Meet & Eat: A Gianni’s North Beach Livestream Extravaganza

Meet & Eat: A Gianni’s North Beach Livestream Extravaganza

Turns out if you start to type “Gianni North Beach” into Google, it autocompletes with “Gianni North Beach Dead.” Hey, wait a minute! Not true, last time I checked. Sure, we went away for about 3 and a half years. And yes, I’ve been laying 

Off the Grid in North Beach

Off the Grid in North Beach

San Francisco food trucks are hot. These roving kitchens offer fantastic food from all over the world. Many follow their favorite trucks on Twitter and Facebook and track them down at various parking spots around the city. Luckily, Off the Grid brings a horde of 

Italian Festival Saturday

Italian Festival Saturday

Don’t miss the annual Festa Coloniale Italiana this Saturday, August 11, 2012 on Washington Square in front of the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (SFIAC). The Festa is the only Italian festival that celebrates San Francisco’s Italian and Italian-American heritage. It’s our version of Ferragosto, the 

North Beach Walking Tour Saturday!

North Beach Walking Tour Saturday!

Fans who took my tour a few months ago called to see if I would do a tour of North Beach for out-of-town guests this Saturday, April 28 at 11:00 a.m. Do you want to join us? Get to know my my favorite restaurants, bakeries, food shops, art galleries 

Pasta Primavera: Bowtie Pasta with Spring Vegetables

Pasta Primavera: Bowtie Pasta with Spring Vegetables

The farmers markets are overflowing with early spring vegetables so I just had to make Pasta Primavera, farfalle (bowtie) pasta with just-arrived asparagus, fava beans and sweet peas. Pasta Primavera is a classic Italian-American dish concocted by Sirio Maccioni and made famous at his Le 

Battle of the Chefs in North Beach

Battle of the Chefs in North Beach

My friend Viola Buitoni hails from Perugia in the region of Umbria. Viola is a wonderful cook and Italian culinary teacher and she’s hosting Battaglia dei Cuochi, the Battle of the Chefs, this Monday March 19 at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club on Stockton overlooking 

Join Gianni for a Culinary Tour of Emilia-Romagna

Join Gianni for a Culinary Tour of Emilia-Romagna

The crowds have thinned and the September weather is glorious. The markets overflow. It’s one of my favorite seasons to visit Italia. It’s a fine time to settle into the region of Emilia-Romagna the culinary heart of Italia. Prosciutto and parmigiano come from Parma and 

Cook with Gianni Live in North Beach

Cook with Gianni Live in North Beach

Cooking Class at Cookhouse My friend Chef Tom Herndon of Hipp Kitchen asked if I wanted to do a cooking class showcasing the rustic food of Italia. Tom teaches those with food allergies and sensitivities so I’m cooking without gluten, dairy, shellfish, soy or peanuts. 

400 Food Bloggers in SF

400 Food Bloggers in SF

The Foodbuzz Food Blogger Festival was in town. I met some great people and learned a lot.

NPR Interviewed Me

NPR Interviewed Me

I had my first NPR interview with Rick Kleffel of KUSP. We talked for an hour.

Pulcinella Mural Restoration Plan Hatched

Pulcinella Mural Restoration Plan Hatched

Can Vranas’ Song of Pulcinella smashed mural be saved? The artist and a local handyman think it can be done and our restoration plan will start on Saturday.

Village News/Sunday Recipe: Great Parade & Roasted Rosemary Chicken

Village News/Sunday Recipe: Great Parade & Roasted Rosemary Chicken

What a day–the fog finally burned off as we headed down the hill to North Beach’s Caffe Puccini to watch the 143rd Italian Heritage Parade–the oldest in the country. Hundreds were lining the parade route already. The tables set up in the street all over 

Village News: Italian Heritage Parade Sunday!

Village News: Italian Heritage Parade Sunday!

North Beach’s biggest event of the year is this Sunday–the 143rd Annual Italian Heritage Parade–the oldest in America. You gotta be here–it’s a great day in the Village. Floats, politicians, bands, Queen Isabella and her Court, Cristoforo Columbo himself–the Parade has it all and it 

North Beach Sunday Farmer’s Market

North Beach Sunday Farmer’s Market

Sunday was a chilly, foggy morning and the Village was still abuzz. North Beach denizens flocked to the Farmer’s Market near the library (Columbus/Mason).

Friday Recipe: da Flora’s Arancini with a Spicy Aioli

Friday Recipe: da Flora’s Arancini with a Spicy Aioli

All of those who gathered at my private Sunday dinner at da Flora raved about our il pranzo. The women at da Flora were at the top of their game!