North Beach’s Il Casaro Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar Opens

North Beach’s Il Casaro Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar Opens

A couple of months ago I told you about Il Casaro (the cheese maker), the soon-to-open North Beach pizzeria and mozzarella bar. Well it finally happened a couple of days ago and I stopped in to wish my friend Francesco “Buona Fortuna”. He sat me at the end 

Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day

Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day

Move over St. Patrick. The Feast of St. Joseph, Father’s Day in Italy is this Wednesday. Zeppole di San Giuseppe is one of my favorite Neapolitan pastries. But I only make these pastry cream filled puffs topped with an Amarena cherry once a year, on 

Cardi Fritti: Fried Cardoons

Cardi Fritti: Fried Cardoons

In the spring when I was a kid in Jersey I went foraging for cardoons with my Uncle Frank in the “wild” West Orange hills. He married Aunt Florence, my Mom’s sister, and they lived downstairs from us. Uncle Frank was born in Calabria and didn’t 

Family Survives 2 Weeks on Gianni’s Food!

Family Survives 2 Weeks on Gianni’s Food!

A fan wrote to tell me she just returned from a 2-week Florida vacation with her father and husband. Usually to satisfy one of her Dad’s woolies (craving) they cooked up a whole bunch of my dishes. I’m dizzy from the list. Chicken & escarole 

Baci: Make Chocolate Hazelnut Valentine Kisses

Baci: Make Chocolate Hazelnut Valentine Kisses

  We shot 3 new video episodes yesterday. Don’t miss any of my new YouTube cooking shows released every Saturday. Subscribe today. Even though I was busy shooting I had time to make these too. Perugina Baci, the chocolate covered hazelnut kisses with little love 

Il Casaro: North Beach’s New Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar

Il Casaro: North Beach’s New Pizzeria & Mozzarella Bar

Ever had panmozza? You won’t have to go to Napoli to eat some when Il Casaro Pizzeria and Mozzarella Bar opens in a week or two after a final inspection. Francesco Cavucci who owns the wonderful Calabrian restaurant on Green Street and his partner Peter 

Mama’s on the Move in North Beach

Mama’s on the Move in North Beach

You know Mama’s at Stockton/Filbert across from Washington Square. It’s the one with ridiculously long lines winding up Stockton everyone waiting to get a fantastic breakfast or lunch. The family behind Mama’s plans to open a second location in the long abandoned Piazza Market space 

Pasta with Prawns & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Recipe

Pasta with Prawns & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce Recipe

I love the intense sweet roasted red bell pepper flavor of this quick sauce. It’s a perky fresh topping for chicken, meat or fish and fantastic as a sauce for pasta. I’m using it to dress strozzapreti (choke the priest) pasta and prawns. Roasted pepper 

Pizza Maker’s Meatloaf Recipe

Pizza Maker’s Meatloaf Recipe

A pizzaiola (pizza-maker) always has tomato, mozzarella, pecorino, basil and oregano on hand so why not make a meatloaf? Got 30 minutes? Then you have time to make this tasty meatloaf. Everything goes into casserole dish and bakes in the oven for 20 minutes. A 

New Year’s Eve Italian Rules & Recipes Galore

New Year’s Eve Italian Rules & Recipes Galore

Are you ready for your New Year’s Eve celebration? Be sure to include these Italian tips and recipes in your plans. You won’t be sorry in 2014 that you did. There’s an Italian saying that what you do on New Year’s Eve you’ll do all year 

New Year’s Hearty Bean, Ham & Cabbage Soup Recipe

New Year’s Hearty Bean, Ham & Cabbage Soup Recipe

I’m just back from Christmas in the redwood forests overlooking the Pacific on the northern Sonoma coast a few hours north of San Francisco. Our Christmas dinner on top of the ridge included roast turkey and baked ham. When I got ready to head back 

Christmas Eve Focaccia in North Beach

Christmas Eve Focaccia in North Beach

Everyone’s out this morning to get the last few items they need for their holiday table. The lines are out the door at North Beach’s Molinari Deli and Victoria Pastry. Look at all those hopeful people in line at 100-year old Liguria Bakery trying to 

Bow Ties? Wandi? Cenci?–A Sweet Crackly Holiday Recipe

Bow Ties? Wandi? Cenci?–A Sweet Crackly Holiday Recipe

I love these delicate fried dough ribbons that show up on the table at the end of the meal this time of year. I have 2 problems with them though. I don’t know what to call them and once I start eating them I can’t 

North Beach is San Francisco’s Heart

North Beach is San Francisco’s Heart

What’s not to love in North Beach, the heart of San Francisco? Carl Nolte’s Chronicle column surveys it all. Plus, a North Beach food shopping spree and a marvelous art exhibit.

North Beach Shopping Spree Ends with Shadow Ravioli

North Beach Shopping Spree Ends with Shadow Ravioli

“Make homemade ricotta ravioli for Saturday’s dinner,” my Seattle friend told me before she boarded her plane. And so started a day of shopping and eating in North Beach with friends. Those are my shadows on the dining room wall. I’m holding a tray of ricotta