size pan over medium heat. Add the butter, salt and pepper. Allow the butter to brown slight and add the torn sage leaves. By this point, drain the gnocchi and add to the pan with the butter sauce. Let the gnocchi sit and heat in the sauce for a few minutes so the butter leaves a nice coating on the pasta. Feel free to add a little pasta water as well, I always do. For the potato skin petals, in another small pan, heat on medium heat. Add the butter and the potato skins. I like to tear the potato skin with my hands and create little shreds. Let it fry in the butter for a few minutes until crispy. Plate the gnocchi and add the potato skin petals directly on top and of course, you must add a sprinkle of parmigiana and a glass of wine. Buon Appetito!!
 

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Baked Pasta alla Norma....Sausage, ricotta and penne, OH MY!


 
Day 1 of “The Box Project.” In case you missed my last post, for the next month or so I am on a mission. That is…A Box Project Mission. What’s the Box Project? Well, it’s a box of delicious treats I brought back from Italy and am always saving “for something special.” I finally decided, what am I waiting for? On top of it, I have a bad habit of food shopping too often and I hate to say it, but sometimes things unfortunately go to waste. The idea with the Box Project is to use ingredients that I already have on hand and add necessary proteins, dairy or vegetables. So…day 1.

Pasta al Forno.
 
 

Pasta al Forno is basically an Italian baked pasta dish made with a pasta, cheese and preferably meat/vegetables. Well, I had a lovely can of tomatoes that I actually got last year that the real estate agent left in our kitchen “goody bag”, (when I was in Florence, Italy, the real estate agent had a bag full of groceries, ahem, and some wine in the kitchen for our arrival). Along with the tomatoes, I also had a jar of Pesto Rosso with basil that I purchased at Conand. Conand is a supermarket chain in Italy and I swear, every time I go in there, I come out with 6 bags…and that’s on a  good day.  Also on hand was a jar of San Marzano tomato paste, penne and ricotta (yes, when I can’t make my own ricotta or get to my usual cheese guy, I have to settle for supermarket ricotta). The extras I purchased for this dish were some parmigiana, eggplant and hot sausage links. So without further adeu…
 

Baked Pasta alla Norma
 
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 pack of hot sausage links
1 large eggplant (properly prepared, see below)
2 tbsp. garlic, finely chopped
1 can of tomato paste
6 tbsp. tomato pesto
2 tbsp. fresh basil, torn (NEVER CUT BASIL!!)
1 tbsp. oregano
Pinch of salt
Pinch of pepper
1 box of penne
2 cups of ricotta
½ cup of parmigiana, grated

Set a medium size pan over medium/high heat. Add 1 tbsp. olive oil. Uncase your sausage links (I do this simply by wetting the link and cutting the case with a knife to remove it). Tear out all of the sausage into little pieces and add in the pan. Cook for 30-45 minutes (this depends on how well you like your sausage of course). Remove the sausage from the pan with a slotted spoon and place in a bowl to cool.
Prepare your eggplant. First off, clean it. Then cut it into slices and layer them in a colander, sprinkle on some salt. Let the eggplant release some liquid. Then rinse the eggplant, squeeze it with your hands and pat it dry. I know this seems like a lot of work, but trust me, it’s worth it. I picked up this technique when I was studying cooking in Italy. Not only does it make the eggplant less bitter, but by releasing the liquid, it is easier to fry. After you have rinsed and dried the eggplant, chop it coarsely. Add to the pan that you had the sausage in. I basically used the fat that the sausage released to fry the eggplant in. Not the healthiest I know, but delicious nonetheless.
 
 
Fry the eggplant until a little golden and crispy. Remove from the pan with a slotted spoon. By this point, you should have water boiling. Add your garlic to the pan and let it fry until golden. Remove with a slotted spoon and remove all of the excess oil and fat from the pan. Put the pan back over medium heat.  Add the tomato paste and let it “toast” slightly. Add 6 tbsp. of red pesto (basically, tomato pesto), a splash of pasta water, the basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Once the water is boiling, add the pasta and cook it very briefly. Six minutes top. Strain the pasta and add it to the tomato sauce, along with the sausage and eggplant. Let it cook over low heat while the tomato sauce reduces slightly. In the meantime prepare your ricotta.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium size bowl, whip 2 cups of ricotta with the parmigiana. Add the fried garlic. You will want to get out a casserole dish to prepare the pasta in. Add one layer of the pasta and then add dollops of the ricotta mix. Continue doing so until filled. Put the pasta in the oven and bake for 30 minutes to one hour. Remove, let it cool and then DIG IN!!!

Friday, June 6, 2014

A True Blood Dinner Event in NYC on June 28th, CONTEST TO WIN A TICKET!!


Ciao a tutti!! I’m here to announce a CONTEST!!! As many of you know, I recently started Magic & Pasta Events based in NYC. I host stylized dinner events held in a beautiful commercial kitchen/dining space. My events are limited to just 16 guests to give a very intimate and personal experience. This next event is of course no exception…drum roll please…A True Blood Dinner Event on June 28th at 8PM in NYC. The menu will be “trailer park chic” with a mix of creole/southern cuisine. Beer, iced tea, lemonade and a V Cocktail will be served. Want to join us!! Perfect!! You can see the full ticket information at this link:

You can also ENTER THIS CONTEST TO WIN A FREE TICKET TO THE EVENT!! That’s right, A FREE TICKET, valued at $70 dollars. So here’s the deal. If you share the link on your FB page, FB group, blog, twitter, google + page, etc. you will automatically be entered in a raffle to win a ticket to this event. Click here to share this link, along with a little blurb about the event and you’ll be entered. Please comment on this post with the link so I can keep track. Good luck!! Contest ends on June 11th.
 

Friday, May 2, 2014

What do True Blood, Alice in Wonderland and The Beatles have in common? FOOD!!


Ciao a tutti! I apologize for not posting much, since launching my own business, things have been wonderfully busy and I thought I would fill you in.
Since launching "Magic & Pasta" in March, things have been going beautifully and I am so very grateful. I hosted my first official event, "A Venetian Carnevale Celebration" which was SOLD OUT! You can view pictures of the event here. I also co-hosted a "Saint Joseph's Day Feast" with Bar Eolo in Chelsea and even got some coverage for the event in Our Town!! And if that's not enough, I was the chef last week for a corporate event for DOLE Salads and this week I cooked for a wonderful event inspired by Michelangeo with Feast on Innovation. Needless to say, I am very happy with the way everything is going, which brings me to Magic & Pasta’s upcoming Summer Season in NYC.

From June-August 2014, Magic & Pasta Events is pleased to announce our upcoming Summer Season. Dinners will include "A True Blood Trailer Park Party on Saturday, June 28th",  "A Mad Hatter's Tea Party on Sunday, July 20th" and  "A Meet the Beatles Dinner on Friday, August 15th" (in honor of the 49th anniversary of their historic Shea Stadium Concert.) If you're an early bird, you can already purchase tickets for the True Blood and Mad Hatter's Tea Party (tickets for The Beatles Dinner on sale soon), but I was so excited about these dinners, I couldn't keep it to myself anymore and just had to let you all know! All of these dinners are held in a beautiful space in midtown Manhattan and are limited to 20 guests giving you a very personal and intimate feel.   
You can see the full menu for each event at the above links. If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at magicandpasta@hotmail.com or comment on this post. I hope to see some of you soon!! Ciao ciao for now!

Monday, March 31, 2014

"Magic & Pasta" presents "An Italian Spring Soiree" April 12th, 7PM in NYC




Ciao mei amici! We are finally starting to feel the beginning of Spring; next week will have highs in the 60s!!  With lovely spring weather comes all that Spring has to offer, and for me, that means lovely vegetables.

With that in mind, my next
Magic & Pasta event will be "An Italian Spring Soiree" on April 12th, 7PM at a beautiful apartment in Chelsea, NY (the address is revealed once you purchase tickets.) This dinner is limited to just 9 lucky guests. To purchase tickets via Bookalokal please click here.


This meal will be centered around seasonal spring ingredients, featuring beets, asparagus, zucchini and more.

Here is the full menu to entice you:


 

STARTERS

Roasted Beet & Ricotta Salad

Thin roasted beets layered with homemade ricotta and a drizzle of beet greens pesto
 

Poached Shrimp in Zucchini Nests

Poached Shrimp served in a zucchini nest with a lemon reduction
 

MAIN COURSE

Romanesco Risotto
Risotto made with a romanesco puree, shaved asparagus, leeks and peas

Fennel Pork Loin
Fennel-Garlic Crusted Pork Loin with Homemade Carrot Chips


 DESSERT


 
Ricotta Cupcakes
(picture shown is for my ricotta olive oil pound cake, click here for the recipe!)
Ricotta Olive Oil Cupcakes with Fluffy Lemon Frosting

A selection of wine will be served
 
$65.00 per person
 

 
 
The goal with my Magic& Pasta events is to give you an experience. Some people may start out as strangers, but when you have good food, wine and music, by the end of the night, you're all friends. Food brings people together and works in mysterious ways. My Italian Spring Soiree is limited to just 9 guests, so you will be in for a very intimate dinner. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me at magicandpasta@hotmail.com. I hope to see you there! 

Sunday, March 9, 2014

"Magic & Pasta" and "Bar Eolo" present A St Joseph's Day Event, March 16th in NYC- Ticket information


After the success of my sold out Venetian Carnevale Celebration, I am very excited to announce my next event...


Magic & Pasta is thrilled to be collaborating with Melissa Muller Daka, proprietress of Bar Eolo and Pastai, both in Chelsea, New York City. We will be co-hosting "A Saint Joseph’s Day Celebration" on March 16 at Bar Eolo.
 
The phones at Bar Eolo have been ringing constantly this week for reservation for our event. We want to make sure everyone who wants to come has a spot, so now you can purchase your tickets on eventbrite. Here is the official link to purchase tickets for our St. Joseph's Day Event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-sicilian-saint-josephs-day-feast-tickets-10881523931


Experience St. Joseph's Day in the Sicilian Tradition at Bar Eolo: Sicilian Kitchen & Wines



Sunday, March 16th, 2014 3pm to 5:30pm

 


 


$75 per person (all-inclusive of tax and gratuity) includes the following:

~ an elaborate buffet (setup as St. Joseph’s day altar) with multiple cold and hot vegetarian dishes and breads. Items will also be available for our vegan & gluten-intolerant guests. In keeping with St. Joseph’s Day, a three-tier altar, representing the holy trinity, will be decorated with flowers, limes, candles, wine, fava beans, statues, specially prepared cakes, breads, and cookies as well as other meatless dishes (because the feast occurs during Lent). Because St. Joseph was a carpenter, foods will be served containing bread crumbs to symbolize saw dust.

 
~ passed around mini hor d’oeuvres – served when guests first arrive

~ sfinci di ricotta, cookies and other St. Joseph’s day sweets passed towards the end of the event 

~ live musical entertainment

~ 2 1/2 hour open bar with a selection of Stemmari's Feudo Arancio white and red Sicilian wines, as well as soft drinks.
All other beverages are charged by consumption. After open bar period, any drinks will be charged by consumption.

A note from Melissa, Bar Eolo’s founder: 

“This is the first year that my grandmother will not be present to celebrate this feast day with us by preparing her special breads and cookies. While I routinely cook special dishes at Bar Eolo for this holiday, this year, I felt compelled to partake in this unique event, prepared in a traditional Sicilian fashion, to honor my grandmother Francesca's memory.” 

In regards to her collaboration with Caroline Chirichella, Melissa says,
“I’m so impressed with Caroline’s creativity and ingenuity in planning unique food events,  that I’m thrilled to team up with her in what I hope will be the first of many events we organize together.”

Note that in case you cannot make our March 16th feast, Bar Eolo will be running St. Joseph’s specials until the actual holiday on Wednesday, March 19th.  

Monday, February 10, 2014

Celery Root Frittelle with a Basil Sirracha Aioli and A Venetian Carnevale Celebration!


 
Ciao mei amici! Today’s treat is something I will be serving at my upcoming “Venetian Carnevale Celebration.” This is my first official ticketed event in NYC since starting “Magic & Pasta.” Food, drinks, masks and mischief, it’s going to be a really fun and delicious night, I hope some of you can join us. For me ticket information and a full menu for "A Venetian Carnevale Celebration" you can go here and here.

These Celery Root Frittelle are just incredible. I know, I know, you hear celery root and your initial reaction might be “BOOOOORING.” But let me tell you, that is not the case. Celery root is delicious, it sort of reminds me of a taro, which I love. Frittelle are a traditional fried treat served for Carnevale but I didn’t want to go with a traditional recipe, hence the celery root. I serve these with a Basil Sirracha Aioli. You will LOVE them.

Celery Root Frittelle with Basil Sirracha
Aioli
 
 
Basil Sirracha Aoli
 
2 cups basil leaves
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves of garlic
Salt
2 large egg yolks
3 tbsp. grape seed oil
2 tbsp. sirracha

Set up a bowl with ice and cold water. Put basil in a medium saucepan of salted boiling eater, cook for 20 seconds, then drain and submerge in the ice water for 30 seconds. Drain and squeeze out any excess water. In a pan over medium heat, add your olive oil and garlic and let it gently roast so it gets soft. In a blender, combine basil, egg yolks, salt and 2 ice cubes, puree to combine. With machine running add the garlic and oil in a slow and steady stream. Add the sirracha. Try the sauce and add more seasoning if you like. Keep chilled.
 

 
Celery Root Frittelle
 
 
4 cups of grated celery root
3 tbsp. parsley
¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt
Pepper
½ cup plus 2 tbsp. flour
1/3 to ½ beer
1 ½ quarts canola oil for frying
 
In a large bowl, mix the celery root, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper. Add flour, stir more and then add the beer. The mix should be a little sticky and hold together when you form it into balls or patties. If you need to, add a little more beer. Heat your oil in a heavy pot over medium high heat. Drop the fritters in and let them fry until they are a beautiful golden color. Each fritter should take around 5 minutes or so. Using a slotted spoon, move the fritters to a plate lined with paper towels. Season with salt. Serve while they are still warm with the aioli for dipping!! Buon Appetito!!