Probably the two words that best describe fusilli are “spirals” and “springs.” However, as it happens when Italian words are put under the microscope of translation, something else always shows up. So, for example, in the...

When I had my cooking school in Chicago, I had to make big batches of this pasta dish for the students because they gobbled it up pretty fast. The idea behind this dish is that the spinach gets “cooked” only from the ambient heat of the p...

Ah, the joys of Sicilian pizza. I was eating this style of pizza even before I was eye-level with the top of the table in my Mother’s kitchen, so I do know of what I write and eat. What exactly is Sicilian pizza? Before I answer that question, ...

This is such an easy dish to put together. The various components –– chicken, pesto sauce and toasted pine nuts –– can be prepped ahead. Making the pesto sauce takes a bit of time, but there are several very good ready-to-go p...

To understand how best to use olives on pizza or in pasta dishes or antipasti, we must first look at the various types of olives available, their characteristics and overall usage. And then there is the question of pit or no pit. For example, some re...

This recipe is very close to how my mother did her meatballs, but there are as many recipes for meatballs as there are Italians. This recipe makes 18 meatballs, each about 2 inches in diameter. Makes 6 servings (scale up in direct proportion) ½...

The importance of and interest in foods that speak with a Mediterranean accent has never been stronger. And it is a lot more than basic popularity or diet that continues to drive this trend. Mediterranean-inspired dishes are marked by a depth of flav...

2 tablespoons butter 1 small red onion, chopped 1 small yellow onion, chopped 4 ounces Portobello mushrooms, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 7 ounces bacon, cooked and crumbled into large pieces 12 ounces chicken breast, grilled and sliced 2 cups hea...

Stromboli: One of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the coast of Italy, also the location of one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Stromboli: The 1950s movie starring Ingrid Bergman. Stromboli: Rolled pizza. Stromboli is in the famil...

Dining trends come and go. One day all the rage is about Thai influences, then our palates are on to hot sauces. But Mediterranean fare is never far from the spotlight thanks to its enviable combination of bold flavors and big health benefits. The go...

The repertoire of Italian sauces is loaded with classics like Alfredo, Bolognese, arrabbiata, marinara, and oil and garlic. The one sauce that stands just as tall and is just as versatile is pesto. I was always of a mind that pesto sauce never got th...

Take and bake pizza has finally grabbed the attention of mainstream operators and questions abound on how to make take and bake pizzas. They are really not that difficult to make as evidenced by the fact that some operators don’t do much more t...