hausfrau

Glad to see some activity on this thread again!

It doesn't look like koreaprincess has been on here for a while, but I just wanted to say that I did try her recipe for gnocchi with gorgonzolla and radicchio and it was fantastic! (This was back in April and I found some beautiful radicchio tardivo at the Markthalle here in Stuttgart.) I substituted a cup of white wine for a cup of cream. It wasn't quite the same as the dish I had in Rome (which I'm quite certain had no cream), but it was delicious!

I just got back from a week in northern Italy and Switzerland, including a night in Bellagio, where we ate at the Hotel Florence. I had a delicious homemade spinach pasta with pine nuts, pesto, and delicately fried zuchinni flowers, followed by carpaccio with a twist: topped with flakes of smoked ricotta and shaved truffle. The smoked ricotta was really interesting and I'm wondering if anyone has seen this in the U.S.? It had a dry consistency and a definite smoky flavor.

franco

Yes, our princess seems to have left us; maybe she's still writing on her detailed European trip report

arabianjedi, I have an Italian recipe for you that you can easily prepare amidst your burning sands - like everybody else who happens to get GOOD, tasty zucchine. (No printing error - in Italian, it's zucchine, singular zucchina, and I don't simply have the heart to write "zucchini", it's just wrong.) As far as zucchine, arabianjedi, you'll have an advantage over most of us (except for those who are cooking in Venice, with her famous & gorgeous laguna zucchine). This recipe, however, is not Venetian but Tuscan, and it's amazing - a half-savoury half-sweet zucchine preparation! Here we go - main course for two:
Cut 25 oz. zucchine into thin slices. Salt gently and let stand in a colander for half an hour. In the meantime, prepare a dough of 7 to 8 oz. fine flour, vaniglia (the interior of about a third of a pod, NO FLAVOURING AGENT), 3.5 oz. powdered sugar; add little by little 2.8 oz. melted butter, 0.2 liters milk, blend well. Salt gently, add 2 eggs (one by one), minced basil (coraggio!), and the zucchine slices. Pour into a buttered baking pan, pour a few drops of olive oil over the mixture, and bake in a warm oven for about 45 minutes. Sounds strange, but is definitely delicious.

ComfyShoes

Franco man, You seem to know as much about cooking as my mom (and as picky about spellings)! And that's a compliment

ComfyShoes

http://tinyurl.com/2ffkt5

I think it is a recycled article but it showed up again in NY Times, and worth seeing specially before a meal (it will make you hungry ). Very nice shots.

arabianjedi

Thank you Franco, and my apologies for the delay in responding, forgot to check the thread. The zuccine dish does sound unusual, but I will try it out some time soon and report back.

We are getting delicious peaches here at present (Turkish I think) which I am roasting with sugar and marsala and serving warm with mascarpone ... any other thoughts?

franco

Personally, I don't love cooked peaches - I prefer them raw. In Bologna, they're simply cutting them up, and pouring sugar and fresh lemon juice over the pieces. Let stand in the fridge over night - simple but gorgeous.

SusanP

I was in Bologna in early July and had the most delicious peaches I've ever tasted. Wish I had some now!

ekscrunchy

Breaking news for lovers of Italian food!

...I just read a wonderful review in the Financial Times of a new book which will be available in the US in early January; it has already been published in the UK:


http://www.amazon.com/Delizia-Epic-H...0743277996/ref

tomassocroccante

EK, you've just provided the perfect gift idea for two people on my Christmas list.

Franco, I have an even simpler method with peaches: hold under the nose and take a deep breath or two. Then wash peach. Eat. I especially like the part where a little juice runs down my chin ... we had the best season in memory for peaches up here in the NE US. They may have been coming from anywhere and everywhere, but I had more delicious peaches than in any other summer in memory.

ekscrunchy

TC..sounds great, doesn't it? We can pre-order, too, on Amazon. And I agree about those peaches..I always had a lineup of about 15 on my kitchen counter! The apples and pears that are around now do not do the same for me, I am afraid!

Marit77

bookmarking

bfrac

ek - where is Agata & Valentina? I go to NYC 2-3 times a year to "grocery shop" and am not familiar with this one. Thank you.

ekscrunchy

It is on the SW corner of 79th Street and 1st Avenue. They have a good range of foods with emphasis on Italian and Italian-style...you can find things like cardoons and burrata, for example..along with all the usual meats, fish, cheeses, fruits, pastries, breads etc. they are great for some things, less good for others...I find their produce some of the best at the best prices on the Upper East Side, which is not a great food shopping area..(I live in midtown which is truly horrid for food shopping, so I always have to venture away from my area..)

I would be interested in hearing where you shop for foods on your visits..maybe we can compare notes!!

bfrac

Thank you for the address, we will definitely go there next time. I go to Zabar's, Fairway, sometimes Citarella and no trip is complete without going to Union Square greenmarket. I have a girlfriend that comes with me once a year and she likes the one at Chelsea Market but it doesn't do anything for me. I agree that the prices are higher than elsewhere. I haven't been to Little Italy in several years but will now venture back down there to Di Palo. We also like to go to Kalustian's once in a while for spices and bulk rice, have you ever been there? It isn't italian but you can stock up on basics at good prices. Basically, we are willing to go anywhere our noses lead in search of fresh and wonderful ingredients. I'm from the Eastern Shore of MD and although we have our specialties, good quality italian ingredients are not plentiful.

ekscrunchy

Sounds like our paths might cross someday! I am not a fan of the Buon Italian in Chelsea Market. I find their prices high for some things and their service not very attentive. But it is certainly a good resource for some things... (I never did use that bottle of garum I bought there a while back!!) I like Amy's bread though, for some things..they do a good olive bread and Parmesan mini-breads.

I like Kalyustan's a lot...high prices for some of the canned and bottled things, though. Good for grains.

For fresh pasta, if you cannot find what you want at Di Palo you can also try Alleva Dairy a few stores to the west on Grand. And Rafetto on West Houston Street has lots of fresh pasta shapes and a variety of canned Italian products. Very friendly. Joe's on Sullivan St. just south of Houston is also tops for fresh mozzarella. It sounds as if you know all this so forgive..once I get started on this topic it is difficult to rein myself in!

bfrac

My friend likes Amy's bread too. I usually buy mine at Zabar's. They have a round rustic Italian that I like. The places you mention on Grand and West Houston are new to me, so thank you very much. Last time we went to a Food Emporium under the 59th St. bridge - just to see it - not to shop. What a unique and cool building. I'll let you know the next time we're coming so if you hear on the news of a car with MD plates that the trunk bottomed out or was pulled over for overweight, that will be us.

ekscrunchy

I will keep that in mind and look out when I am driving!


Here are the places:

Rafetto..144 West Houston
Joe's Dairy..156 Sullivan..a few steps south of Houston
Alleva Dairy..188 Grand, at Mulberry

Have fun and keep me posted!

There is also great food shopping in the Bronx in Little Italy..you can park at meters there..

bfrac

Thank you for the addresses. We have never been to the Bronx to Little Italy, that is something else I'll look into for next time. Have a good weekend and a Happy New Year.

Leely

eks, total longshot, but you don't by chance have any restaurant recs for Quebec City, do you?

Happy New Year!

ekscrunchy

And Happy New Year to both of you, and to Franco and all of the members of our little club here, including to the absent Koreaprincess, who will no doubt be on a pad Thai quest during her upcoming trip, from what I read on the Asia board..

Leely, I am sorry to say I do not have any recs for Quebec City. But I would bet you can find some on Chowhound!!