I’m fairly new to white asparagus. It’s not something I ever ate growing up. I dont even remember seeing them for sale anywhere. But every April in Friuli, white asparagus comes into season. And each year, it heralds the start of Easter in the Friuli region. Normally in…
Funghi alla Genovese (sometimes called funghi al funghetto) is one of Liguria’s quiet secrets. It uses just mushrooms, garlic, oregano, butter and olive oil. But get the technique right and it’s one of the best things you’ll eat. What is funghi alla genovese? Funghi alla genovese is a simple Ligurian…
What is Salsa alla Marchigiana This Salsa alla Marchigiana is a basic pasta sauce made from white wine, tomato, and herb. This particular recipe is at least 70 years old, a relic from a post World War 2 collection of recipes from the 1050s. But I would imagine…
What Are Gnocchi di Susine? Gnocchi di susine are potato dumplings filled with fresh plums (susine). Or in other words, they are gnocchi with a plum filling. These plum gnocchi are traditional in Friuli, especially in Trieste. They are very popular in the late summer or early Autumn…
Buridda di seppie is delicious seafood stew from Liguria. It is made with cuttlefish potatoes and peas. As with many Italian recipes there are many family recipes throughout this region. Some families cook it with tomatoes. Some without. Both taste great. And all variations are extremely simple. But this…
Tajarin con fegatini di pollo is a traditional dish from Piemonte in northern Italy. It is made with thin egg pasta called tajarin and a sauce of finely chopped chicken livers. Cooks gently cook the livers with onion, olive oil, and white wine. In autumn, they often add…
Trippa alla Napoletana belongs to an honest old Naples tradition of cucina di recupero. A tradition of wasting not one part of an animal. Tripe came from the local butcher, already cleaned and cut, wrapped in paper. It cost little but fed many. Ask anyone who grew up in Naples…
Pear and gorgonzola risotto (Risotto con Pere e Gorgonzola) is a creamy, fragrant dish that comes into its own in Autumn, when pears reach their best. Pears and gorgonzola have long been friends, as the fruit’s sweetness balances the cheese’s saltiness. Gorgonzola can only be produced in specific…
I grew up on Heinz tinned baked beans. Proper tinned ones, straight from the microwave, on white toast. So the first time I made Tuscan baked beans from scratch, I wasn’t expecting much. Just beans, tomatoes, garlic, and sage? But they were completely different — savoury, silky, and…